Massachusetts · Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions

Best colleges for Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions in Massachusetts

Ranked by graduate earnings

Lesley University, Merrimack College and William James College award the most Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions degrees and certificates in Massachusetts: 208, 87 and 52 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 30 Massachusetts colleges offer Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions and award 908 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions program focuses on equipping students with the skills needed to support individuals facing mental health challenges and social issues. This program is ideal for those interested…

Institutions
30
offering CIP 51.15
States offered
51
with a program page
Degrees / yr
908
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$27,799
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
1
College Scorecard
Median net price
$24,848
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
44%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
$69,710
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top institution, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Northern Essex Community College
Haverhill Public · Certificate
$27,7995721%—$12,866

Colleges awarding the most Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions degrees in Massachusetts

Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Lesley University
Cambridge Private not-for-profit
208Not reported
2Merrimack College
North Andover Private not-for-profit
87Not reported
3William James College
Newton Private not-for-profit
52Not reported
4University of Massachusetts-Boston
Boston Public
43Not reported
5Bay Path University
Longmeadow Private not-for-profit
28Not reported
6University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
North Dartmouth Public
26Not reported
7Suffolk University
Boston Private not-for-profit
23Not reported
8MGH Institute of Health Professions
Boston Private not-for-profit
22Not reported
9American International College
Springfield Private not-for-profit
15Not reported
10Boston University
Boston Private not-for-profit
14Not reported
Show the other 20 Massachusetts colleges offering Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Cambridge CollegeBostonPrivate not-for-profit105
Northern Essex Community CollegeHaverhillPublic57
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Graduate only)South HamiltonPrivate not-for-profit50
Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis Inc (Graduate only)BrooklinePrivate not-for-profit30
Middlesex Community CollegeBedfordPublic28
North Shore Community CollegeDanversPublic22
Quincy CollegeQuincyPublic18
Berkshire Community CollegePittsfieldPublic12
Fitchburg State UniversityFitchburgPublic12
Springfield CollegeSpringfieldPrivate not-for-profit12
Holyoke Community CollegeHolyokePublic11
Bristol Community CollegeFall RiverPublic8
Assumption UniversityWorcesterPrivate not-for-profit7
Simmons UniversityBostonPrivate not-for-profit7
Mount Wachusett Community CollegeGardnerPublic4
Greenfield Community CollegeGreenfieldPublic2
Springfield College - Regional, Online, and Continuing Education (Online)SpringfieldPrivate not-for-profit2
Lasell UniversityNewtonPrivate not-for-profit1
Massachusetts Bay Community CollegeWellesley HillsPublic1
Regis CollegeWestonPrivate not-for-profit1

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers (SOC 21-1023).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+9.7%
Much faster than average
Openings / yr (US)
~13,500
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$60,060
typically Master's degree

Top skills

SpeakingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingMonitoringLearning Strategies

What Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers earn in Massachusetts

Jobs in Massachusetts
7,440
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$69,710
median $62,500
Best-paying metro
$72,210
Amherst Town-Northampton, MA

Related careers

Child, Family, and School Social Workers
$77,060 avg · 10,900 jobs
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
$69,710 avg · 7,440 jobs
Healthcare Social Workers
$77,000 avg · 7,220 jobs
Psychiatric Technicians
$53,840 avg · 5,340 jobs
Community Health Workers
$56,940 avg · 2,970 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions programs in Massachusetts.

Which Massachusetts colleges award the most Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions degrees?+

Lesley University (208 graduates a year), Merrimack College (87 graduates a year) and William James College (52 graduates a year) award the most Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions degrees and certificates in Massachusetts, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 30 Massachusetts colleges offer Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions.

How much do Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers earn in Massachusetts?+

The average annual wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Massachusetts is $69,710 (median $62,500), across about 7,440 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions program?+

The Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions program focuses on equipping students with the skills needed to support individuals facing mental health challenges and social issues. This program is ideal for those interested…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, critical thinking, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers?+

The national job outlook is about +9.7% growth with around 13,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Master's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions in other statesCaliforniaColoradoGeorgiaMinnesotaWashingtonNew HampshireKansasSouth Dakota

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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