Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions at Gateway Technical College

Gateway Technical College's mental health services program sits near the bottom of both national and Wisconsin rankings, with first-year earnings of $28,094 falling below the state median by $2,200 and the national median by nearly $5,000. Within Wisconsin, this program trails significantly behind the top performers—Fox Valley Technical College graduates earn $43,548, more than 50% higher than Gateway students. Even at the 40th percentile statewide, Gateway places closer to the bottom than the middle of Wisconsin options.

The $22,350 debt load may seem manageable on paper, but it represents nearly 80% of first-year earnings, and those earnings stay stubbornly low even after four years. While the 10% growth to $30,824 shows some upward trajectory, graduates are still earning less than what their peers at several other Wisconsin technical colleges make right out of the gate. For context, Milwaukee Area Technical College and Northcentral Technical College both produce graduates earning over $32,000 initially.

If your child is committed to mental health services work in Wisconsin, other technical colleges offer demonstrably better returns on the same investment of time and tuition. Gateway's program isn't disastrously expensive, but the combination of below-average earnings and limited growth makes it a weaker choice when stronger alternatives exist within the state system.