Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions at Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global

The standout issue here is debt: while Indiana Wesleyan's mental health program produces earnings at the 60th percentile statewide—actually topping all eight Indiana programs offering this degree—graduates carry $44,811 in debt, nearly double the $27,000 national median. That debt load equals 111% of first-year earnings, a concerning ratio in a field where starting salaries hover around $40,000. Nearly half of students receive Pell grants, suggesting many come from families without financial cushion to absorb this debt burden.

The earnings picture offers little relief. Graduates see their income slip slightly from $40,426 to $39,635 between years one and four, eliminating the hope that early career advancement might ease the debt pressure. Mental and social health services roles often require additional credentials or graduate degrees for meaningful salary growth, which means potentially taking on more debt before seeing financial returns.

For families considering this program, the calculation is stark: your child will likely lead the state in earnings for this field but will also carry debt that takes years to overcome. If they're passionate about mental health work and understand they're signing up for a decade of careful budgeting, this could work. But if graduate school is in the picture—and in this field, it often is—starting with $45,000 in undergraduate debt makes that path considerably harder.