Human Services at Ottawa University-Surprise

Ottawa University-Surprise's Human Services program places graduates near the middle of a crowded field, but the financial fundamentals are concerning. First-year earnings of $35,168 fall below both the national median ($36,630) and the top Arizona program by over $4,000, while graduates carry nearly $40,000 in debt—26% higher than the national median for this degree. That 1.13 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates face more than a year's salary in student loans, a heavy burden for a helping profession that rarely commands premium wages.

Within Arizona's limited landscape of four programs, this sits squarely at the median for both earnings and debt, suggesting the challenge isn't unique to Ottawa but reflects broader market realities for human services work in the state. The program serves a largely working-class population (37% Pell recipients) at a selective institution, yet the outcomes don't justify the debt load when University of Phoenix graduates in the same field earn $4,400 more annually while carrying identical debt.

For families considering this path, the math is straightforward: borrowing $40,000 to earn $35,000 creates immediate financial pressure that compounds in a field where advancement often requires additional graduate education. Unless your student has significant scholarship support that drastically reduces borrowing, this program's cost structure doesn't align with human services salary realities.