Home › Majors › Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions

Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions Degree

48 schools compared · Average earnings $38,857/yr

Students study counseling techniques, substance abuse treatment, crisis intervention, and community mental health approaches for supporting individuals with behavioral and emotional challenges. Graduates typically pursue careers as mental health counselors, substance abuse counselors, community health workers, and behavioral health technicians in clinics, hospitals, and social service agencies. The growing recognition of mental health needs is driving strong demand and expanding career opportunities in this field.

What Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions Graduates Do

Your degree prepares you for a career on the front lines of human support. As a child or family social worker, your days are varied and challenging: you might conduct home visits to assess a child's safety, connect struggling parents with housing resources, or testify in court. In a healthcare setting, you’ll be the crucial link between patients and the medical system, helping families navigate complex diagnoses and plan for post-hospital care. Many start with direct client-facing work and, with experience and licensure, advance to supervise teams, manage community programs, or open a private practice.

Demand is surging for roles like psychiatric technicians and mental health social workers, reflecting a growing national focus on mental well-being. Other paths, like clergy, are seeing slower growth. The core of this work—building trust, de-escalating crises, and providing empathetic counsel—is fundamentally human. While AI might streamline paperwork, it can't replicate the hands-on, interpersonal skills required to navigate complex family dynamics or support someone through a health crisis. This makes your ability to connect with people a durable and valuable career asset.

Schools Offering

Avg Grad Earnings

$38,857/yr

Avg DegreeOutlook Score

49/100

AI Automation Risk

Moderate

40% task exposure

Common Career Paths

Where Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions graduates typically work, ranked by salary. Salary ranges show 25th–75th percentile spread. This field has roughly 199,000 combined openings per year.

Career Path	Salary Range	Openings/yr	Growth	AI Risk
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary	$105,620 $74K$176K	27,400	+17.3%	48%
Clinical and counseling psychologists	$95,830 $67K$132K	4,800	+11.2%	37%
Psychology teachers, postsecondary	$80,330 $62K$107K	4,000	+3.6%	48%
Social workers, all other	$69,480 $52K$95K	7,000	+3.9%	0%
Healthcare social workers	$68,090 $55K$83K	18,400	+7.7%	34%
Marriage and family therapists	$63,780 $49K$85K	7,700	+12.6%	11%
Health education specialists	$63,000 $50K$84K	7,900	+4.5%	53%
Clergy	$60,820 $47K$76K	23,000	+1.0%	33%
Mental health and substance abuse social workers	$60,060 $47K$79K	13,500	+9.7%	27%
Child, family, and school social workers	$58,570 $47K$74K	35,100	+3.4%	24%
Directors, religious activities and education	$54,840 $42K$75K	13,800	+2.1%	44%
Community health workers	$51,030 $44K$63K	7,800	+11.3%	32%
Counselors, all other	$49,830 $43K$67K	7,400	+12.6%	0%
Psychiatric technicians	$42,590 $37K–$49K	15,900	+20.0%	12%
Psychiatric aides	$41,590 $36K–$49K	5,300	-0.4%	12%

Health specialties teachers, postsecondary

$105,620

$74K $176K

27,400 openings/yr +17.3% growth 48% AI risk

Clinical and counseling psychologists

$95,830

$67K $132K

4,800 openings/yr +11.2% growth 37% AI risk

Psychology teachers, postsecondary

$80,330

$62K $107K

4,000 openings/yr +3.6% growth 48% AI risk

Social workers, all other

$69,480

$52K $95K

7,000 openings/yr +3.9% growth 0% AI risk

Healthcare social workers

$68,090

$55K $83K

18,400 openings/yr +7.7% growth 34% AI risk

Marriage and family therapists

$63,780

$49K $85K

7,700 openings/yr +12.6% growth 11% AI risk

Health education specialists

$63,000

$50K $84K

7,900 openings/yr +4.5% growth 53% AI risk

Clergy

$60,820

$47K $76K

23,000 openings/yr +1.0% growth 33% AI risk

Mental health and substance abuse social workers

$60,060

$47K $79K

13,500 openings/yr +9.7% growth 27% AI risk

Child, family, and school social workers

$58,570

$47K $74K

35,100 openings/yr +3.4% growth 24% AI risk

Directors, religious activities and education

$54,840

$42K $75K

13,800 openings/yr +2.1% growth 44% AI risk

Community health workers

$51,030

$44K $63K

7,800 openings/yr +11.3% growth 32% AI risk

Counselors, all other

$49,830

$43K $67K

7,400 openings/yr +12.6% growth 0% AI risk

Psychiatric technicians

$42,590

$37K–$49K

15,900 openings/yr +20.0% growth 12% AI risk

Psychiatric aides

$41,590

$36K–$49K

5,300 openings/yr -0.4% growth 12% AI risk

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. Salary range shows 25th–median–75th percentile (national).

Best Schools for Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions

Top 20 of 48 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full AI scenario analysis and earnings projections.

