Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions at Washburn University

Washburn's mental and social health services program sits in an unusual position: it outperforms three-quarters of similar programs nationwide but lands below the Kansas median. With first-year earnings of $41,632 against $31,000 in debt, graduates start with a manageable 0.74 debt-to-earnings ratio. However, the state comparison reveals that Kansas has a particularly strong cluster of these programs—University of Kansas graduates earn nearly $900 more right out of the gate, and the state median sits above Washburn's outcomes.

The bigger limitation here is practical rather than financial. Earnings barely budge between year one and year four, which suggests graduates quickly reach the ceiling for entry-level positions in this field. That's not necessarily alarming in social services work, where advancement often requires graduate credentials, but it does mean this bachelor's degree alone won't open doors to significantly higher compensation over time.

The small sample size (fewer than 30 graduates) means these figures could shift meaningfully year to year, making this more of a directional indicator than a guarantee. For families committed to keeping a student in Kansas and focused on social services careers, this program offers reasonable preparation at a reasonable cost. Just understand that in Kansas specifically, there are stronger options if your child has the credentials to access them.