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. The highest-paying schools turn a mental social health services degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the early-career earnings of their mental social health services graduates.
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Below are the schools whose mental social health services graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked Montreat College the top school for mental social health services graduate earnings in North Carolina. Located in the suburb of Montreat, Montreat College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, mental social health services degree recipients from Montreat College typically earn about $57,892 annually.
A rank of #2 makes Wake Technical Community College one of the highest-paying schools for mental social health services. Wake Technical Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Raleigh. Early-career mental social health services graduates from Wake Technical Community College make a median of around $40,609 per year.
A rank of #3 makes Pfeiffer University one of the highest-paying schools for mental social health services. Located in the rural area of Misenheimer, Pfeiffer 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 $56,796.
North Carolina Central University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying mental social health services schools. Located in the city of Durham, North Carolina Central University is a public institution. Students who complete the mental social health services program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,223.
A rank of #5 makes East Carolina University one of the highest-paying schools for mental social health services. East Carolina University is a public school located in the city of Greenville. After graduating, mental social health services degree recipients from East Carolina University typically earn about $61,394 annually.
Central Piedmont Community College landed the #6 spot for mental social health services salaries this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a public institution. Early-career mental social health services graduates from Central Piedmont Community College make a median of around $36,734 per year.
Gardner Webb University earned the #7 position for mental social health services graduate earnings this year. Gardner Webb University is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Boiling Springs. Mental Social Health Services graduates of Gardner Webb University earn a median of about $54,695 a year early in their careers.
Gaston College landed the #8 spot for mental social health services salaries this year. Gaston College is a public school located in the suburb of Dallas. Students who complete the mental social health services program here go on to a median salary of roughly $33,084.
Appalachian State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying mental social health services schools. Appalachian State University is a public school located in the town of Boone. Mental Social Health Services graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of about $46,417 a year early in their careers.
Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College earned the #10 position for mental social health services graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Asheville, Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is a public institution. Mental Social Health Services graduates of Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College earn a median of about $31,921 a year early in their careers.
Forsyth Technical Community College landed the #11 spot for mental social health services salaries this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a public institution. After graduating, mental social health services degree recipients from Forsyth Technical Community College typically earn about $29,257 annually.
Lenoir Rhyne University earned the #12 position for mental social health services graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Hickory, Lenoir Rhyne University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, mental social health services degree recipients from Lenoir Rhyne University typically earn about $42,066 annually.
Pitt Community College came in at #13 for mental social health services graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Winterville, Pitt Community College is a public institution. After graduating, mental social health services degree recipients from Pitt Community College typically earn about $28,449 annually.
Guilford Technical Community College landed the #14 spot for mental social health services salaries this year. Guilford Technical Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Jamestown. After graduating, mental social health services degree recipients from Guilford Technical Community College typically earn about $19,056 annually.
This ranking is produced 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 · 14 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.