Human Services at Ohio University-Main Campus

Ohio University's Human Services bachelor's likely saddles graduates with around $27,925 in debt—roughly $5,000 less than the typical Ohio program in this field. Based on national benchmarks for similar programs, first-year earnings hover around $36,630, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76. That's manageable on paper, translating to debt equal to about nine months of gross income, but it assumes landing a job that pays the median wage immediately.

The challenge with human services degrees is that the national earnings figures themselves tell only part of the story. This field encompasses everything from case management to nonprofit administration, with significant variation in both pay and job availability. Programs across the country produce graduates earning anywhere from substantially less to modestly more than $40,000 in their first year. Whether Ohio University's specific curriculum, internship connections, and regional job network position graduates toward the higher or lower end of that range remains unclear from the available data.

For parents weighing this investment, the relatively lower estimated debt is encouraging, but the field's modest starting salaries mean every dollar borrowed matters. If your child is passionate about social services work, factor in that many positions require graduate credentials for advancement, potentially adding more debt. The loan burden here isn't crushing, but it leaves little room for error if job placement takes longer than expected or if your graduate enters at the field's lower pay bands.