Best institutions to study Human Development
Compare 927 U.S. colleges offering Human Development by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 54 states.
Human Development programs report a median of $31,295 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 19.07 and the Social and Human Service Assistants occupation (BLS SOC).
About Human Development programs
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 Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences and is designed for students interested in exploring the complexities of human development across the lifespan.
Students in this program will gain essential skills in areas such as psychology, therapy and counseling, and customer service. Coursework typically covers topics like child development, family systems, and community services, equipping students with the knowledge to assess needs and implement effective interventions.
Top 50 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Louis University Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,954 | 133 | 30% | $18,904 | $28,096 |
| 2 | Warner Pacific University Professional and Graduate Studies Portland, OR Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,523 | 1 | — | — | $39,697 |
| 3 | George Mason University Fairfax, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,140 | 16 | 68% | — | $24,300 |
| 4 | University of the District of Columbia Washington, DC Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,819 | 22 | 33% | — | $43,500 |
| 5 | Tufts University Medford, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,345 | 76 | 94% | $23,570 | $16,170 |
| 6 | North Dakota State University - Main Campus Fargo, ND Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,717 | 125 | 64% | — | $26,569 |
| 7 | Connecticut College New London, CT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,609 | 6 | 82% | $27,183 | — |
| 8 | Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Stillwater, OK Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,243 | 107 | 68% | — | $23,858 |
| 9 | California State University - East Bay Hayward, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,195 | 259 | 48% | — | $18,000 |
| 10 | University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,157 | 69 | 89% | — | $19,533 |
| 11 | Southern Nazarene University Bethany, OK Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,062 | 25 | 51% | $19,619 | $38,563 |
| 12 | Concordia University - Saint Paul Saint Paul, MN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,593 | 34 | 46% | $17,328 | $30,583 |
| 13 | Washington State University Pullman, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,880 | 120 | 60% | — | $24,019 |
| 14 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,096 | 150 | 69% | — | $23,250 |
| 15 | Pacific Oaks College Pasadena, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,077 | 43 | — | — | $27,715 |
| 16 | Ohio University - Eastern Campus Saint Clairsville, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,973 | 1 | 21% | — | $27,000 |
| 17 | Ohio University - Main Campus Athens, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,973 | 32 | 65% | — | $27,000 |
| 18 | Lesley University Cambridge, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,516 | 1 | 58% | $30,837 | $21,250 |
| 19 | Cornell University Ithaca, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,401 | 5 | 95% | $17,613 | $15,500 |
| 20 | University of Houston Houston, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,964 | 97 | 65% | — | $22,450 |
| 21 | Campbellsville University Campbellsville, KY Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $37,685 | 13 | 42% | $18,824 | $20,820 |
| 22 | North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,458 | 22 | 57% | — | $31,000 |
| 23 | City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College Chicago, IL Public · Associate degree | $37,381 | 144 | 32% | — | — |
| 24 | South Dakota State University Brookings, SD Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,123 | 51 | 62% | — | $24,500 |
| 25 | University of Wisconsin - Stout Menomonie, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,050 | 32 | 55% | — | $27,000 |
| 26 | The University of Arizona Global Campus Chandler, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,944 | 66 | 11% | $26,445 | $36,000 |
| 27 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,858 | 37 | 84% | $28,851 | $22,981 |
| 28 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,743 | 50 | 62% | — | $17,500 |
| 29 | Baker College Owosso, MI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,494 | 45 | 36% | $15,493 | $43,076 |
| 30 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,445 | 126 | 68% | — | $20,400 |
| 31 | Iowa State University Ames, IA Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,364 | 44 | 75% | — | $24,958 |
| 32 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,214 | 3 | 67% | — | $23,000 |
| 33 | Binghamton University Vestal, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,213 | 88 | 82% | — | $19,500 |
| 34 | SUNY Oneonta Oneonta, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,143 | 29 | 69% | — | $23,250 |
| 35 | University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HI Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,040 | 44 | 64% | — | $18,250 |
| 36 | Indiana State University Terre Haute, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,941 | 12 | 43% | — | $27,000 |
| 37 | Weber State University Ogden, UT Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,861 | 47 | 46% | — | $18,792 |
| 38 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,759 | 84 | 91% | — | $17,296 |
| 39 | University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, OK Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,491 | 21 | 37% | — | $27,500 |
| 40 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,467 | 113 | 65% | — | $15,500 |
| 41 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,436 | 73 | 83% | — | $15,304 |
| 42 | University of Nevada - Reno Reno, NV Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,322 | 96 | 61% | — | $21,875 |
| 43 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,318 | 57 | 59% | — | $27,209 |
