Mental Health Servicesat Northern Illinois University
Graduates earn $41,139/yr in their first year — about 6.0% above the national Mental Health Services average. Base-case 10-year earnings $571K; scenarios range from $532K to $572K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Northern Illinois University
At $41,139 per year, Mental Health Services graduates from Northern Illinois University earn slightly above the $38,856 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
With a 11.2x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 7% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Mental Health Services career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
At $27,787 against $41,139/yr in earnings, the debt burden is moderate. Most graduates should manage repayment without extended financial strain.
A #13 ranking among 48 Mental Health Services programs places Northern Illinois University in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.
A 41% earnings increase from $41,139 to $57,919 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Northern Illinois University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Mental Health Services
How Northern Illinois University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Northern Illinois University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Northern Illinois University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Mental Health Services offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Mental Health Services trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Mental Health Services at Northern Illinois University
What does a 56/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Mental Health Services at Northern Illinois University?
At 56/100, Northern Illinois University's Mental Health Services program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.