Human Services at Palm Beach State College

Peer programs in Florida suggest graduates with this bachelor's degree earn around $36,200 in their first year, while carrying roughly $28,000 in debt—a ratio that sits near the 0.78 mark. That's a manageable burden if this field aligns with your child's career goals, but the economics don't offer much cushion. Human services work is meaningful but rarely lucrative, and these estimates match the national pattern where even top-performing programs struggle to push earnings much past $40,000.

What complicates the picture here is that we're working entirely from estimates, not actual outcomes for Palm Beach State's graduates. The similar Florida programs producing these typical results include both community colleges and private universities, which can have vastly different student experiences and job placement networks. Some comparable schools see graduates earning closer to $40,000, while others fall below $34,000. For a field where steady employment matters more than high earnings potential, the quality of a school's community partnerships and internship pipeline becomes critical—details that debt and earnings estimates can't capture.

The practical question: Can your family afford debt payments of roughly $300 monthly on a $36,000 salary? If your child needs substantial loans beyond this median, or if they're uncertain about committing to social services work, the numbers become harder to justify. This is a career path that rewards commitment more than credentials alone.