Human Services at Lees-McRae College

Lees-McRae's human services graduates earn modest salaries—$34,811 in their first year—but carry exceptionally low debt loads of just $15,750. This debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45 represents one of the best financing pictures nationally for this field, where the typical graduate owes nearly double at $31,573. Within North Carolina, this program ranks solidly in the middle for earnings (60th percentile), outperforming the state median of $32,843, even while charging roughly half the typical debt burden.

The reality check: human services careers don't generate high early earnings anywhere. Lees-McRae's graduates earn about $2,000 below the national median, landing in the 31st percentile nationally. But this isn't really a Lees-McRae problem—it's a field-level reality. The top North Carolina programs (Wingate and Lenoir-Rhyne) produce nearly identical earnings outcomes, meaning location and salary compression in nonprofit and social service work limit early career pay regardless of where you train.

For families comfortable with human services careers, the financial structure here works. Your child would graduate with manageable debt that won't crush their ability to afford life on a helping profession salary. Just understand that "$35,000 to start" is the earnings reality of this path, not a reflection of this particular college's quality.