Human Services at Rasmussen University-North Dakota

Rasmussen's Human Services program charges significantly more than typical for this field—graduates carry $46,312 in debt compared to the national median of $31,573—but the earnings outcome tells a surprisingly positive story. At $40,125, first-year earnings land at the 75th percentile nationally for this degree, meaning graduates out-earn three-quarters of their peers across the country. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.15 sits just above the 1:1 ideal, but it's far more manageable than many programs that saddle students with 1.5x or 2x their starting salary.

The North Dakota context is less helpful here—with only three schools offering this program in the state, the comparison pool is too small to draw meaningful conclusions. What matters more is that Human Services professionals typically face modest starting salaries nationwide (the national median is just $36,630), making Rasmussen's premium over that figure meaningful. Nearly half the student body receives Pell grants, suggesting the program serves students who need these above-average earnings.

For families weighing the debt load, here's the practical reality: that $46,000 will translate to roughly $500 monthly loan payments on a standard plan. With take-home pay around $2,800 monthly, it's tight but workable—especially since Human Services careers often offer loan forgiveness programs for those working in nonprofit or public sector roles. The higher debt is real, but you're paying for earnings that actually exceed what most Human Services graduates achieve.