Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions at Pueblo Community College

Pueblo Community College's Mental and Social Health Services program produces first-year earnings of $59,198—an impressive figure that lands in the 95th percentile nationally, nearly double the $32,312 typical for these certificates. While the estimated debt of $16,384 is drawn from national peer programs rather than this school's actual graduates, that projected debt load relative to these strong earnings creates a 0.28 debt-to-earnings ratio that would be quite manageable under most circumstances.

The caveat is Colorado's context. That $59,198 sits at just the 60th percentile within the state, suggesting Colorado's mental and social health services market either pays significantly better than most states or that local programs are particularly effective at launching graduates into higher-paying roles. With only six programs statewide, this is a relatively specialized credential in Colorado, which may explain the higher baseline. The estimated debt—based on what students typically borrow for similar certificates at community colleges—represents about 3.3 months of first-year earnings.

For anxious parents, the key question is whether this certificate alone opens doors to those $59k roles, or whether it's a stepping stone requiring additional credentials. Given the national data shows most similar programs lead to half these earnings, there's likely something distinctive about either this program's curriculum, Colorado's market, or both. The financial math looks solid if those earnings materialize, but confirming what roles graduates actually enter would be worth a direct conversation with the program.