Human Services at Excelsior University

With $31,573 in debt and first-year earnings estimated around $41,000 based on comparable New York programs, this bachelor's degree lands right at the national median for debt and sits in the middle of the pack for the state. The 0.77 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates would likely need to dedicate roughly three-quarters of their first year's salary to eliminate their student loans—a significant but not uncommon burden for human services careers, which tend toward public sector and nonprofit work where advancement takes time.

The estimation here matters because Excelsior's graduate sample was too small for the Department of Education to publish actual outcomes. Looking at reported data from other New York programs shows a tight range: top performers like St. Joseph's and CUNY City Tech graduate students earning in the low $40,000s, while Mercy sits notably lower at $37,000. If Excelsior's outcomes track closer to the state median (which these estimates suggest), graduates would match peers at Syracuse and Touro—respectable but not standout.

The financial picture becomes workable if your child plans to pursue Public Service Loan Forgiveness or employer-sponsored repayment assistance, both common in human services. Without those supports, $31,573 in debt on a $41,000 salary requires careful budgeting in those crucial first years. Given the uncertainty around Excelsior's specific outcomes, ask the school directly about graduate employment rates and whether their alumni qualify for income-driven repayment programs at typical employer types.