Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions at Metropolitan State University

Metropolitan State graduates in this field start at $56,516—solidly above both the national median ($40,004) and Minnesota's median ($50,058). That 95th percentile national ranking is impressive. The catch? This premium comes with $42,688 in debt, nearly $11,500 more than typical Minnesota graduates in this field carry.

Here's the real tension: while these starting salaries beat most programs nationally, they sit in the middle of the pack for Minnesota (60th percentile). You're paying more than students at Saint Cloud State or Minnesota State-Mankato but earning comparable or slightly higher wages. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76 is manageable—borrowers would dedicate about 9 months of first-year salary to their loans—but it's not the bargain you might expect from a public university serving many Pell-eligible students.

The slight earnings dip by year four ($665 less) likely reflects career paths rather than a problem with the program itself. Many social services roles offer steady pay but limited early-career growth. For families comfortable with above-average borrowing in exchange for strong immediate placement in a helping profession, this works. But if minimizing debt is the priority, comparable Minnesota programs deliver similar outcomes for $10,000+ less in loans.