Human Services at Chestnut Hill College

Chestnut Hill College's Human Services program charges premium debt ($43,125) but delivers top-tier earnings that may justify the investment. Graduates earn $40,336 in their first year—outperforming 76% of similar programs nationally and 60% within Pennsylvania. More importantly, while most human services programs in PA cluster around $35,000, Chestnut Hill graduates start $5,000 higher and reach $44,644 by year four, an 11% increase that suggests meaningful career progression.

The debt burden sits just above Pennsylvania's state median for this field ($42,463) but below the national median ($31,573), creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.07. This means graduates owe roughly one year's salary—manageable territory for a helping profession, especially given that 47% of students receive Pell grants. For context, the top-earning program in the state (Pennsylvania College of Technology) produces graduates earning $4,500 less annually than Chestnut Hill.

For families drawn to social services work, this program delivers stronger financial outcomes than nearly any alternative in Pennsylvania. The debt is real but proportional to earnings that actually allow graduates to both serve their communities and service their loans. If your child is committed to human services, they're unlikely to find better earning potential at other Pennsylvania schools.