Location: Lexington, KY•In-State Tuition: $13,212•Out-of-State Tuition: $33,406•Admission Rate: 92%•Avg SAT: 1213
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$40,005
Est. from national median (48 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$26,000
Est. from national median (34 programs)

Analysis

The $26,000 in typical debt at University of Kentucky appears manageable for a mental and social health services degree when peer programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $40,000. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65, graduates from comparable programs would be looking at roughly 65 cents of debt for every dollar earned in that first year—a proportion that most financial aid advisors consider reasonable for a bachelor's degree leading to human services work.

What's striking is the wide disparity within Kentucky itself. While national benchmarks suggest $40,000 in early earnings, the only other Kentucky program with published data shows graduates earning just $21,000—nearly half as much. This could reflect differences in program focus, career preparation, or the types of positions graduates pursue, but it underscores that not all mental health bachelor's programs produce similar outcomes. UK's alignment with national rather than state figures is encouraging, though it's worth noting these are estimates based on similar programs elsewhere, not tracked outcomes from UK's specific graduates.

The practical question is whether this credential opens doors to jobs that justify the investment. Many entry-level positions in mental and social health services require supervision and further credentialing, which means additional time and money beyond the bachelor's degree. If your student plans to pursue graduate training—common in this field—that $26,000 will be the starting point, not the total debt burden. For those entering the workforce directly, estimated earnings suggest the debt is serviceable, but career advancement may depend heavily on gaining licensure or advanced degrees.

Where University of Kentucky Stands

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

University of Kentucky (estimated ±10%)Other mental and social health services and allied professions programs

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Kentucky

Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Kentucky (5 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
University of KentuckyLexington$13,212$40,005*—$26,000*—
University of the CumberlandsWilliamsburg$9,875$21,137*—$22,750*1.08
National Median—$40,004*—$27,000*0.67
* Estimated from similar programs

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 University of Kentucky, approximately 22% 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.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 48 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.