Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions at Purdue University Global

Purdue Global's mental health services program saddles graduates with nearly $47,000 in debt—more than 95% of comparable programs nationwide—while delivering first-year earnings of just $33,954. That's a debt burden 1.4 times annual salary, meaning graduates face roughly five years of debt payments even under standard repayment plans. With 48% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are stretching financially to begin with.

The earnings lag is significant: $6,000 below the national median and $3,300 below what Indiana grads typically earn in this field. Among Indiana's eight programs, this ranks near the middle for earnings (40th percentile) but carries by far the highest debt load. Indiana Wesleyan's programs, for instance, produce graduates earning $6,500 more annually while leaving them with similar or lower debt.

For an anxious parent, the math here is straightforward but challenging. Mental health services work is meaningful but rarely high-paying early in careers, and this program's debt level amplifies that reality. Unless your child has substantial scholarship support that dramatically reduces borrowing, Indiana Wesleyan or even Indiana State offer better financial positioning in the same field. The debt-to-earnings gap at Purdue Global will constrain your graduate's housing choices, savings ability, and career flexibility for years after college.