by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 434 U.S. colleges awarded 12,294 degrees and certificates in Human Services. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 48% of graduates. College Factual ranks 212 schools in its 2027 Best Human Services Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $37,141 one year after completing, rising to $46,567 after four years.
There are many people in society that need special help at some point in their lives: the elderly, homeless families, pregnant teens, and people with addiction problems. A degree in Human Services will allow you to provide essential services to vulnerable populations. Human Services involves the general study of human behavior as well as hands-on field experience in order to learn how to improve the lives of people. Generalists will be able to work in public and private human services agencies and organizations.
Instruction in Human Services will take a multi-disciplinary approach. Classes will include: human behavior, psychology, social sciences, principles of social service, human services policy, planning and evaluation, social services law and administration. You will also receive training in practical applications to particular issues, services, localities, and populations.
Studying Human Services covers Human Services, General.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, human services is a popular field of study, with 12,294 degrees awarded annually. 434 colleges award human services degrees, an average of 28 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 1,258.
By level, the 12,294 awards include 266 certificates, 3,981 associate degrees, 5,881 bachelor’s degrees, 2,022 master’s degrees and 129 doctorates.
Women earned 86% of human services degrees and certificates in the latest year (10,527 of 12,294). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (5,197) and Black or African American (3,047), and international students earned 85.
College Factual ranks 212 schools in its 2027 Best Human Services Schools ranking, including 108 for associate degrees, 86 for bachelor’s degrees and 21 for master’s degrees. It also ranks human services schools within 35 states. In all, 434 colleges offer human services programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Human Services Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common human services credential is the bachelor’s degree: 5,881 of the 12,294 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to human services call most for Social Perceptiveness, Active Listening and Service Orientation, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, Psychology and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Problem Sensitivity.
This major is idea for compassionate and caring individuals who have a passion for helping other people overcome their challenges. Most of the clients you will be working with are in stressful or desperate situations, so it is important to remain empathetic and understanding.
Human Services involves working with people from diverse backgrounds. You must be able to build a trusting relationship with your client making communication and interpersonal skills crucial for success. You will often collaborate with a team of human services workers and think creatively to help your clients overcome their challenges.
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How long a human services degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 266 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 3,981 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 5,881 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,022 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 129 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to human services, at 43.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 43.9% |
| Master’s degree | 14.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 14.0% |
| Some college courses | 10.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 9.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 5.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 2.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Human Services, with an average median salary of $100,468; the strongest outlook belongs to Social and Community Service Managers, at 13.3% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Service Aide, Domestic Violence Advocate, House Visitor and Children’s Aide.
There are two main types of human services: those that deal directly with clients and those that provide administrative support for a service agency. For those who want to work directly with people can find jobs as the following: case workers, counselors, mental health aides, and social workers. On the administrative side, you can find work as a grant writer, program director, or development director.
The occupation related to human services with the most projected jobs is Social and Human Service Assistants, at 253,977.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Social and Human Service Assistants | 253,977 | 9.5% |
| Social and Community Service Managers | 181,916 | 13.3% |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | 38,623 | 13.1% |
Human Services graduates earn a median $37,141 one year after completing their program, $46,567 after four years and $44,445 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $37,141 |
| 4 years | $46,567 |
| 5 years | $44,445 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to human services, with a median salary of $156,089.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Social and Community Service Managers | $156,089 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $75,358 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $69,957 |
Human Services includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Public Administration and Social Service Professions (12,294). It has 5 similar majors in the Public & Social Service field, which together award 81,746 degrees a year; the largest are Social Work (58,123), Public Administration (13,879) and Public Policy Analysis (6,226). Browse all Public & Social Service majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Administration and Social Service Professions | 12,294 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Social Work | 58,123 |
| Public Administration | 13,879 |
| Public Policy Analysis | 6,226 |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | 3,027 |
| Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other | 491 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
