Best colleges for Human Development in Massachusetts
Ranked by graduate earnings
Tufts University, Merrimack College and Boston University award the most Human Development degrees in Massachusetts: 76, 69 and 26 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 12 Massachusetts colleges offer Human Development and award 415 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 4 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 | Tufts University Medford Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,345 | 76 | 94% | $23,570 | $16,170 |
| 2 | Merrimack College North Andover Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,640 | 69 | 70% | $33,877 | $27,000 |
| 3 | Lesley University Cambridge Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $38,516 | 1 | 58% | $30,837 | $21,250 |
| 4 | Curry College Milton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $29,532 | 5 | 51% | $28,321 | — |
Top 2 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 | North Shore Community College Danvers Public · Associate degree | $34,978 | 54 | 18% | — | $9,622 |
| 2 | Mount Wachusett Community College Gardner Public · Associate degree | $27,078 | 33 | 24% | — | $5,921 |
Colleges awarding the most Human Development degrees in Massachusetts
Top 6 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 | Tufts University Medford Private not-for-profit | 76 | $44,345 |
| 2 | Merrimack College North Andover Private not-for-profit | 69 | $33,640 |
| 3 | Boston University Boston Private not-for-profit | 26 | Not reported |
| 4 | Framingham State University Framingham Public | 20 | Not reported |
| 5 | Curry College Milton Private not-for-profit | 5 | $29,532 |
| 6 | Lesley University Cambridge Private not-for-profit | 1 | $38,516 |
ShowHide the other 6 Massachusetts colleges offering Human Development
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holyoke Community College | Holyoke | Public | 56 |
| North Shore Community College | Danvers | Public | 54 |
| Mount Wachusett Community College | Gardner | Public | 33 |
| Massachusetts Bay Community College | Wellesley Hills | Public | 32 |
| Massasoit Community College | Brockton | Public | 28 |
| Northern Essex Community College | Haverhill | Public | 15 |
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 Massachusetts
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Human Development programs in Massachusetts.
Which Massachusetts colleges award the most Human Development degrees?+
Tufts University (76 graduates a year), Merrimack College (69 graduates a year) and Boston University (26 graduates a year) award the most Human Development degrees in Massachusetts, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 12 Massachusetts colleges offer Human Development.
Which Human Development program in Massachusetts has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Tufts University tops the list at $44,345. 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 Massachusetts?+
The average annual wage for Social and Human Service Assistants in Massachusetts is $50,430 (median $47,130), across about 9,180 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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