Human Services at Harcum College

Harcum's Human Services associate's program lands squarely in the middle of Pennsylvania's landscape—exactly at the state median for both earnings and debt—but trails the national average by about $5,000 annually. While graduates see modest income growth to nearly $30,000 by year four, they're starting $26,000 behind what peers at Harrisburg Area Community College earn right out of the gate. That gap matters in a field where starting salaries are already tight.

The debt load of $23,540 isn't catastrophic, but it represents nearly 90% of first-year earnings. For comparison, many community colleges offering the same program keep debt well under $15,000. Given that over half of Harcum students receive Pell grants, this debt burden likely hits families who can least afford it. The 13% earnings growth over four years helps, but doesn't fundamentally change the economics.

For parents weighing this program: your child would graduate with higher debt than necessary for outcomes that are merely average within Pennsylvania. Unless Harcum offers specific advantages—location, support services, or connections to local employers—community college alternatives deliver similar or better earnings at substantially lower cost. In human services, where passion for the work often matters more than credentials, minimizing debt should be the priority.