Best colleges for Human Development in Iowa
Ranked by graduate earnings
Iowa State University, University of Northern Iowa and Des Moines Area Community College are the top Human Development programs in Iowa by graduate earnings. Iowa State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,364, College Scorecard. Des Moines Area Community College, Hawkeye Community College and Iowa State University award the most Human Development degrees and certificates in Iowa: 55, 47 and 44 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 11 Iowa colleges offer Human Development and award 271 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 3 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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa State University Ames Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,364 | 44 | 75% | — | $24,958 |
| 2 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,614 | 20 | 68% | — | $23,000 |
| 3 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny Public · Associate degree | $22,623 | 55 | 39% | — | $11,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Human Development degrees in Iowa
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.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny Public | 55 | $22,623 |
| 2 | Hawkeye Community College Waterloo Public | 47 | Not reported |
| 3 | Iowa State University Ames Public | 44 | $36,364 |
| 4 | Iowa Western Community College Council Bluffs Public | 26 | Not reported |
| 5 | Western Iowa Tech Community College Sioux City Public | 25 | Not reported |
| 6 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls Public | 20 | $32,614 |
| 7 | Eastern Iowa Community College District Davenport Public | 18 | Not reported |
| 8 | Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar Public | 15 | Not reported |
| 9 | Southwestern Community College Creston Public | 10 | Not reported |
| 10 | Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids Public | 8 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 1 Iowa colleges offering Human Development
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa Lakes Community College | Estherville | Public | 3 |
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 Iowa
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Human Development programs in Iowa.
Which Iowa colleges award the most Human Development degrees?+
Des Moines Area Community College (55 graduates a year), Hawkeye Community College (47 graduates a year) and Iowa State University (44 graduates a year) award the most Human Development degrees and certificates in Iowa, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 11 Iowa colleges offer Human Development.
What is the best college for Human Development in Iowa?+
By graduate earnings, Iowa State University leads among Human Development programs in Iowa, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,364, College Scorecard. University of Northern Iowa and Des Moines Area Community College follow. By degrees awarded, Des Moines Area Community College is the largest, with 55 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Human Development program in Iowa has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Iowa State University tops the list at $36,364. 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 Iowa?+
The average annual wage for Social and Human Service Assistants in Iowa is $44,430 (median $42,480), across about 5,230 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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