Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions at Kennebec Valley Community College

Kennebec Valley Community College's Mental Health Services program launches graduates into the workforce earning $6,400 above the national median—placing it in the 84th percentile nationally. That's a significant premium for an associate's degree that keeps debt below $20,000. However, the small number of graduates in this sample means these figures might not tell the full story for future students.

The earnings decline over four years—from $39,351 to $35,524—warrants attention. This pattern might reflect the program's paraprofessional focus, where early roles hit their ceiling quickly, or it could simply be noise from the small sample. Among Maine's three schools offering this program, KVCC sits at the state median, so this appears to be typical for the field in-state rather than a school-specific issue.

With a debt-to-earnings ratio under 0.50 and starting pay that beats three-quarters of similar programs nationwide, this represents solid workforce preparation for students interested in mental health support roles. Just recognize that career advancement may require additional credentials down the line, and verify these outcomes with the school directly given the limited data available.