| 44 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,234 | 37 | 46% | — | $25,000 |
| 45 | Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,216 | 72 | 47% | — | $31,000 |
| 46 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,209 | 24 | 58% | — | $29,539 |
| 47 | Texas State University San Marcos, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,047 | 88 | 55% | — | $22,295 |
| 48 | State University of New York at Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,025 | 7 | 59% | — | $25,420 |
| 49 | North Shore Community College Danvers, MA Public · Associate degree | $34,978 | 54 | 18% | — | $9,622 |
| 50 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,610 | 103 | 88% | — | $23,250 |
Offered across 54 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 21-1093, Social and Human Service Assistants, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Human Development program can pursue various careers in fields such as child care, family services, and developmental support. The job outlook is promising, with a projected growth rate of 6.4% and about 50,600 annual job openings. The median wage for these roles is approximately $45,120, with a typical education requirement of a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Human Development
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 19.07.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 19.07 (Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services) maps to 10 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 19-3039 | Psychologists, All Other |
| 19-3099 | Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other |
| 21-1093 | Social and Human Service Assistantsprimary |
| 21-1099 | Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other |
| 25-1192 | Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-2011 | Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education |
| 25-9021 | Farm and Home Management Educators |
| 25-9042 | Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education |
| 25-9043 | Teaching Assistants, Special Education |
| 39-9011 | Childcare Workers |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Human Development programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Assess clients' cognitive abilities and physical and emotional needs to determine appropriate interventions.
- Develop and implement behavioral management and care plans for clients.
- Keep records or prepare reports for owner or management concerning visits with clients.
- Visit individuals in homes or attend group meetings to provide information on agency services, requirements, or procedures.
- Submit reports and review reports or problems with superior.
- Interview individuals or family members to compile information on social, educational, criminal, institutional, or drug history.
Concentrations within Human Development
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Human Development and Family Studies, GeneralCIP 19.0701
A general program that focuses on basic human developmental and behavioral characteristics of the individual within the context of the family
- Adult Development and AgingCIP 19.0702
A program that focuses on the characteristics of aging populations and the needs of older individuals in family and institutional settings
- Family SystemsCIP 19.0704
A program that focuses on the family as a social unit in its developmental, dynamic, comparative, and structural aspects, and the significance of the family as a system that impacts individuals and so
- Child DevelopmentCIP 19.0706
A program that focuses on the intellectual, social, emotional, and biological development of children and the planning and design of related human services
- Family and Community ServicesCIP 19.0707
A program that focuses on the development and implementation of public, private, and voluntary support services for individuals, families, and localities and that prepares individuals to function in a
- Child Care and Support Services ManagementCIP 19.0708
A program that focuses on the provision and management of child care services and that prepares individuals to plan, design, and manage child care facilities and programs that meet children's developm
- Child Care Provider/AssistantCIP 19.0709
A program that prepares individuals to be primary providers of home, family, residential, or institutional-based child care services
- Developmental Services WorkerCIP 19.0710
A program that prepares individuals to apply practical knowledge and skills to support individuals with a variety of physical, mental or developmental disabilities in a family or community setting
- Early Childhood and Family StudiesCIP 19.0711
A program of study that focuses on the development and learning of children from birth to six years old within the context of the family
- Parent Education ServicesCIP 19.0712
A program that prepares individuals to plan, coordinate, and teach parent education programs and services that address the cultural, emotional, intellectual, physical and social needs of children and
- Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services, OtherCIP 19.0799
Any instructional program in human development, family studies, and related services not listed above.
Common questions
What is the focus of the Human Development program?+
The program focuses on human growth and family dynamics across the lifespan.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, critical thinking, and understanding psychology.
What career opportunities are available after graduation?+
Graduates can work in child care, family services, and developmental support roles.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is favorable, with a growth rate of 6.4% and about 50,600 annual openings.
How much do Human Development graduates earn?+
Human Development graduates report median earnings of $31,295 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Social and Human Service Assistants occupation pays about $47,690 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Human Development?+
Human Development maps to CIP 19.07 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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