Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions at Central Michigan University

The $31,000 debt load here sits well below both national and Michigan medians for this field, which matters given that first-year earnings of $40,333 barely inch above typical starting salaries. While Central Michigan ranks in the 60th percentile among Michigan programs—slightly above the state median—the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means a few outliers could be skewing these numbers either direction.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77 is actually manageable in a field known more for its mission than its paychecks. You're looking at roughly $350 monthly loan payments on a $40K salary, which is tight but workable. What's encouraging is that Central Michigan gets graduates into the field without the crushing debt that plagues many social services programs. Still, with Davenport showing similar work leading to $900 more annually, and given the limited sample here, it's worth questioning whether Central Michigan's approach in this program is truly refined or if these numbers are just statistical noise.

For a family comfortable with the uncertainty of a small program, the relatively low debt provides a safety net. But if your student is set on mental health services, ask Central Michigan directly about recent graduate outcomes and job placement—with only a handful of graduates, they should know each story intimately.