Best colleges for Human Development in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Virginia, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and Liberty University are the top bachelor's Human Development programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. University of Virginia leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $34,533, College Scorecard. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College and Danville Community College award the most Human Development degrees in Virginia: 142, 136 and 113 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 28 Virginia colleges offer Human Development and award 1,349 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 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,533 | 33 | 96% | — | $19,500 |
| 2 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,654 | 142 | 86% | — | $21,500 |
| 3 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $31,083 | 36 | 65% | $28,911 | $23,250 |
| 4 | George Mason University Fairfax Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $45,140 | 16 | 68% | — | $24,300 |
Top 5 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 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Public · Certificate | $24,012 | 188 | 33% | — | $15,183 |
| 2 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk Public · Certificate | $21,889 | 200 | 32% | — | $11,000 |
| 3 | Virginia Western Community College Roanoke Public · Certificate | $21,057 | 39 | 40% | — | — |
| 4 | Southwest Virginia Community College Cedar Bluff Public · Certificate | $19,582 | 63 | 46% | — | — |
| 5 | Patrick & Henry Community College Martinsville Public · Certificate | $16,790 | 33 | 42% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Human Development degrees in Virginia
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 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public | 142 | $33,654 |
| 2 | J Sargeant Reynolds Community College Richmond Public | 136 | Not reported |
| 3 | Danville Community College Danville Public | 113 | Not reported |
| 4 | Brightpoint Community College Chester Public | 53 | Not reported |
| 5 | Paul D Camp Community College Franklin Public | 49 | Not reported |
| 6 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit | 36 | $31,083 |
| 7 | Germanna Community College Locust Grove Public | 34 | Not reported |
| 8 | Central Virginia Community College Lynchburg Public | 33 | Not reported |
| 9 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public | 33 | $34,533 |
| 10 | Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave Public | 31 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 18 Virginia colleges offering Human Development
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tidewater Community College | Norfolk | Public | 200 |
| Northern Virginia Community College | Annandale | Public | 188 |
| Southwest Virginia Community College | Cedar Bluff | Public | 63 |
| Virginia Western Community College | Roanoke | Public | 39 |
| Patrick & Henry Community College | Martinsville | Public | 33 |
| Virginia Peninsula Community College | Hampton | Public | 29 |
| Laurel Ridge Community College | Middletown | Public | 24 |
| Eastern Shore Community College | Melfa | Public | 22 |
| Southern Virginia University | Buena Vista | Private not-for-profit | 22 |
| New River Community College | Dublin | Public | 18 |
| George Mason University | Fairfax | Public | 16 |
| Piedmont Virginia Community College | Charlottesville | Public | 12 |
| Southside Virginia Community College | Alberta | Public | 9 |
| Mountain Empire Community College | Big Stone Gap | Public | 5 |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond | Public | 4 |
| Mountain Gateway Community College | Clifton Forge | Public | 2 |
| Virginia Highlands Community College | Abingdon | Public | 2 |
| Bridgewater College | Bridgewater | Private not-for-profit | 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 Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Human Development programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Human Development degrees?+
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (142 graduates a year), J Sargeant Reynolds Community College (136 graduates a year) and Danville Community College (113 graduates a year) award the most Human Development degrees in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 28 Virginia colleges offer Human Development.
What is the best college for Human Development in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, University of Virginia leads among bachelor's Human Development programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $34,533, College Scorecard. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and Liberty University follow. By degrees awarded, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is the largest, with 142 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Human Development program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Virginia tops the list at $34,533. 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 Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Social and Human Service Assistants in Virginia is $45,060 (median $43,450), across about 10,670 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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