Best colleges for Human Development in Michigan
Ranked by graduate earnings
Baker College, Central Michigan University and Ferris State University are the top bachelor's Human Development programs in Michigan by graduate earnings. Baker College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,494, College Scorecard. Ferris State University, Michigan State University and Central Michigan University award the most Human Development degrees in Michigan: 72, 65 and 57 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 27 Michigan colleges offer Human Development and award 540 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 6 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 | Baker College Owosso Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,494 | 45 | 36% | $15,493 | $43,076 |
| 2 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,318 | 57 | 59% | — | $27,209 |
| 3 | Ferris State University Big Rapids Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,216 | 72 | 47% | — | $31,000 |
| 4 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,209 | 24 | 58% | — | $29,539 |
| 5 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,434 | 65 | 81% | — | $29,750 |
| 6 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $33,911 | 7 | 46% | — | $33,885 |
Top 3 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 | Oakland Community College Auburn Hills Public · Associate degree Small program | $30,486 | 15 | 21% | — | $17,310 |
| 2 | Grand Rapids Community College Grand Rapids Public · Associate degree | $25,539 | 49 | 21% | — | $12,863 |
| 3 | Delta College University Center Public · Associate degree | $21,881 | 27 | 27% | — | $14,478 |
Colleges awarding the most Human Development degrees in Michigan
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 | Ferris State University Big Rapids Public | 72 | $35,216 |
| 2 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public | 65 | $31,434 |
| 3 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant Public | 57 | $35,318 |
| 4 | Baker College Owosso Private not-for-profit | 45 | $36,494 |
| 5 | Kellogg Community College Battle Creek Public | 28 | Not reported |
| 6 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public | 24 | $35,209 |
| 7 | Mott Community College Flint Public | 18 | Not reported |
| 8 | Bay de Noc Community College Escanaba Public | 13 | Not reported |
| 9 | Washtenaw Community College Ann Arbor Public | 12 | Not reported |
| 10 | Montcalm Community College Sidney Public | 10 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 17 Michigan colleges offering Human Development
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids Community College | Grand Rapids | Public | 49 |
| Delta College | University Center | Public | 27 |
| Schoolcraft Community College District | Livonia | Public | 19 |
| Lansing Community College | Lansing | Public | 16 |
| Macomb Community College | Warren | Public | 15 |
| Oakland Community College | Auburn Hills | Public | 15 |
| Northwestern Michigan College | Traverse City | Public | 9 |
| Wayne County Community College District | Detroit | Public | 9 |
| University of Michigan-Dearborn | Dearborn | Public | 8 |
| Concordia University Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Eastern Michigan University | Ypsilanti | Public | 7 |
| West Shore Community College | Scottville | Public | 4 |
| Aquinas College | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Madonna University | Livonia | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| University of Michigan-Flint | Flint | Public | 3 |
| Lake Michigan College | Benton Harbor | Public | 1 |
| Northern Michigan University | Marquette | 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 Michigan
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Human Development programs in Michigan.
Which Michigan colleges award the most Human Development degrees?+
Ferris State University (72 graduates a year), Michigan State University (65 graduates a year) and Central Michigan University (57 graduates a year) award the most Human Development degrees in Michigan, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 27 Michigan colleges offer Human Development.
What is the best college for Human Development in Michigan?+
By graduate earnings, Baker College leads among bachelor's Human Development programs in Michigan, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,494, College Scorecard. Central Michigan University and Ferris State University follow. By degrees awarded, Ferris State University is the largest, with 72 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Human Development program in Michigan has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Baker College tops the list at $36,494. 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 Michigan?+
The average annual wage for Social and Human Service Assistants in Michigan is $42,940 (median $39,160), across about 12,450 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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