Human Services at Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies

This program sits in an uncomfortable middle position—earning better than most Missouri Human Services programs (40th percentile statewide) yet still landing in just the 5th percentile nationally. Starting at $30,564 puts graduates roughly $6,000 behind the national median and $3,000 below Missouri's typical outcome, though they're not far off from nearby Missouri Baptist University.

The debt picture compounds the challenge. At $33,492, borrowers face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.10, meaning they owe more than their first year's salary. With 59% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here likely lack financial cushion to absorb that burden. While earnings do climb 22% to reach $37,173 by year four—eventually matching the national average—those early years of constrained income matter significantly for loan repayment timelines and general financial stability.

For a parent considering this program, the central question is whether the 40th percentile performance within Missouri justifies taking on above-average debt. Columbia College's graduates earn $7,000 more annually with similar borrowing levels, suggesting regional employers don't particularly reward Drury's continuing education approach. Unless your child has compelling reasons to choose this specific program format—perhaps the flexibility of continuing education—stronger options exist both within Missouri and nationally for entering human services work.