Human Services at Delaware Technical Community College-Terry

Delaware Tech-Terry's Human Services program delivers one clear advantage: debt you can actually handle. At $9,240, graduates owe less than half the national median for this degree, and with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30, most students could realistically pay this off within a year of focused repayment. That's rare for any college program and makes this a financially accessible entry point into social services work.

The earnings tell a more modest story. Starting at just under $31,000 and climbing to $33,860 after four years, graduates earn slightly below the national median but rank in the 60th percentile among Delaware programs (though notably, this appears to be the only associate's-level Human Services program in the state). The 10% earnings growth is steady if unspectacular. For context, this income level reflects the realities of community-based social services work—meaningful but not highly compensated.

For families concerned about college debt, this program minimizes financial risk while providing credentials for stable employment in healthcare support, community outreach, or nonprofit work. The low debt load means graduates have flexibility to pursue passion-driven careers without being forced into higher-paying alternatives just to service loans. If your student is drawn to helping professions and wants to start working quickly, this represents a practical, low-risk pathway—just understand the salary ceiling that comes with this career field.