Best Value Human Services Colleges

CUNY New York City College of Technology delivers the strongest return on investment for Human Services programs with graduates earning $37,363 annually after paying just $4,783 in net costs. This Brooklyn institution stands out among public colleges nationwide, where Human Services graduates typically face higher debt burdens while earning similar starting salaries. The field connects directly to America's growing social services sector, which employs over 4 million workers across nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and healthcare systems. Public universities dominate the affordability market, with 13 of the top 15 value programs charging under $15,000 in net costs. However, graduation rates vary dramatically from Gordon State College's 17.3% to University of South Florida's impressive 74.6%. Students entering this field should weigh program completion rates carefully, as Human Services roles often require specific certifications and degrees for advancement into supervisory positions within social work, community outreach, and case management careers.

Programs

$4,783 – $25,702

Net Price Range

$31,980

Avg. Program Earnings

48.0%

Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Human Services, General Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	CUNY New York City College of Technology Brooklyn, New York	$4,783	$37,363	$7,332	19.4%	81.8%
2	University of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada	$10,011	$31,314	$9,142	50.1%	85.3%
3	Gordon State College Barnesville, Georgia	$8,918	$25,967	$3,475	17.3%	93.3%
4	Valley City State University Valley City, North Dakota	$13,613	$38,289	$8,514	48.1%	83.5%
5	University of South Florida Tampa, Florida	$10,043	$27,551	$6,410	74.6%	43.9%
6	University of North Georgia Dahlonega, Georgia	$10,785	$29,413	$5,009	36.8%	69.6%
7	Purdue University Global West Lafayette, Indiana	$12,267	$31,707	$10,110	47.6%
8	Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, Colorado	$14,294	$36,222	$10,780	29.9%	97.9%
9	California State University-Monterey Bay Seaside, California	$14,487	$36,533	$7,437	63.2%	92.4%
10	University of the Cumberlands Williamsburg, Kentucky	$11,286	$28,055	$9,875	46.2%	83.0%
11	University of Phoenix-Arizona Phoenix, Arizona	$13,571	$32,901	$9,552	19.5%
12	Fitchburg State University Fitchburg, Massachusetts	$15,432	$36,166	$11,046	52.7%	86.1%
13	Northern Illinois University Dekalb, Illinois	$12,909	$29,685	$12,700	49.6%	70.7%
14	Lincoln University Lincoln University, Pennsylvania	$12,912	$28,598	$12,512	52.1%	80.6%
15	Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies Springfield, Missouri	$13,375	$29,064	$8,044	32.1%
16	Central Washington University Ellensburg, Washington	$14,715	$30,305	$9,192	49.9%	93.5%
17	Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global Marion, Indiana	$16,767	$34,348	$8,216	37.2%
18	Metropolitan State University Saint Paul, Minnesota	$19,181	$39,153	$9,780	38.4%	81.7%
19	Colorado State University Global Aurora, Colorado	$14,099	$28,236	$8,400		96.9%
20	Tennessee Wesleyan University Athens, Tennessee	$14,879	$28,598	$29,264	43.6%	60.7%
21	Shorter University Rome, Georgia	$16,286	$31,133	$24,044	37.1%	97.5%
22	Mercy University Dobbs Ferry, New York	$15,770	$30,047	$22,106	48.1%	85.9%
23	Lindsey Wilson College Columbia, Kentucky	$13,811	$26,256	$27,274	38.1%
24	Towson University Towson, Maryland	$16,791	$31,585	$11,306	67.6%	78.6%
25	University of Delaware Newark, Delaware	$16,931	$31,818	$16,080	78.8%	73.8%
26	Indiana Institute of Technology-College of Professional Studies Fort Wayne, Indiana	$19,086	$35,060	$9,900
27	East Tennessee State University Johnson City, Tennessee	$15,794	$28,417	$9,950	49.9%	85.3%
28	Dakota Wesleyan University Mitchell, South Dakota	$19,300	$34,526	$32,890	46.4%	74.8%
29	Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, Georgia	$16,972	$29,799	$5,786	48.1%	67.9%
30	Western Washington University Bellingham, Washington	$18,680	$31,990	$9,286	65.5%	92.7%
31	Hilbert College Hamburg, New York	$22,100	$37,568	$32,150	47.0%	95.5%
32	Post University Waterbury, Connecticut	$19,196	$32,284	$17,100	35.3%
33	Indiana Institute of Technology Fort Wayne, Indiana	$21,318	$35,060	$30,446	31.4%	64.7%
34	Saint Leo University Saint Leo, Florida	$18,467	$29,956	$28,360	48.8%	80.1%
35	Grand View University Des Moines, Iowa	$21,616	$34,908	$33,450	55.8%	98.4%
36	Carson-Newman University Jefferson City, Tennessee	$18,661	$29,685	$34,700	46.4%	79.8%
37	Quincy University Quincy, Illinois	$17,324	$26,739	$35,740	42.7%	61.7%
38	Southern Wesleyan University Central, South Carolina	$19,968	$30,771	$27,870	52.0%	51.2%
39	Bluefield University Bluefield, Virginia	$22,198	$33,993	$29,696	27.1%	63.0%
40	Bethel University Mishawaka, Indiana	$19,726	$29,685	$33,320	57.2%	99.5%
41	University of Bridgeport Bridgeport, Connecticut	$24,786	$37,088	$35,760	48.1%	81.5%
42	Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion Marion, Indiana	$23,069	$34,348	$31,168	66.3%	86.7%
43	Seton Hill University Greensburg, Pennsylvania	$22,558	$33,565	$41,414	71.0%	78.3%
44	Upper Iowa University Fayette, Iowa	$23,172	$33,779	$19,000	41.5%	54.2%
45	Grand Canyon University Phoenix, Arizona	$21,931	$31,676	$17,450	43.0%	77.9%
46	Mercer University Macon, Georgia	$22,350	$31,547	$40,890	73.4%	74.7%
47	University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon	$21,782	$30,554	$15,669	71.5%	86.3%
48	Mount Saint Mary College Newburgh, New York	$23,736	$32,284	$41,370	65.7%	88.3%
49	Geneva College Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania	$21,043	$28,598	$33,610	61.5%	79.1%
50	Fisher College Boston, Massachusetts	$25,702	$34,793	$35,013	28.4%	74.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the $32,000 difference between the lowest and highest net costs?

