Health Professions at Xavier University

Xavier's health professions graduates enter the workforce earning nearly $10,000 above the national median for this degree, ranking in the 77th percentile nationally. That's a meaningful premium, though it places them right at the state median—suggesting Ohio's health professions programs generally perform well. The $27,000 debt load translates to a 0.56 ratio against first-year earnings, which is manageable territory for healthcare careers. Most graduates will find their loan payments taking a reasonable chunk of early paychecks, not consuming them.

The concern here is modest growth: earnings climb just 6% over four years to $51,232. While some healthcare roles front-load earnings, this trajectory lags behind what you'd hope to see from a private university investment. For context, Kettering College graduates in Ohio earn $70,890—nearly $20,000 more—though that likely reflects different specializations within health professions. The gap matters because Xavier's tuition premium over public options doesn't translate into dramatically different outcomes.

The practical calculation: if your child is choosing between Xavier and a public university like Cincinnati (where median health professions earnings are actually lower), Xavier's outcomes justify the modest additional debt. But if they're considering more specialized programs elsewhere or have significant price sensitivity, that flat earnings curve deserves scrutiny. This works best for students who value Xavier's smaller, mission-driven environment and are comfortable with solid but not exceptional financial returns.