Best colleges for Human Development in New York
Ranked by graduate earnings
Syracuse University, Binghamton University and SUNY Oneonta are the top bachelor's Human Development programs in New York by graduate earnings. Syracuse University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,858, College Scorecard. Binghamton University, Syracuse University and SUNY College of Technology at Canton award the most Human Development degrees in New York: 88, 37 and 36 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 33 New York colleges offer Human Development and award 558 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 | Syracuse University Syracuse Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,858 | 37 | 84% | $28,851 | $22,981 |
| 2 | Binghamton University Vestal Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,213 | 88 | 82% | — | $19,500 |
| 3 | SUNY Oneonta Oneonta Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,143 | 29 | 69% | — | $23,250 |
| 4 | Cornell University Ithaca Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $38,401 | 5 | 95% | $17,613 | $15,500 |
| 5 | State University of New York at Plattsburgh Plattsburgh Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,025 | 7 | 59% | — | $25,420 |
| 6 | St. Joseph's University - New York Brooklyn Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $21,796 | 7 | 69% | $17,134 | $27,000 |
Top 4 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 | Hudson Valley Community College Troy Public · Associate degree | $28,815 | 23 | 35% | — | $8,216 |
| 2 | Onondaga Community College Syracuse Public · Associate degree Small program | $28,579 | 18 | 27% | — | — |
| 3 | Jefferson Community College Watertown Public · Associate degree Small program | $27,397 | 4 | 28% | — | — |
| 4 | Erie Community College Buffalo Public · Associate degree Small program | $25,239 | 14 | 28% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Human Development degrees in New York
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 | Binghamton University Vestal Public | 88 | $36,213 |
| 2 | Syracuse University Syracuse Private not-for-profit | 37 | $36,858 |
| 3 | SUNY College of Technology at Canton Canton Public | 36 | Not reported |
| 4 | State University of New York at Oswego Oswego Public | 30 | Not reported |
| 5 | SUNY Oneonta Oneonta Public | 29 | $36,143 |
| 6 | SUNY at Purchase College Purchase Public | 14 | Not reported |
| 7 | University of Rochester Rochester Private not-for-profit | 13 | Not reported |
| 8 | Sarah Lawrence College Bronxville Private not-for-profit | 8 | Not reported |
| 9 | Dutchess Community College Poughkeepsie Public | 7 | Not reported |
| 10 | Niagara County Community College Sanborn Public | 7 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 23 New York colleges offering Human Development
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 New York
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Human Development programs in New York.
Which New York colleges award the most Human Development degrees?+
Binghamton University (88 graduates a year), Syracuse University (37 graduates a year) and SUNY College of Technology at Canton (36 graduates a year) award the most Human Development degrees in New York, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 33 New York colleges offer Human Development.
What is the best college for Human Development in New York?+
By graduate earnings, Syracuse University leads among bachelor's Human Development programs in New York, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,858, College Scorecard. Binghamton University and SUNY Oneonta follow. By degrees awarded, Binghamton University is the largest, with 88 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Human Development program in New York has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Syracuse University tops the list at $36,858. 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 New York?+
The average annual wage for Social and Human Service Assistants in New York is $49,080 (median $47,190), across about 40,970 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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