Compare 16 Trauma Counseling. programs in the Midwest. Average earnings: $42,636.
The highest-earning Trauma Counseling program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $22K earnings gap across 16 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
Chicago State University's Trauma Counseling program leads with graduates earning $54,274, well above the $43K average across all programs. Saint Cloud State follows at $52K, while Northern Illinois rounds out the top three at $49K—proving regional publics can compete with any institution.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Saint Cloud State graduates borrow $21,058 and face just a 9.9% payment burden, landing in the 'Good' category. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41, graduates can handle their loans comfortably on typical salaries.
Highest program earnings: $54,274
Strong outcomes with 95% acceptance
9.9% payment burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
16.2% family burden | Manageable - payment 12-18% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Chicago State UniversityPublic | $54,274 | 11 | $30,625 | Manageable | $13,256 | Challenging |
| #2 | $51,681 | 14 | $21,058 | Good | $11,598 | Manageable | |
| #3 | $48,777 | 17 | $22,162 | Good | $19,508 | Challenging | |
| #4 | $46,128 | 55 | $21,106 | Manageable | $13,695 | Challenging | |
| #5 | University Of KansasPublic | $44,853 | 24 | $21,000 | Manageable | $32,347 | High |
| #6 | $43,948 | 49 | $23,592 | Manageable | $15,000 | High | |
| #7 | Indiana State UniversityPublic | $42,930 | 62 | $24,000 | Manageable | $17,049 | High |
| #8 | $42,687 | 33 | $21,056 | Manageable | $23,508 | High | |
| #9 | Washburn UniversityPublic | $42,183 | 20 | $18,127 | Manageable | $13,741 | Challenging |
| #10 | Davenport UniversityPrivate | $41,225 | 38 | $26,000 | Challenging | $18,037 | High |
| #11 | $40,182 | 9 | $21,474 | Manageable | $17,287 | High | |
| #12 | $39,635 | 31 | $24,250 | Challenging | $12,987 | High | |
| #13 | $38,512 | 39 | $21,500 | Challenging | $12,362 | High | |
| #14 | $37,208 | 17 | $27,000 | High | $23,103 | High | |
| #15 | $35,416 | 18 | $21,250 | Challenging | $23,602 | High | |
| #16 | Ohio Christian UniversityPrivate | $32,536 | 22 | $29,579 | High | $9,943 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
