Best colleges for Human Development in Missouri
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Missouri-Columbia, Missouri State University - Springfield and University of Central Missouri are the top bachelor's Human Development programs in Missouri by graduate earnings. University of Missouri-Columbia leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $33,015, College Scorecard. Missouri State University - Springfield, University of Missouri-Columbia and University of Central Missouri award the most Human Development degrees in Missouri: 87, 66 and 51 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 20 Missouri colleges offer Human Development and award 486 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 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,015 | 66 | 75% | — | $26,000 |
| 2 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,769 | 87 | 58% | — | $25,000 |
| 3 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,574 | 51 | 54% | — | $24,500 |
| 4 | Central Methodist University - College of Graduate and Extended Studies Fayette Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,588 | 15 | 0% | $14,535 | $23,246 |
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 | Ozarks Technical Community College Springfield Public · Associate degree | $27,003 | 41 | 33% | — | $21,000 |
| 2 | North Central Missouri College Trenton Public · Associate degree Small program | $26,867 | 11 | 58% | — | — |
| 3 | Saint Louis Community College Bridgeton Public · Associate degree | $26,593 | 26 | 21% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Human Development degrees in Missouri
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 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield Public | 87 | $32,769 |
| 2 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia Public | 66 | $33,015 |
| 3 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg Public | 51 | $32,574 |
| 4 | Three Rivers College Poplar Bluff Public | 45 | Not reported |
| 5 | Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau Public | 41 | Not reported |
| 6 | Maryville University of Saint Louis Saint Louis Private not-for-profit | 24 | Not reported |
| 7 | Moberly Area Community College Moberly Public | 21 | Not reported |
| 8 | College of the Ozarks Point Lookout Private not-for-profit | 17 | Not reported |
| 9 | Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City Kansas City Public | 10 | Not reported |
| 10 | State Fair Community College Sedalia Public | 9 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 10 Missouri colleges offering Human Development
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ozarks Technical Community College | Springfield | Public | 41 |
| Saint Louis Community College | Bridgeton | Public | 26 |
| Central Methodist University - College of Graduate and Extended Studies | Fayette | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| North Central Missouri College | Trenton | Public | 11 |
| Columbia College | Columbia | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Missouri State University - West Plains | West Plains | Public | 5 |
| Mineral Area College | Park Hills | Public | 4 |
| Jefferson College | Hillsboro | Public | 3 |
| Stephens College | Columbia | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Missouri Baptist University | Saint Louis | Private not-for-profit | 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 Missouri
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Human Development programs in Missouri.
Which Missouri colleges award the most Human Development degrees?+
Missouri State University - Springfield (87 graduates a year), University of Missouri-Columbia (66 graduates a year) and University of Central Missouri (51 graduates a year) award the most Human Development degrees in Missouri, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 20 Missouri colleges offer Human Development.
What is the best college for Human Development in Missouri?+
By graduate earnings, University of Missouri-Columbia leads among bachelor's Human Development programs in Missouri, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $33,015, College Scorecard. Missouri State University - Springfield and University of Central Missouri follow. By degrees awarded, Missouri State University - Springfield is the largest, with 87 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Human Development program in Missouri has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Missouri-Columbia tops the list at $33,015. 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 Missouri?+
The average annual wage for Social and Human Service Assistants in Missouri is $42,270 (median $41,780), across about 6,200 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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