Human Services at University of Scranton

The $26,000 debt burden here stands out—it's substantially below both the Pennsylvania median of $42,463 and the national figure of $31,573 for human services bachelor's degrees. While the university's first-year earnings estimate of $35,081 comes from peer programs across Pennsylvania, the fourth-year figure of $49,749 is actually reported for Scranton graduates, showing meaningful progression in a field where starting salaries typically hover in the mid-$30,000s nationally.

What makes this program worth examining is that debt-to-earnings balance. Similar programs in Pennsylvania produce first-year earnings clustering around $35,000, making the sub-$30,000 debt load relatively manageable for a human services career. The jump to nearly $50,000 by year four suggests graduates find pathways to supervisory roles or positions with better compensation structures, though human services broadly remains a modest-earning field where passion and purpose often matter more than peak salary potential.

For parents of students drawn to helping professions, Scranton's lower borrowing requirement compared to other Pennsylvania schools creates breathing room that matters in social work, counseling support, and community services roles. The estimated figures suggest your child would start somewhere near the state average for the field while carrying notably less debt than most peers—a combination that makes the mission-driven work more financially sustainable.