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Mental Health Services at Southwest Virginia Community College

Cedar Bluff, VA · Public · Certificate · Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions

a smaller institution with 1,600 students in Cedar Bluff, VA.

Program Analysis

Southwest Virginia Community College's Mental Health Services graduates start at $29,501/yr, trailing the $36,448 national average by 19%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 69.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Mental Health Services programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Mental Health Services's career paths, with 30% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% gap from the optimistic case.

At #27 of 61 Mental Health Services programs, Southwest Virginia Community College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $33,622 are relatively flat compared to the $29,501 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

Mental Health Services offers 5 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

62 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
58
Low End
62
Score
63
High End
Earnings $29,501/yr (-19% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (70% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (200,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$343K
3.3% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
70.0x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
17 of 17
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$4,901
Out-of-state: $10,904
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$33,622
14% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Mental Health Services graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620 +17.3% 52%
Genetic counselors $98,910 +9.3% 50%
Clinical and counseling psychologists $95,830 +11.2% 63%
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
$105,620
+17.3% growth 52% AI-proof
Genetic counselors
$98,910
+9.3% growth 50% AI-proof
Clinical and counseling psychologists
$95,830
+11.2% growth 63% AI-proof

View all 17 career paths with full salary data →

Mental Health Services Career Guide

Explore what Mental Health Services graduates do, from entry-level roles to long-term career paths across 61 programs nationwide.

Read the full Mental Health Services career guide →

Compare & Explore

Mental Health Services Overview

View all 61 schools offering Mental Health Services →

Mental Health Services at Other Schools

Coalinga College ($72,116) Coalinga College ($71,517) Lemoore College ($71,182) Lemoore College ($69,125) Mt San Antonio College ($59,278) Pueblo Community College ($59,198) Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts ($53,451) Minneapolis Community and Technical College ($49,629)

Other Majors at Southwest Virginia Community College

Nursing ($56,221) Medical Assisting ($32,327) Liberal Arts & Humanities ($23,756) Human Development & Family Studies ($19,582)

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Compare Mental Health Services degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Mental Health Services at Southwest Virginia Community College?
At 62/100, Southwest Virginia Community College's Mental Health Services program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Can you still earn well with Mental Health Services from Southwest Virginia Community College?
Starting salary is one data point. If Southwest Virginia Community College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Mental Health Services graduates?
Beyond Southwest Virginia Community College's classroom route, 5 registered apprenticeships map to Mental Health Services careers — including Behavioral Health Aide (Existing Title: Counselor). Apprenticeships trade shorter program length for longer on-the-job training, typically 2-4 years.
What's the job market like for Mental Health Services from Southwest Virginia Community College?
The career paths mapped to Mental Health Services have roughly 200,600 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by an aging population and expanding healthcare access.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →