Cross-sectional data reveal alarming financial situations among 2009 MSW graduates from 25 states and their loan decisions (N=260). More than a quarter of the participants owe at least $40,000 in educational loans from their MSW degree, and 30% borrowed at least $30,000 of their total college education debt. Expensive credit cards are used more commonly than any private educational loan to finance their professional education, and a quarter of all participants have at least a $500 monthly payment obligation to the plastic money. Thus, 31% of the participants are either very or extremely burdened by noneducational loans even before they have educational loan repayment obligations. This study suggests individual, discipline- specific, and public interventions to promote their financial well- being. (Contains 2 tables and 2 figures.)