by our College Data Analytics Team
[Mental Social Health Services](/majors/health-care-professions/mental-social-health-services/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 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.
Leading the list is Valdosta State University, our #1 for mental social health services graduate salaries in Georgia. Located in the city of Valdosta, Valdosta State University is a public institution. After graduating, mental social health services degree recipients from Valdosta State University typically earn about $51,600 annually.
Mercer University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying mental social health services schools. Set 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.
South University Savannah produces some of the highest-paid graduates in mental social health services, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Savannah, South University Savannah is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the mental social health services program here go on to a median salary of roughly $47,527.
Fort Valley State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in mental social health services, landing the #4 spot this year. Fort Valley State University is a public school located in the town of Fort Valley. After graduating, mental social health services degree recipients from Fort Valley State University typically earn about $46,238 annually.
Thomas University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying mental social health services schools. Located in the town of Thomasville, Thomas University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, mental social health services degree recipients from Thomas University typically earn about $39,302 annually.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their mental social health services graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 5 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.