Alabama · Human Development

Best colleges for Human Development in Alabama

Ranked by graduate earnings

Auburn University, The University of Alabama and George C Wallace Community College - Dothan award the most Human Development degrees and certificates in Alabama: 137, 123 and 73 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 30 Alabama colleges offer Human Development and award 899 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Human Development program, officially titled Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services, focuses on understanding the various aspects of human growth and family dynamics. This interdisciplinary field falls under Family and…

Institutions
30
offering CIP 19.07
States & territories
54
with a program page
Degrees / yr
899
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$30,264
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
2
College Scorecard
Median net price
$23,870
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
45%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Social and Human Service Assistants
$37,240
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 2 institutions, 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
1Auburn University
Auburn Public · Bachelor's degree
$30,50213782%—$25,000
2The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa Public · Bachelor's degree
$30,26412373%—$25,000

Colleges awarding the most Human Development degrees in Alabama

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)
1Auburn University
Auburn Public
137$30,502
2The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa Public
123$30,264
3George C Wallace Community College - Dothan
Dothan Public
73Not reported
4Coastal Alabama Community College
Bay Minette Public
71Not reported
5George C Wallace State Community College - Hanceville
Hanceville Public
70Not reported
6John C Calhoun State Community College
Tanner Public
68Not reported
7Gadsden State Community College
Gadsden Public
40Not reported
8Samford University
Birmingham Private not-for-profit
34Not reported
9Bevill State Community College
Jasper Public
23Not reported
10Northeast Alabama Community College
Rainsville Public
20Not reported
Show the other 20 Alabama colleges offering Human Development
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Amridge University (Online)MontgomeryPrivate not-for-profit31
Lawson State Community CollegeBirminghamPublic18
Shelton State Community CollegeTuscaloosaPublic18
J. F. Drake State Community and Technical CollegeHuntsvillePublic17
Jefferson State Community CollegeBirminghamPublic16
H Councill Trenholm State Community CollegeMontgomeryPublic16
Southern Union State Community CollegeWadleyPublic15
Miles CollegeFairfieldPrivate not-for-profit14
Lurleen B Wallace Community CollegeAndalusiaPublic13
Northwest Shoals Community CollegeMuscle ShoalsPublic12
University of MobileMobilePrivate not-for-profit11
University of North AlabamaFlorencePublic11
Central Alabama Community CollegeAlexander CityPublic10
Enterprise State Community CollegeEnterprisePublic10
Snead State Community CollegeBoazPublic9
Bishop State Community CollegeMobilePublic7
Reid State Technical CollegeEvergreenPublic5
University of Alabama in HuntsvilleHuntsvillePublic4
Oakwood UniversityHuntsvillePrivate not-for-profit2
Chattahoochee Valley Community CollegePhenix CityPublic1

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Social and Human Service Assistants (SOC 21-1093).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+6.4%
Faster than average
Openings / yr (US)
~50,600
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$45,120
typically High school diploma or equivalent

Top skills

SpeakingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionMonitoringWritingCritical Thinking

What Social and Human Service Assistants earn in Alabama

Jobs in Alabama
3,370
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$37,240
median $35,830
Best-paying metro
$40,320
Birmingham, AL

Related careers

Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
$31,160 avg · 7,910 jobs
Childcare Workers
$25,120 avg · 4,580 jobs
Social and Human Service Assistants
$37,240 avg · 3,370 jobs
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other
$103,310 avg · 320 jobs
Farm and Home Management Educators
$61,670 avg · 260 jobs
Psychologists, All Other
$127,540 avg · 110 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Human Development programs in Alabama.

Which Alabama colleges award the most Human Development degrees?+

Auburn University (137 graduates a year), The University of Alabama (123 graduates a year) and George C Wallace Community College - Dothan (73 graduates a year) award the most Human Development degrees and certificates in Alabama, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 30 Alabama colleges offer Human Development.

Which Human Development program in Alabama has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Auburn University tops the list at $30,502. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Social and Human Service Assistants earn in Alabama?+

The average annual wage for Social and Human Service Assistants in Alabama is $37,240 (median $35,830), across about 3,370 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Human Development program?+

The Human Development program, officially titled Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services, focuses on understanding the various aspects of human growth and family dynamics. This interdisciplinary field falls under Family and…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

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

What is the job outlook for Social and Human Service Assistants?+

The national job outlook is about +6.4% growth with around 50,600 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

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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