Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions at Anne Arundel Community College

First-year earnings of $39,370 place this program well above the national median for mental health associate's degrees—at the 84th percentile nationally—though that strong start doesn't tell the whole story. The concerning pattern here is what happens next: earnings drop to $30,864 by year four, a 22% decline that's unusual for any credential and suggests many graduates may be using this degree as a stepping stone rather than a terminal qualification. Based on comparable community college programs nationally, graduates typically carry about $17,600 in debt, producing a manageable 0.45 debt-to-earnings ratio in that promising first year.

The real question is whether that initial earnings advantage holds up. Within Maryland, this program sits at the 60th percentile—solid but not exceptional—and the backward earnings trajectory raises practical concerns about career progression without further education. Many mental health support roles have strict licensing requirements or favor bachelor's-prepared candidates for advancement, which could explain why earnings peak immediately and then decline as peers with four-year degrees move ahead.

For a student planning to transfer and complete a bachelor's degree, this could be a cost-effective start. For someone hoping this associate's degree alone will launch a sustainable career in mental health services, that earnings decline should prompt serious questions about what happens after year one and whether additional credentials will be necessary to maintain earning power.