Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions at Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus

Eastern New Mexico graduates in this field earn about $40,600 right after graduation—solidly above both the state median ($34,750) and national average. At the 60th percentile statewide, it's the stronger option among New Mexico's four programs offering this degree. The first-year earnings look promising, but there's virtually no growth over the next three years, with incomes plateauing around $41,000. That puts graduates near the national 75th percentile initially, but most similar programs see more substantial salary progression in those early career years.

The debt picture is where this program stumbles. At $20,378, graduates carry the state median debt but land in the 95th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of comparable programs nationwide saddle students with less debt. The 0.50 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't catastrophic, but it's higher than you'd want for a field where starting salaries cap out in the low forties. Given that many students here receive Pell grants (32%), that debt load matters more for families without financial cushion.

For New Mexico residents, this program gets you into the workforce earning more than peers at other state schools. But the flat earnings trajectory and above-average debt mean your child should have a clear plan for advancement—whether that's graduate school, licensure, or moving into management—rather than counting on automatic salary growth in those first years.