Best colleges for Human Development in Tennessee
Ranked by graduate earnings
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Dyersburg State Community College and Roane State Community College award the most Human Development degrees and certificates in Tennessee: 86, 57 and 43 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 22 Tennessee colleges offer Human Development and award 549 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 3 institutions, 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 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,301 | 28 | 53% | — | $20,032 |
| 2 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,300 | 86 | 74% | — | $22,790 |
| 3 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville Nashville Public · Certificate Small program | $23,070 | 9 | 70% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Human Development degrees in Tennessee
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). 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 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public | 86 | $32,300 |
| 2 | Dyersburg State Community College Dyersburg Public | 57 | Not reported |
| 3 | Roane State Community College Harriman Public | 43 | Not reported |
| 4 | Vanderbilt University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 31 | Not reported |
| 5 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public | 28 | $33,301 |
| 6 | Lee University Cleveland Private not-for-profit | 25 | Not reported |
| 7 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville Public | 22 | Not reported |
| 8 | Northeast State Community College Blountville Public | 18 | Not reported |
| 9 | Walters State Community College Morristown Public | 14 | Not reported |
| 10 | Cleveland State Community College Cleveland Public | 13 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 12 Tennessee colleges offering Human Development
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miller-Motte College - Chattanooga (Online) | Chattanooga | Private for-profit | 105 |
| Nashville State Community College | Nashville | Public | 34 |
| Chattanooga State Community College | Chattanooga | Public | 27 |
| Pellissippi State Community College | Knoxville | Public | 12 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville | Nashville | Public | 9 |
| Lipscomb University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Johnson University | Knoxville | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Southern Adventist University | Collegedale | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Volunteer State Community College | Gallatin | Public | 5 |
| Southwest Tennessee Community College | Memphis | Public | 2 |
| Carson-Newman University | Jefferson City | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Motlow State Community College | Tullahoma | Public | 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 Tennessee
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Human Development programs in Tennessee.
Which Tennessee colleges award the most Human Development degrees?+
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (86 graduates a year), Dyersburg State Community College (57 graduates a year) and Roane State Community College (43 graduates a year) award the most Human Development degrees and certificates in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 22 Tennessee colleges offer Human Development.
Which Human Development program in Tennessee has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, East Tennessee State University tops the list at $33,301. 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 Tennessee?+
The average annual wage for Social and Human Service Assistants in Tennessee is $41,300 (median $40,310), across about 4,380 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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