Best institutions to study Human Services
Compare 433 U.S. colleges offering Human Services by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 51 states.
Human Services programs report a median of $34,931 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 44.00 and the Social and Human Service Assistants occupation (BLS SOC).
About Human Services programs
The Human Services program, also known as Human Services, General, is an interdisciplinary field focused on meeting human needs through a comprehensive understanding of social and service technologies. It aims to improve the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities by emphasizing prevention and remediation of social issues.
Students in this program will acquire essential skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework covers topics in psychology, sociology, and customer service, preparing students to develop and implement care plans and assess clients' needs.
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 | Goodwin University East Hartford, CT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $51,659 | 33 | 58% | $30,133 | $35,166 |
| 2 | Simpson College Indianola, IA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,184 | 7 | 63% | $20,710 | — |
| 3 | Northeastern University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,799 | 25 | 91% | $18,925 | $26,000 |
| 4 | Metropolitan State University Saint Paul, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,751 | 45 | 44% | — | $31,000 |
| 5 | Fitchburg State University Fitchburg, MA Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,641 | 8 | 55% | — | $26,352 |
| 6 | Cambridge College Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,287 | 18 | 11% | — | $32,524 |
| 7 | Colorado State University Global Denver, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,336 | 57 | — | — | $44,111 |
| 8 | St. Joseph's University - New York Brooklyn, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,105 | 9 | 69% | $17,134 | $35,750 |
| 9 | CUNY New York City College of Technology Brooklyn, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,839 | 90 | 21% | — | $9,000 |
| 10 | Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,938 | 39 | 32% | — | $29,913 |
| 11 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,551 | 2 | 84% | $28,851 | $26,273 |
| 12 | Post University Waterbury, CT Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,124 | 131 | 25% | $14,659 | $54,002 |
| 13 | Touro University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,021 | 31 | 72% | $27,110 | $31,525 |
| 14 | Tacoma Community College Tacoma, WA Public · Associate degree | $41,008 | 88 | 32% | — | $17,367 |
| 15 | Century College White Bear Lake, MN Public · Associate degree | $41,007 | 10 | 31% | — | $37,015 |
| 16 | Grand View University Des Moines, IA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,750 | 11 | 54% | $20,840 | $30,750 |
| 17 | Chestnut Hill College Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,336 | 50 | 49% | $29,887 | $43,125 |
| 18 | Indiana Institute of Technology Fort Wayne, IN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,180 | 7 | 48% | $20,661 | $47,683 |
| 19 | Indiana Institute of Technology - College of Professional Studies Fort Wayne, IN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,180 | 15 | 28% | $19,930 | $47,683 |
| 20 | Rasmussen University - Florida Ocala, FL Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,125 | 18 | 42% | $20,261 | $46,312 |
| 21 | Central Maine Community College Auburn, ME Public · Associate degree | $40,029 | 29 | 30% | — | $18,250 |
| 22 | University of Phoenix - Arizona Phoenix, AZ Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,554 | 18 | 21% | $15,478 | $50,140 |
| 23 | Western Washington University Bellingham, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,487 | 63 | 65% | — | $20,041 |
| 24 | Upper Iowa University Fayette, IA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,389 | 40 | 34% | $22,697 | $45,388 |
| 25 | Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,173 | 86 | 37% | — | $30,726 |
| 26 | University of Baltimore Baltimore, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,099 | 21 | 38% | — | $37,809 |
| 27 | Doane University Crete, NE Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,613 | 7 | 57% | $25,103 | $35,959 |
| 28 | Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,461 | 751 | 43% | $34,565 | $36,787 |
| 29 | Judson University Elgin, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,671 | 3 | 60% | $25,200 | $34,455 |
| 30 | Columbia College Columbia, MO Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,571 | 84 | 42% | $23,247 | $39,973 |
| 31 | California State University - Monterey Bay Seaside, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,501 | 75 | 59% | — | $14,480 |
| 32 | Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global Marion, IN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,366 | 112 | 35% | $18,316 | $40,228 |
| 33 | Mercy University Dobbs Ferry, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,274 | 19 | 46% | $17,604 | $28,500 |
| 34 | Central Washington University Ellensburg, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,644 | 35 | 54% | — | $19,893 |
| 35 | Towson University Towson, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,616 | 75 | 69% | — | $21,250 |
| 36 | Walden University Minneapolis, MN Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,492 | 290 | — | — | $50,495 |
| 37 | Missouri Baptist University Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,365 | 3 | 48% | $25,407 | $29,389 |
| 38 | CUNY Bronx Community College Bronx, NY Public · Associate degree | $36,338 | 23 | 16% | — | $8,071 |
| 39 | Saint Leo University Saint Leo, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,312 | 16 | 45% | $18,986 | $50,406 |
| 40 | Indian River State College Fort Pierce, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,107 | 84 | 45% | — | $13,583 |
| 41 | Quinsigamond Community College Worcester, MA Public · Associate degree | $36,101 | 71 | 22% | — | $17,305 |
| 42 | University of Oregon Eugene, OR Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,678 | 81 | 72% | — | $21,417 |
| 43 | Elmira College Elmira, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,437 | 20 | 65% | $21,992 | $27,000 |
| 44 | Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,433 | 1,250 | 43% | $21,535 | $30,509 |
| 45 | Fisher College Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,289 | 15 | 28% | $26,273 | $29,935 |
| 46 | Grace Christian University Wyoming, MI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,205 | 17 | 51% | $14,254 | $36,149 |
| 47 | Ottawa University - Kansas City Overland Park, KS Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,168 | 6 | — | — | $39,775 |
| 48 | Ottawa University - Milwaukee Brookfield, WI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,168 | 4 | — | — | $39,775 |
| 49 | Ottawa University - Online Overland Park, KS Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,168 | 6 | 43% | — | $39,775 |
| 50 | Mitchell Technical College Mitchell, SD Public · Associate degree | $35,070 | 8 | 76% | — | — |
Offered across 51 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 Services program can expect a positive job outlook, with a projected growth rate of 6.4% and approximately 50,600 annual openings. The median wage for positions in this field is $45,120, and typical entry-level education required is a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Human Services
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 44.00.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 44.00 (Human Services, General) maps to 3 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9151 | Social and Community Service Managers |
| 21-1093 | Social and Human Service Assistantsprimary |
| 21-1099 | Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Human Services 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 Services
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Human Services, GeneralCIP 44.0000
A program that focuses on the general study and provision of human and social services to individuals and communities and prepares individuals to work in public and private human services agencies and
Common questions
What is the focus of the Human Services program?+
The program focuses on meeting human needs through an applied knowledge base, emphasizing prevention and remediation of social issues.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
Students will develop skills in speaking, active listening, critical thinking, and writing, among others.
What career opportunities are available after graduation?+
Graduates can pursue various careers in public administration and social services, with a strong job outlook.
What is the typical education required for this field?+
Most positions in Human Services require at least a high school diploma or equivalent.
How much do Human Services graduates earn?+
Human Services graduates report median earnings of $34,931 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 Services?+
Human Services maps to CIP 44.00 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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