Human Services at University of New Hampshire-Main Campus

In New Hampshire, human services programs typically produce first-year earnings around $38,500, but UNH's graduates are estimated to start somewhat below that mark at $36,600. While this figure comes from national peer programs rather than UNH's actual outcomes, it suggests earnings potential that's roughly in line with the field's modest national baseline. The debt picture offers a silver lining: at an estimated $27,925, borrowing costs appear to run about $9,600 less than both the state and national medians for this major. That lighter debt load translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76—manageable territory where annual loan payments would consume a reasonable portion of entry-level income.

The fundamental challenge here isn't unique to UNH but endemic to human services as a career path. Across the country, bachelor's degree holders in this field face similar earnings realities, with even strong programs topping out around $40,000 in year one. The work is meaningful but compensation doesn't match the investment in time and tuition. For families considering this path at UNH, the lower estimated debt compared to peer programs provides some breathing room, but it doesn't fundamentally alter the financial equation. If your child is passionate about human services work, the lighter debt burden matters—but they should also understand that advancement and better compensation will likely require graduate education or strategic career pivots into adjacent fields like healthcare administration or nonprofit management.