Behavioral Sciences at Mid-America Christian University

Behavioral science programs across the country typically produce first-year earnings around $35,400, and similar private institutions suggest debt loads near $27,000—making this program's estimated profile closely aligned with national norms. What complicates the picture is that four years post-graduation, actual reported earnings for this program drop to $26,943, well below the first-year estimate. This backward trajectory is unusual and suggests either career path challenges or measurement quirks that should concern prospective students.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76 looks manageable on paper—roughly nine months of first-year income to pay off student loans. But that calculation assumes the estimated $35,400 income materializes, and the actual four-year figure raises questions about whether graduates maintain that earning power. For context, 40% of students here receive Pell grants, indicating significant financial need among the student body; taking on $27,000 in debt becomes riskier when family safety nets are limited.

Given that both earnings and debt figures are estimates drawn from peer institutions rather than this program's track record, you're essentially betting on an unproven outcome. The declining earnings pattern in available data suggests graduates may struggle to find their footing professionally. Before committing, your child should talk directly with recent alumni about their career outcomes and understand why this program's actual earnings data shows such an unexpected pattern.