Human Services at Doane University

Doane's Human Services program positions itself above the national median, with first-year earnings of $38,613 landing in the 64th percentile nationally. However, the state comparison reveals an important complication: while graduates match Nebraska's median earnings for the program, they carry significantly more debt—$35,959 compared to the state median of $23,136. That's $12,800 more borrowed for the same initial salary outcome.

The bigger concern is what happens after graduation. Earnings actually slip to $37,067 by year four, a 4% decline that's unusual for a bachelor's degree. This stagnation, combined with the debt load just under their first-year salary (0.93 ratio), means graduates will spend several years paying down loans while their income remains flat. For context, only three Nebraska schools offer this program, so limited in-state competition exists, but the debt differential suggests Doane's private school tuition may not translate to better career outcomes.

For parents considering this program, the calculus is straightforward: your child would start with respectable earnings but shoulder considerably more debt than typical Nebraska graduates in this field. Unless Doane offers substantial scholarships to reduce that gap, a less expensive path to the same credential would leave your graduate in a stronger financial position during those crucial first post-college years.