#	School	DW Score	Earnings	ROI
1	Metropolitan State University Saint Paul, MN	68 67–68	$56,516/yr	14.0x
2	Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud, MN	66 66–66	$50,058/yr	13.9x
3	University of Kansas Lawrence, KS	64 66–64	$42,480/yr	13.8x
4	University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA	61 61–61	$58,269/yr	2.4x
5	Ohio University-Eastern Campus Saint Clairsville, OH	61 65–62	$40,516/yr	21.5x
6	Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus Chillicothe, OH	61 65–62	$40,516/yr	21.5x
7	Ohio University-Southern Campus Ironton, OH	61 65–62	$40,516/yr	21.5x
8	Ohio University-Lancaster Campus Lancaster, OH	61 65–62	$40,516/yr	21.5x
9	Ohio University-Zanesville Campus Zanesville, OH	61 65–62	$40,516/yr	21.5x
10	Minnesota State University-Mankato Mankato, MN	60 60–60	$46,691/yr	12.5x
11	Western Washington University Bellingham, WA	58 58–58	$46,770/yr	11.6x
12	Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus Portales, NM	57 60–57	$40,645/yr	16.6x
13	Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL	56 59–56	$41,139/yr	10.4x
14	Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global Marion, IN	54 57–54	$40,426/yr	13.3x
15	University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Cincinnati, OH	53 54–53	$46,270/yr	7.5x
16	Ohio University-Main Campus Athens, OH	53 56–53	$40,516/yr	9.1x
17	Columbia Southern University Orange Beach, AL	53 59–54	$38,439/yr	18.2x
18	University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD	52 55–52	$41,191/yr	11.1x
19	William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne, NJ	51 56–52	$39,228/yr	8.6x
20	Worcester State University Worcester, MA	51 57–52	$37,345/yr	11.2x
21	James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA	51 60–52	$33,971/yr	11.4x
22	Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NH	50 52–51	$43,886/yr	5.7x
23	Washburn University Topeka, KS	50 52–50	$41,632/yr	10.0x
24	Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI	50 54–50	$40,333/yr	8.1x
25	University of Maine at Augusta Augusta, ME	48 53–48	$39,109/yr	11.1x
26	New Mexico Highlands University Las Vegas, NM	48 57–49	$34,750/yr	15.4x
27	Davenport University Grand Rapids, MI	46 49–47	$41,225/yr	3.4x
28	Western Connecticut State University Danbury, CT	46 53–47	$36,070/yr	9.2x
29	Indiana State University Terre Haute, IN	45 51–45	$37,268/yr	9.8x
30	University of Arizona Tucson, AZ	44 50–45	$37,992/yr	7.6x
31	Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA	44 50–45	$37,645/yr	8.2x
32	California State University-Fresno Fresno, CA	44 53–44	$27,228/yr	16.6x
33	Ashford University San Diego, CA	43 47–44	$39,676/yr	6.4x
34	Lackawanna College Scranton, PA	43 49–44	$37,845/yr	4.3x
35	Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ	43 49–43	$37,693/yr	5.8x
36	Rhode Island College Providence, RI	43 50–44	$37,320/yr	8.7x
37	University of Central Arkansas Conway, AR	43 53–45	$32,618/yr	11.4x
38	Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, IN	42 51–43	$34,603/yr	10.6x
39	Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion Marion, IN	41 45–42	$40,426/yr	2.8x
40	Drexel University Philadelphia, PA	40 43–40	$41,891/yr	1.4x
41	Northern Michigan University Marquette, MI	40 49–41	$35,196/yr	7.6x
42	Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX	40 48–41	$34,671/yr	5.6x
43	Purdue University Global West Lafayette, IN	40 49–41	$33,954/yr	7.4x
44	Alvernia University Reading, PA	39 42–39	$41,115/yr	1.7x
45	Northwestern State University of Louisiana Natchitoches, LA	38 46–39	$24,340/yr	12.0x
46	University of Maine at Farmington Farmington, ME	34 43–34	$27,344/yr	5.2x
47	New Mexico State University-Main Campus Las Cruces, NM	34 43–35	$25,631/yr	6.9x
48	University of the Cumberlands Williamsburg, KY	32 37–32	$21,137/yr	4.4x

Highest Earning Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions Programs

Schools where Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School	1-Year Earnings	DW Score
University of Pennsylvania	$58,269/yr	61
Metropolitan State University	$56,516/yr	68
Saint Cloud State University	$50,058/yr	66
Western Washington University	$46,770/yr	58
Minnesota State University-Mankato	$46,691/yr	60
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus	$46,270/yr	53
Southern New Hampshire University	$43,886/yr	50
University of Kansas	$42,480/yr	64
Drexel University	$41,891/yr	40
Washburn University	$41,632/yr	50

Best ROI for Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions.

School	ROI Multiple	Earnings	DW Score
Ohio University-Eastern Campus	21.5x	$40,516/yr	61
Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus	21.5x	$40,516/yr	61
Ohio University-Southern Campus	21.5x	$40,516/yr	61
Ohio University-Lancaster Campus	21.5x	$40,516/yr	61
Ohio University-Zanesville Campus	21.5x	$40,516/yr	61
Columbia Southern University	18.2x	$38,439/yr	53
Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus	16.6x	$40,645/yr	57
California State University-Fresno	16.6x	$27,228/yr	44
New Mexico Highlands University	15.4x	$34,750/yr	48
Metropolitan State University	14.0x	$56,516/yr	68

Want to compare two Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions programs side by side? Use the comparison tool →

Related Majors

Explore similar fields of study.

Consider the Trade Route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions graduates earn?

Across 48 schools, Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions graduates earn an average of $38,857 per year in their first year after graduation. Earnings range from $21,137 to $58,269 depending on the school.

What is the AI automation risk for Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions?

Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions is rated "Moderate" for AI automation risk, with an average of 40% of job tasks exposed to large language models and AI tools. This means some career tasks in this field could be augmented or replaced by AI over the next decade.

Which school has the best Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions program?

Based on our DegreeOutlook Score (combining earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and ROI), Metropolitan State University ranks #1 for Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions with a score of 68/100 and graduate earnings of $56,516/yr.

What's the outlook for a Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions degree?

On average, Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions graduates earn 10.4x their in-state tuition over 10 years. This is a strong return on investment.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →