by our College Data Analytics Team
[Mental Social Health Services](/majors/health-care-professions/mental-social-health-services/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 48 schools on the early-career earnings of their mental social health services graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose mental social health services graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in mental social health services, no school beat Virginia Commonwealth University this year. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution. After graduating, mental social health services degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University typically earn about $77,108 annually.
Marymount University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying mental social health services schools. Located in the city of Arlington, Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the mental social health services program here go on to a median salary of roughly $70,452.
Strong graduate earnings at Montreat College earned it the #3 place for mental social health services. Set in the suburb of Montreat, Montreat College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career mental social health services graduates from Montreat College make a median of around $57,892 per year.
Pfeiffer University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in mental social health services, landing the #4 spot this year. Pfeiffer University is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Misenheimer. Early-career mental social health services graduates from Pfeiffer University make a median of around $56,796 per year.
A rank of #5 makes Northern Kentucky University one of the highest-paying schools for mental social health services. Located in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a public institution. Early-career mental social health services graduates from Northern Kentucky University make a median of around $53,762 per year.
Florida International University earned the #6 position for mental social health services graduate earnings this year. Florida International University is a public school located in the suburb of Miami. Early-career mental social health services graduates from Florida International University make a median of around $52,818 per year.
Jacksonville University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying mental social health services schools. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Jacksonville University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the mental social health services program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,738.
North Carolina Central University earned the #8 position for mental social health services graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Durham, North Carolina Central University is a public institution. Mental Social Health Services graduates of North Carolina Central University earn a median of about $56,223 a year early in their careers.
University Of Central Arkansas ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying mental social health services schools. University Of Central Arkansas is a public school located in the city of Conway. Early-career mental social health services graduates from University Of Central Arkansas make a median of around $64,510 per year.
East Carolina University landed the #10 spot for mental social health services salaries this year. East Carolina University is a public school located in the city of Greenville. Mental Social Health Services graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of about $61,394 a year early in their careers.
University Of North Florida came in at #11 for mental social health services graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a public institution. Students who complete the mental social health services program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,948.
Florida Atlantic University landed the #12 spot for mental social health services salaries this year. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a public institution. Mental Social Health Services graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of about $58,493 a year early in their careers.
Trevecca Nazarene University placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for mental social health services. Set in the city of Nashville, Trevecca Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, mental social health services degree recipients from Trevecca Nazarene University typically earn about $75,951 annually.
Florida State University earned the #14 position for mental social health services graduate earnings this year. Florida State University is a public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Early-career mental social health services graduates from Florida State University make a median of around $50,259 per year.
Gardner Webb University placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for mental social health services. Located in the rural area of Boiling Springs, Gardner Webb University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the mental social health services program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,695.
Nova Southeastern University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying mental social health services schools. Set in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, mental social health services degree recipients from Nova Southeastern University typically earn about $65,149 annually.
University Of Miami ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying mental social health services schools. University Of Miami is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. After graduating, mental social health services degree recipients from University Of Miami typically earn about $48,813 annually.
John Brown University placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for mental social health services. Located in the town of Siloam Springs, John Brown University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the mental social health services program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,946.
Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach came in at #19 for mental social health services graduate earnings this year. Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of West Palm Beach. Mental Social Health Services graduates of Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach earn a median of about $53,970 a year early in their careers.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham came in at #20 for mental social health services graduate earnings this year. University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a public school located in the city of Birmingham. After graduating, mental social health services degree recipients from University Of Alabama At Birmingham typically earn about $46,855 annually.
Appalachian State University came in at #21 for mental social health services graduate earnings this year. Appalachian State University is a public school located in the town of Boone. Students who complete the mental social health services program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,417.
Our Lady Of Holy Cross College landed the #22 spot for mental social health services salaries this year. Our Lady Of Holy Cross College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Orleans. Early-career mental social health services graduates from Our Lady Of Holy Cross College make a median of around $52,004 per year.
Valdosta State University placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for mental social health services. Set in the city of Valdosta, Valdosta State University is a public institution. Mental Social Health Services graduates of Valdosta State University earn a median of about $51,600 a year early in their careers.
Liberty University came in at #24 for mental social health services graduate earnings this year. Liberty University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Mental Social Health Services graduates of Liberty University earn a median of about $45,136 a year early in their careers.
Mercer University placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for mental social health services. Located in the city of Macon, Mercer University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the mental social health services program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,960.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid mental social health services ranking:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries mental social health services graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 48 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.