Best colleges for Human Services in Iowa
Ranked by graduate earnings
Upper Iowa University, Buena Vista University and Iowa Central Community College award the most Human Services degrees in Iowa: 40, 20 and 17 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 12 Iowa colleges offer Human Services and award 115 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Human Services program, also known as Human Services, General, is an interdisciplinary field focused on meeting human needs through a comprehensive understanding of social and service technologies. It aims to improve the quality of…
Top 3 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 | Upper Iowa University Fayette Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,389 | 40 | 34% | $22,697 | $45,388 |
| 2 | Simpson College Indianola Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $46,184 | 7 | 63% | $20,710 | — |
| 3 | Grand View University Des Moines Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $40,750 | 11 | 54% | $20,840 | $30,750 |
Colleges awarding the most Human Services degrees in Iowa
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 | Upper Iowa University Fayette Private not-for-profit | 40 | $39,389 |
| 2 | Buena Vista University Storm Lake Private not-for-profit | 20 | Not reported |
| 3 | Iowa Central Community College Fort Dodge Public | 17 | Not reported |
| 4 | Grand View University Des Moines Private not-for-profit | 11 | $40,750 |
| 5 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny Public | 7 | Not reported |
| 6 | Simpson College Indianola Private not-for-profit | 7 | $46,184 |
| 7 | William Penn University Oskaloosa Private not-for-profit | 5 | Not reported |
| 8 | Hawkeye Community College Waterloo Public | 3 | Not reported |
| 9 | Eastern Iowa Community College District Davenport Public | 2 | Not reported |
| 10 | Iowa Lakes Community College Estherville Public | 1 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 2 Iowa colleges offering Human Services
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa Western Community College | Council Bluffs | Public | 1 |
| North Iowa Area Community College | Mason City | Public | 1 |
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 Services programs in Iowa.
Which Iowa colleges award the most Human Services degrees?+
Upper Iowa University (40 graduates a year), Buena Vista University (20 graduates a year) and Iowa Central Community College (17 graduates a year) award the most Human Services degrees in Iowa, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 12 Iowa colleges offer Human Services.
Which Human Services program in Iowa has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Upper Iowa University tops the list at $39,389. 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 Services program?+
The Human Services program, also known as Human Services, General, is an interdisciplinary field focused on meeting human needs through a comprehensive understanding of social and service technologies. It aims to improve the quality of…
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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