Human Services at Mount Saint Mary College

Four years into their careers, Mount Saint Mary College human services graduates earn a median of $52,318—a figure that stands out in a field where many programs plateau earlier. The challenge lies in the journey there: first-year earnings hover around $41,000 based on comparable New York programs, paired with $29,250 in debt. That translates to owing about 71% of a first-year salary, not an ideal starting position but manageable compared to many bachelor's programs.

The four-year earnings trajectory tells a more promising story than the estimated first-year numbers suggest. While peer programs like St. Joseph's University-New York show slightly higher initial earnings ($43,105), the gap narrows considerably by year four when Mount Saint Mary graduates are earning within striking distance of the state median. Human services careers often require time to progress into supervisory or specialized roles that command better pay, and the $52,318 four-year figure suggests graduates are successfully making that transition.

For parents weighing this investment, the key question is whether your child can weather modest starting pay while building toward better long-term prospects. The debt load isn't crushing—it's below the state median for human services programs—but it's not negligible either. If your child is committed to this helping profession and understands they're building toward mid-career stability rather than immediate financial comfort, the trajectory looks reasonable. If they need higher starting pay to manage loans or living expenses, this field's typical earnings pattern could create real stress.