Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions at Milwaukee Area Technical College

Milwaukee Area Technical College's Mental and Social Health Services program starts strong but shows a troubling income decline by year four—$37,325 initially drops to $34,010. That 9% decrease matters because early career momentum typically works in the opposite direction. With modest debt of $23,799, graduates enter the field with manageable financial obligations, but the earnings trajectory raises questions about career stability or whether graduates are finding full-time positions in their field.

The program performs reasonably well against Wisconsin benchmarks, landing in the 60th percentile statewide, though Fox Valley Tech and Northcentral Tech graduates earn significantly more ($43,548 and $32,481 respectively after a year). Nationally, first-year earnings hit the 75th percentile, suggesting the program prepares students competitively. However, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64 is only middling, and that ratio worsens as income falls in subsequent years.

The small sample size here is crucial—with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers could swing considerably with just a few different outcomes. For an anxious parent, this means the data hints at potential concerns rather than confirming them. If your child is committed to mental health services, the manageable debt is a plus, but you'll want to understand why earnings decline and whether graduates are securing stable, full-time roles in their intended field before committing.