Analysis
Wilson College's veterinary technology program faces a fundamental challenge: it starts graduates at $35,554 with minimal income growth over four years. While that might sound concerning, the debt picture here is surprisingly manageable—at $28,562, students carry 12th percentile debt nationally, meaning 88% of comparable programs saddle graduates with more. This sub-1.0 debt ratio is rare in animal health fields.
Within Pennsylvania, Wilson is the only bachelor's-level veterinary technology program, making direct state comparisons impossible. Nationally, earnings land slightly below average (37th percentile), but the gap is modest—just $1,260 less than the national median. The bigger question is whether a bachelor's degree makes sense for this career at all, since associate-degree vet techs often earn similar wages with far less investment.
For families where a student is committed to animal health care and wants the four-year college experience, Wilson delivers reasonable debt exposure and stable (if modest) earnings. The lack of income growth suggests hitting a career ceiling quickly, but the low starting debt means graduates can likely manage payments even on entry-level veterinary clinic wages. This works best for students who have realistic expectations about vet tech salaries and value Wilson's small-college environment over purely financial optimization.
Where Wilson College Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians bachelors's programs nationally
Earnings Distribution
How Wilson College graduates compare to all programs nationally
Earnings Over Time
How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation
| School | 1 Year | 4 Years | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilson College | $35,554 | $37,027 | +4% |
| Michigan State University | $41,400 | $43,744 | +6% |
| St Petersburg College | $48,287 | $42,382 | -12% |
| SUNY College of Technology at Canton | $36,640 | $41,655 | +14% |
| North Dakota State University-Main Campus | $36,814 | $37,074 | +1% |
Compare to Similar Programs Nationally
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians bachelors's programs at top institutions nationally
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Wilson CollegeChambersburg | $27,000 | $35,554 | $37,027 | $28,562 | 0.80 |
 St Petersburg CollegeSt. Petersburg | $2,682 | $48,287 | $42,382 | $33,091 | 0.69 |
 Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette | $9,992 | $43,747 | — | $17,098 | 0.39 |
 University of Massachusetts-AmherstAmherst | $17,357 | $42,482 | — | $27,000 | 0.64 |
 Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing | $15,988 | $41,400 | $43,744 | — | — |
 University of Maine at AugustaAugusta | $8,618 | $39,275 | — | — | — |
| National Median | — | $36,814 | — | $26,323 | 0.72 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with veterinary/animal health technologies/technicians graduates
About This Data
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)
Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Wilson College, approximately 27% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.
Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.
Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.