Human Services at Saint Leo University

Saint Leo's graduates earn modestly above the state median for human services programs—$36,312 versus $36,210—ranking in the 60th percentile among Florida's ten schools offering this degree. But that initial salary advantage evaporates quickly: by year four, earnings drop to $32,781, falling below what graduates from schools like Indian River State College maintain. The real concern is the debt load of $50,406, nearly double what students typically borrow at other Florida programs ($29,441 median) and well above the national average. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.39, graduates are borrowing roughly 16 months of their starting salary.

The math becomes difficult for a field where passion often matters as much as pay. Human services careers—whether in social work, counseling, or community outreach—rarely command high salaries, making that $50,000+ debt particularly challenging. You're looking at monthly payments that could strain a budget even while living frugally, and the declining earnings trajectory suggests limited room for financial growth in those critical early career years.

If your child is committed to human services, Florida has more affordable pathways to this career. Florida State College at Jacksonville produces similar outcomes with presumably lower debt, while Rasmussen graduates start at $40,125. Unless Saint Leo offers specific program features or connections worth the premium, the debt burden here creates unnecessary financial stress in a profession that's already financially modest.