Best colleges for Human Development in Washington
Ranked by graduate earnings
Washington State University, Eastern Washington University and Central Washington University are the top bachelor's Human Development programs in Washington by graduate earnings. Washington State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,880, College Scorecard. Washington State University, Eastern Washington University and Whatcom Community College award the most Human Development degrees in Washington: 120, 38 and 36 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 10 Washington colleges offer Human Development and award 311 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 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 | Washington State University Pullman Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,880 | 120 | 60% | — | $24,019 |
| 2 | Eastern Washington University Cheney Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,589 | 38 | 43% | — | $19,936 |
| 3 | Central Washington University Ellensburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,006 | 20 | 54% | — | $21,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Human Development degrees in Washington
Top 7 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 | Washington State University Pullman Public | 120 | $39,880 |
| 2 | Eastern Washington University Cheney Public | 38 | $28,589 |
| 3 | Whatcom Community College Bellingham Public | 36 | Not reported |
| 4 | Central Washington University Ellensburg Public | 20 | $27,006 |
| 5 | Spokane Falls Community College Spokane Public | 13 | Not reported |
| 6 | Skagit Valley College Mount Vernon Public | 11 | Not reported |
| 7 | Seattle Pacific University Seattle Private not-for-profit | 2 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 3 Washington colleges offering Human Development
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoreline College | Shoreline | Public | 49 |
| Northwest Indian College | Bellingham | Public | 15 |
| Edmonds College | Lynnwood | Public | 7 |
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 Washington
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Human Development programs in Washington.
Which Washington colleges award the most Human Development degrees?+
Washington State University (120 graduates a year), Eastern Washington University (38 graduates a year) and Whatcom Community College (36 graduates a year) award the most Human Development degrees in Washington, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 10 Washington colleges offer Human Development.
What is the best college for Human Development in Washington?+
By graduate earnings, Washington State University leads among bachelor's Human Development programs in Washington, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,880, College Scorecard. Eastern Washington University and Central Washington University follow. By degrees awarded, Washington State University is the largest, with 120 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Human Development program in Washington has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Washington State University tops the list at $39,880. 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 Washington?+
The average annual wage for Social and Human Service Assistants in Washington is $55,900 (median $54,770), across about 7,590 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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