Best colleges for Human Development in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
National Louis University, University of Illinois Chicago and Illinois State University are the top bachelor's Human Development programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. National Louis University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $46,954, College Scorecard. College of Lake County, William Rainey Harper College and National Louis University award the most Human Development degrees in Illinois: 248, 155 and 133 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 52 Illinois colleges offer Human Development and award 2,748 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…
Top 5 bachelor's programs, 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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Louis University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,954 | 133 | 30% | $18,904 | $28,096 |
| 2 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,743 | 50 | 62% | — | $17,500 |
| 3 | Illinois State University Normal Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,682 | 36 | 65% | — | $23,125 |
| 4 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,762 | 60 | 85% | — | $19,600 |
| 5 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,342 | 80 | 49% | — | $31,000 |
Top 4 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College Chicago Public · Associate degree | $37,381 | 144 | 32% | — | — |
| 2 | Morton College Cicero Public · Certificate | $23,252 | 34 | 31% | — | — |
| 3 | City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College Chicago Public · Associate degree | $34,294 | 113 | 27% | — | — |
| 4 | City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College Chicago Public · Associate degree | $30,292 | 60 | 18% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Human Development degrees in Illinois
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | College of Lake County Grayslake Public | 248 | Not reported |
| 2 | William Rainey Harper College Palatine Public | 155 | Not reported |
| 3 | National Louis University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 133 | $46,954 |
| 4 | Southwestern Illinois College Belleville Public | 130 | Not reported |
| 5 | Kaskaskia College Centralia Public | 118 | Not reported |
| 6 | Lewis and Clark Community College Godfrey Public | 117 | Not reported |
| 7 | Kankakee Community College Kankakee Public | 112 | Not reported |
| 8 | Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills Public | 109 | Not reported |
| 9 | Oakton College Des Plaines Public | 81 | Not reported |
| 10 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public | 80 | $28,342 |
ShowHide the other 42 Illinois colleges offering Human Development
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Social and Human Service Assistants (SOC 21-1093).
Top skills
What Social and Human Service Assistants earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Human Development programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Human Development degrees?+
College of Lake County (248 graduates a year), William Rainey Harper College (155 graduates a year) and National Louis University (133 graduates a year) award the most Human Development degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 52 Illinois colleges offer Human Development.
What is the best college for Human Development in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, National Louis University leads among bachelor's Human Development programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $46,954, College Scorecard. University of Illinois Chicago and Illinois State University follow. By degrees awarded, College of Lake County is the largest, with 248 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Human Development program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, National Louis University tops the list at $46,954. 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 Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Social and Human Service Assistants in Illinois is $50,460 (median $46,950), across about 22,220 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.
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