Kentucky · Human Development

Best colleges for Human Development in Kentucky

Ranked by graduate earnings

Eastern Kentucky University, Jefferson Community and Technical College and West Kentucky Community and Technical College are the top Human Development programs in Kentucky by graduate earnings. Eastern Kentucky University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $27,514, College Scorecard. Somerset Community College, Hazard Community and Technical College and West Kentucky Community and Technical College award the most Human Development degrees and certificates in Kentucky: 142, 100 and 83 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 20 Kentucky colleges offer Human Development and award 901 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
20
offering CIP 19.07
States & territories
54
with a program page
Degrees / yr
901
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$18,132
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
6
College Scorecard
Median net price
$18,824
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
49%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Social and Human Service Assistants
$40,190
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 6 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
1Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree
$27,5142750%—$28,964
2Jefferson Community and Technical College
Louisville Public · Certificate
$26,6825635%—$14,903
3West Kentucky Community and Technical College
Paducah Public · Certificate
$18,1328350%—$7,928
4Somerset Community College
Somerset Public · Certificate
$15,58714243%—$10,287
5Hazard Community and Technical College
Hazard Public · Certificate
$15,13410048%——
6Campbellsville University
Campbellsville Private not-for-profit · Associate degree Small program
$37,6851342%$18,824$20,820

Colleges awarding the most Human Development degrees in Kentucky

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)
1Somerset Community College
Somerset Public
142$15,587
2Hazard Community and Technical College
Hazard Public
100$15,134
3West Kentucky Community and Technical College
Paducah Public
83$18,132
4Henderson Community College
Henderson Public
72Not reported
5Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Lexington Public
66Not reported
6Maysville Community and Technical College
Maysville Public
59Not reported
7Jefferson Community and Technical College
Louisville Public
56$26,682
8Gateway Community and Technical College
Florence Public
56Not reported
9Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
Elizabethtown Public
51Not reported
10Owensboro Community and Technical College
Owensboro Public
39Not reported
Show the other 10 Kentucky colleges offering Human Development
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Madisonville Community CollegeMadisonvillePublic32
Eastern Kentucky UniversityRichmondPublic27
Hopkinsville Community CollegeHopkinsvillePublic27
Western Kentucky UniversityBowling GreenPublic25
Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical CollegeCumberlandPublic16
Campbellsville UniversityCampbellsvillePrivate not-for-profit13
University of KentuckyLexingtonPublic13
Berea CollegeBereaPrivate not-for-profit11
Ashland Community and Technical CollegeAshlandPublic8
Kentucky State UniversityFrankfortPublic5

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 Kentucky

Jobs in Kentucky
4,670
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$40,190
median $37,440
Best-paying metro
$43,800
Paducah, KY-IL

Related careers

Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
$35,400 avg · 8,520 jobs
Childcare Workers
$30,520 avg · 5,820 jobs
Social and Human Service Assistants
$40,190 avg · 4,670 jobs
Farm and Home Management Educators
$61,420 avg · 420 jobs
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other
$81,530 avg · 350 jobs
Psychologists, All Other
$150,370 avg · 300 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Human Development programs in Kentucky.

Which Kentucky colleges award the most Human Development degrees?+

Somerset Community College (142 graduates a year), Hazard Community and Technical College (100 graduates a year) and West Kentucky Community and Technical College (83 graduates a year) award the most Human Development degrees and certificates in Kentucky, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 20 Kentucky colleges offer Human Development.

What is the best college for Human Development in Kentucky?+

By graduate earnings, Eastern Kentucky University leads among Human Development programs in Kentucky, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $27,514, College Scorecard. Jefferson Community and Technical College and West Kentucky Community and Technical College follow. By degrees awarded, Somerset Community College is the largest, with 142 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Eastern Kentucky University tops the list at $27,514. 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 Kentucky?+

The average annual wage for Social and Human Service Assistants in Kentucky is $40,190 (median $37,440), across about 4,670 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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