Human Services at Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global

Indiana Wesleyan's online Human Services bachelor's shows concerning backwards momentum: graduates earn $37,366 their first year out, then see income drop to just $30,203 by year four—a 19% decline that runs counter to typical career progression. While first-year earnings place this program in the 60th percentile statewide, that advantage evaporates as the career trajectory sags.

The debt load of $40,228 looks manageable at first glance—actually below Indiana's median for this field—but becomes problematic when paired with declining earnings. That 1.08 debt-to-earnings ratio assumes you'll maintain first-year income levels, which the data suggests won't happen. The program serves a substantial population of Pell-eligible students (48%), making the backwards earnings trend particularly concerning for families who can least afford a degree that loses value over time.

Human services typically leads to steady, if modest, employment in social work, case management, and community health roles. The earnings decline here suggests graduates may be taking entry positions that don't develop into higher-level roles, or that this online format isn't providing the practical training and networking that lead to career advancement. Compare this to similar programs where earnings at least hold steady. For families banking on income growth to offset debt, this program's track record should raise red flags about long-term return on investment.