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Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions doctoral degree outcomes at Western Carolina University

Name: Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions Doctoral Degree outcomes at Western Carolina University
Creator: U.S. Department of Education

Cullowhee, NC · Public · Federal field 5123

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are close to the same-degree benchmark.

$5,833 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: Not available
Positive-payoff price ceiling: $35,150 / year
10-year scenario: Withheld by data safeguards
Price evidence: College-wide context only

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+7%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$72,019 → $77,275

Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

35Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

48Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

Not availableBorrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

47Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

111Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

39Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

Not reportedPell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

95Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$54,745Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$77,060$22,315 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: Parent PLUS not reported · 33 Grad PLUS borrowers.

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$13,315

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWINGNot available

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$77,060

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENTNot available

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

Enter my price →

AVERAGE NET PRICE$13,315Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$19,992Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE81.8%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE60.3%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$72,019Year 1

$77,060Year 4

$77,275Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

Repayment pressure is not available

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$6,422

Estimated loan paymentNot available

Not availableborrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$77,060 vs. $82,893

$5,833 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.

Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$103,220 median wageNC estimate · 9,240 jobs · 25-1071+17.9% projected U.S. growth · 24.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeTherapists, All Other$60,400 median wageNC estimate · 530 jobs · 29-1129+12.6% projected U.S. growth · 3.6k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeRehabilitation Counselors$45,890 median wageNC estimate · 3,820 jobs · 21-1015+2.2% projected U.S. growth · 8.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreePhysical Therapists$99,910 median wageNC estimate · 7,350 jobs · 29-1123+11.9% projected U.S. growth · 13.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeOrthotists and Prosthetists$82,190 median wageNC estimate · 260 jobs · 29-2091+12.9% projected U.S. growth · 0.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeMedical Appliance Technicians$54,650 median wageNC estimate · 600 jobs · 51-9082+3.5% projected U.S. growth · 1.3k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentEngineers, All Other$112,450 median wageNC estimate · 4,270 jobs · 17-2199+3.7% projected U.S. growth · 8.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeLife Scientists, All Other$93,750 median wageU.S. estimate · 7,460 jobs · 19-1099+6.3% projected U.S. growth · 0.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeOccupational Therapists$92,940 median wageNC estimate · 4,490 jobs · 29-1122+14.8% projected U.S. growth · 10k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeExercise Physiologists$52,450 median wageNC estimate · 370 jobs · 29-1128+12.8% projected U.S. growth · 1.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeRecreational Therapists$51,030 median wageNC estimate · 440 jobs · 29-1125+4.8% projected U.S. growth · 1.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree

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