Best colleges for Human Development in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
Pennsylvania State University, Reading Area Community College and Eastern University award the most Human Development degrees in Pennsylvania: 89, 63 and 43 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 39 Pennsylvania colleges offer Human Development and award 684 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 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,030 | 89 | 86% | — | $28,000 |
| 2 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,675 | 28 | 56% | — | $26,817 |
| 3 | Messiah University Mechanicsburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,943 | 19 | 75% | $25,675 | $27,000 |
| 4 | Temple University Philadelphia Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $31,452 | 16 | 75% | — | $27,000 |
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 | Harcum College Bryn Mawr Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $30,963 | 38 | 44% | $27,244 | $21,375 |
| 2 | Community College of Allegheny County Pittsburgh Public · Associate degree | $28,078 | 66 | 24% | — | $9,651 |
Colleges awarding the most Human Development degrees in Pennsylvania
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 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public | 89 | $34,030 |
| 2 | Reading Area Community College Reading Public | 63 | Not reported |
| 3 | Eastern University Saint Davids Private not-for-profit | 43 | Not reported |
| 4 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana Public | 28 | $30,675 |
| 5 | Messiah University Mechanicsburg Private not-for-profit | 19 | $32,943 |
| 6 | Keystone College La Plume Private not-for-profit | 16 | Not reported |
| 7 | Temple University Philadelphia Public | 16 | $31,452 |
| 8 | Elizabethtown College Elizabethtown Private not-for-profit | 14 | Not reported |
| 9 | Pennsylvania State University - Penn State DuBois DuBois Public | 14 | Not reported |
| 10 | Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Erie-Behrend College Erie Public | 13 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 29 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Human Development programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Human Development degrees?+
Pennsylvania State University (89 graduates a year), Reading Area Community College (63 graduates a year) and Eastern University (43 graduates a year) award the most Human Development degrees in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 39 Pennsylvania colleges offer Human Development.
Which Human Development program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Pennsylvania State University tops the list at $34,030. 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 Pennsylvania?+
The average annual wage for Social and Human Service Assistants in Pennsylvania is $45,060 (median $44,050), across about 24,340 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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