In the old days, there were lot less restrictions on septics, so some basic systems were just a 500 gal tank on dry wells, since the 80s they required to be 1000 gal tank with minimum 300 fts of leech fields.
Nowadays days septic usually requires certain distance from the house (75ft?) and 50 ft from a well, so newer systems are mostly mounted, yes it's somewhat above ground.
Septics and wells are very common in Midwest, they actually very easy to maintain, life span for a septic is about 50 years, but if you maintaining right, it can easily last 75-100 years.