CUNY New York City College of Technology charges just $4,783 in net costs compared to California State University-Monterey Bay at $14,487, reflecting both state funding differences and regional cost adjustments. Public institutions generally offer lower net prices than private colleges, with most state schools in this ranking falling between $8,000-$15,000 annually. Geographic location also impacts costs, as schools in expensive metropolitan areas often provide more financial aid to offset living expenses. Private institutions like University of the Cumberlands charge $11,286 despite higher sticker prices due to institutional grants and scholarships.

How do graduation rates correlate with program value in Human Services?

University of South Florida achieves a 74.6% graduation rate while charging only $10,043 in net costs, demonstrating that affordable programs can still maintain strong completion rates. In contrast, Gordon State College has the lowest graduation rate at 17.3% despite charging just $8,918 annually. Schools with graduation rates above 50% include University of South Florida, California State University-Monterey Bay, and Valley City State University. Students should prioritize completion rates alongside costs, as incomplete degrees provide no return on educational investment.

Does debt load significantly impact Human Services graduate outcomes?

Purdue University Global graduates carry $52,937 in average debt, the highest among these programs, while earning $31,707 annually. California State University-Monterey Bay graduates face only $13,750 in debt while earning $36,533, creating a much more manageable debt-to-income ratio. Most public institutions keep graduate debt below $30,000, with several programs like CUNY New York City College of Technology producing graduates with under $10,000 in loans. Human Services careers often start at modest salaries, making low debt loads essential for financial stability.

Where do Human Services graduates earn the highest starting salaries?

Valley City State University graduates earn $38,289 annually, the highest among these programs, followed closely by CUNY New York City College of Technology at $37,363. Regional job markets significantly influence starting salaries, with metropolitan areas typically offering higher compensation for social services positions. California State University-Monterey Bay graduates earn $36,533, reflecting the strong nonprofit sector and government services in California. Even the lowest-earning graduates from Gordon State College start at $25,967, indicating consistent demand for Human Services professionals nationwide.

Is acceptance rate related to program quality in Human Services programs?

University of South Florida maintains the most selective admissions at 43.93% acceptance while delivering strong outcomes with 74.6% graduation rates and $27,551 average earnings. Metropolitan State University accepts 97.91% of applicants but achieves only 29.9% graduation rates, suggesting that open access doesn't guarantee student success. Most programs accept between 70-90% of applicants, indicating that Human Services education remains accessible to varied student populations. Selective programs often provide better support systems and resources, though several open-access institutions like California State University-Monterey Bay still produce strong graduate outcomes.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.