Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions at University of St Francis

Illinois offers just a handful of mental and social health services bachelor's programs, and the estimated outcomes here—$40,005 in first-year earnings against $30,214 in debt—land squarely in the middle of what similar programs produce nationally. That 0.76 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests borrowers would dedicate about three-quarters of their first year's salary to student loans, a manageable if not comfortable burden for a field known more for its social mission than its paychecks.

The challenge with this program is that we're working entirely with estimates drawn from peer institutions, since the University of St Francis hasn't reported actual graduate outcomes. Northern Illinois University, the only Illinois school with published data for this major, reports slightly higher earnings at $41,139, suggesting the market for these graduates in Illinois is relatively consistent. But without knowing whether University of St Francis alumni fare better or worse than that benchmark, families are essentially betting on the regional average.

For parents considering this investment, the key question is whether your student is committed to a career path where graduate education is often necessary—many roles in mental health services require a master's degree for licensure and better pay. If this bachelor's is a stepping stone rather than the endpoint, make sure to factor in the cost and debt of that additional schooling. The estimated debt load here is moderate enough to leave room for graduate programs, but only if your family borrows carefully at the undergraduate level.