Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions at Forsyth Technical Community College

The standout feature here is debt: Forsyth Tech graduates carry $24,750 in loans, well below both the state median of $31,000 and the national median of $19,132 adjusted for context. That's landing in the 25th percentile nationally for debt—meaning three-quarters of similar programs leave students with more to repay. With first-year earnings of $32,928, the debt-to-income ratio of 0.75 suggests manageable repayment, especially when you consider this program performs above the state median despite matching national earnings exactly.

The concern is what happens next. Earnings drop to $29,169 by year four—an 11% decline that's unusual for allied health fields, where experience typically increases compensation. This could reflect graduates moving between employers during credentialing processes, shifting to part-time work, or the realities of entry-level positions in substance abuse counseling and social services support roles. With a sample size under 30 graduates, it's also possible a few individual career paths are skewing the data.

For families weighing this investment, the lower debt load creates breathing room that many NC programs don't offer. The immediate post-graduation salary covers basic living expenses in Winston-Salem, and if your student plans to pursue a bachelor's degree later, they're starting with less financial burden than peers at most other schools. Just understand that career advancement in this field often requires additional credentials—and the numbers suggest that progression takes time.