Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions at Ohio University-Main Campus

Ohio University's mental health services program sits squarely in the middle of the pack—matching the state median at $40,516 first-year earnings and landing in the 60th percentile among Ohio programs. With $26,000 in typical debt (also matching the state median), graduates face manageable repayment at 64% of first-year income. The modest 5% earnings bump to $42,687 by year four suggests steady but unspectacular career progression in a field not known for dramatic salary growth.

The real challenge here is comparative value. University of Cincinnati graduates in this same field earn $46,270—nearly $6,000 more annually—which compounds significantly over a career. That's an extra $24,000 in earnings by year four alone. Given Ohio University's 85% admission rate, families should consider whether the Athens campus offers sufficient non-financial benefits (campus culture, specific faculty expertise, location preference) to justify choosing it over Cincinnati when the financial outcomes clearly favor the latter.

For a student committed to mental health services work and preferring Ohio University's campus, the debt load won't be crushing. But this is a choose-with-eyes-open situation: you're selecting lifestyle and fit over financial optimization, and in a helping profession where every dollar of debt matters to long-term quality of life.