Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions at Drexel University

Drexel's mental health services program costs $6,375 less in student debt than the typical Pennsylvania program, while delivering earnings that sit right at the state median—a meaningful combination for a field where many graduates will enter nonprofit or agency work. At $41,891 first-year and climbing to $45,326 by year four, these outcomes outpace 78% of similar programs nationally, though they fall well short of Penn's exceptional $58,000+ figures.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64 suggests graduates can manage repayment, with debt equivalent to about eight months of first-year salary. That's reasonable for a helping profession, though the modest 8% earnings growth means income won't surge dramatically in those early career years. The relatively low debt here matters more than the earnings trajectory—you're avoiding the $40,000+ debt burdens that weigh down graduates at some comparable programs.

The caveat: fewer than 30 graduates reported data, so these figures could shift considerably with a larger sample. Still, if your child is committed to mental health work and values Drexel's co-op program for building clinical experience, the manageable debt load provides breathing room for the lower-paying but meaningful work common in this field.