Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions at Hillsborough Community College

Hillsborough Community College's mental health services program sits squarely in the middle of Florida offerings—60th percentile statewide—but carries nearly double the typical debt load for this field in the state ($28,529 versus Florida's $15,505 median). That debt burden matters because even though graduates earn slightly above the Florida median initially, a 0.79 debt-to-earnings ratio means paying back nearly eight months of gross income, which is steep for an associate's degree in human services work.

The challenge here isn't the career path—mental health support roles are growing and meaningful work. It's that this specific program costs significantly more than comparable Florida options while producing similar employment outcomes. Palm Beach State College graduates, for instance, earn comparable salaries with presumably less debt. For a family where cost matters (and 42% of students here receive Pell grants), that difference compounds when you're trying to pay down loans on a $36,000 salary.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates tracked) adds uncertainty, but the debt disparity is clear enough. If your child is committed to this field and location matters, explore whether other Florida community colleges offer better financial packages. This program works as a credential, but there's likely a more affordable path to the same destination.