ROI Major

Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General at University of Northern Colorado

CO · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 51.00

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General degree from University of Northern Colorado earn a median salary of $49,793 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in CO, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $47,377. The degree typically pays for itself in 12.1 years.

Quick Insights

Slow Burn / High Debt Risk

How this degree looks at a glance

A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.

Salary Ranges

Starting Range

$38,520

Typical Career

$49,793

Top Performers

$63,965

Estimated break-even: 12.1 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$332

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,149. Most students can comfortably afford about a $332 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.3x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Colorado buys what costs $1.05 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance, Public Administration.

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Educational Services 26.7%
Health Care & Social Assistance 20.2%
Public Administration 7.4%

Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.

5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent

$47,377

Nominal: $49,793 in Colorado (COL 105.1% of national avg) · 4.9% lower purchasing power

10-Year Earnings Curve

Break-Even Timeline

How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).

12.1 years to break even
Graduation 15 years

Total Investment

$155,168

4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost

HS Graduate Baseline

$38,792/yr

BLS 2023 median, HS diploma

View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
Timeframe 25th Pct. Median (50th) 75th Pct.
1 Year After Graduation $26,781 $34,236 $42,800
5 Years After Graduation $38,520 $49,793 $63,965
10 Years After Graduation $46,298 $61,969 $77,755

Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).

How We Calculate Purchasing Power

The median salary of $49,793 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in CO, which has a cost-of-living index of 105.1% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $49,793 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0510) = $47,377 National Average equivalent.

COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →

Career Verdict

Graduates from the Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences program at the University of Northern Colorado experience a steady increase in earnings over time. One year post-graduation, the median earnings are $34,236, which rise to $49,793 after five years and reach $61,969 after ten years. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary aligns closely with the national equivalent at $47,376.78, indicating that while initial earnings may be modest, the long-term financial outlook is promising, especially considering the cost of living in Colorado.

The program prepares students for careers primarily in Educational Services (26.7%), Health Care & Social Assistance (20.2%), and Public Administration (7.4%). The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 12.1 years, suggesting that while the initial investment in education may take over a decade to recoup, the potential for higher earnings in these sectors provides a favorable return on investment. Overall, pursuing a degree in this field can be a financially viable choice for students committed to long-term career growth.

AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.

Compare with Another School

See how the Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General degree at University of Northern Colorado stacks up against another institution side-by-side.

Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.

Explore More