Location: Lake Worth, FL•In-State Tuition: $3,050•Out-of-State Tuition: $10,910
Median Earnings (1yr)
$32,260
46th percentile
40th percentile in Florida
Median Debt
$15,505
19% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.48 ManageableSample: 16 graduates Limited data

Analysis

With a small sample size flagging caution, Palm Beach State's mental health services program appears to tread water rather than propel students forward. Graduates earn $32,260 in their first year—landing below both Florida's median ($34,108) and the national average for this field. Among Florida's dozen programs, this ranks in just the 40th percentile, with nearby Hillsborough Community College's graduates earning about $3,700 more annually. The debt load of $15,505 is manageable at roughly six months of first-year income, but that's the silver lining to what's otherwise an underwhelming earnings picture.

The real question for parents: why accept below-average outcomes when better alternatives exist in-state? Mental health services represent growing career fields, but this program isn't positioning graduates to capture that upside. The 38% Pell grant rate suggests the college serves students who need education to deliver strong returns, yet earnings here trail state and national benchmarks from day one.

For families considering this path, the limited sample size means these numbers could shift significantly year to year. But based on available evidence, students interested in mental health services would likely benefit more from exploring programs like Hillsborough's that demonstrate stronger graduate earnings. At minimum, investigate what explains the earnings gap before committing.

Where Palm Beach State College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all mental and social health services and allied professions associates's programs nationally

Palm Beach State CollegeOther mental and social health services and allied professions programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Palm Beach State College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Palm Beach State College earns $32k — 46th percentile among mental and social health services and allied professions associates programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in Florida

Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions associates's programs at peer institutions in Florida (12 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Palm Beach State CollegeLake Worth$3,050$32,260—$15,5050.48
Hillsborough Community CollegeTampa$2,506$35,956—$28,5290.79
National Median—$32,928—$19,1320.58

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with mental and social health services and allied professions graduates

Genetic Counselors

Assess individual or family risk for a variety of inherited conditions, such as genetic disorders and birth defects. Provide information to other healthcare providers or to individuals and families concerned with the risk of inherited conditions. Advise individuals and families to support informed decisionmaking and coping methods for those at risk. May help conduct research related to genetic conditions or genetic counseling.

$98,910/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Clinical and Counseling Psychologists

Assess, diagnose, and treat mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests. Help individuals with distress or maladjustment understand their problems through their knowledge of case history, interviews with patients, and theory. Provide individual or group counseling services to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal, social, educational, and vocational development and adjustment. May design behavior modification programs and consult with medical personnel regarding the best treatment for patients.

$94,310/yrJobs growth:

Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in psychology, such as child, clinical, and developmental psychology, and psychological counseling. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in social work. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Marriage and Family Therapists

Diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems. Apply psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques in the delivery of services to individuals, couples, and families for the purpose of treating such diagnosed nervous and mental disorders.

$63,780/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Health Education Specialists

Provide and manage health education programs that help individuals, families, and their communities maximize and maintain healthy lifestyles. Use data to identify community needs prior to planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating programs designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, policies, and environments. May link health systems, health providers, insurers, and patients to address individual and population health needs. May serve as resource to assist individuals, other health professionals, or the community, and may administer fiscal resources for health education programs.

$63,000/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Child, Family, and School Social Workers

Provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. May assist parents, arrange adoptions, and find foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy. May also advise teachers.

$61,330/yrJobs growth:

Healthcare Social Workers

Provide individuals, families, and groups with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses. Services include advising family caregivers. Provide patients with information and counseling, and make referrals for other services. May also provide case and care management or interventions designed to promote health, prevent disease, and address barriers to access to healthcare.

$61,330/yrJobs growth:

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

Assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education.

$61,330/yrJobs growth:

Social Workers, All Other

All social workers not listed separately.

$61,330/yrJobs growth:

Community Health Workers

Promote health within a community by assisting individuals to adopt healthy behaviors. Serve as an advocate for the health needs of individuals by assisting community residents in effectively communicating with healthcare providers or social service agencies. Act as liaison or advocate and implement programs that promote, maintain, and improve individual and overall community health. May deliver health-related preventive services such as blood pressure, glaucoma, and hearing screenings. May collect data to help identify community health needs.

$51,030/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Palm Beach State College, approximately 38% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 16 graduates with reported earnings and 31 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.