by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 434 U.S. colleges awarded 12,294 degrees and certificates in General Human Services. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 48% of graduates. College Factual ranks 212 schools in its 2027 Best General 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.
A major in General Human Services involves the study of Human Services, General. A Program That Focuses On The General Study And Provision Of Human And Social Services To Individuals And Communities And Prepares Individuals To Work In Public And Private Human Services Agencies And Organizations. Includes Instruction In The Social Sciences, Psychology, Principles Of Social Service, Human Services Policy, Planning And Evaluation, Social Services Law And Administration, And Applications To Particular Issues, Services, Localities, And Populations. Examples: [Human Service Studies], [Human Services Studies].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., general human services is a popular field of study, with 12,294 degrees awarded annually. 434 colleges award general 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 general 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 General Human Services Schools ranking, including 108 for associate degrees, 86 for bachelor’s degrees and 21 for master’s degrees. It also ranks general human services schools within 35 states. In all, 434 colleges offer general human services programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Human Services Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general human services credential is the bachelor’s degree: 5,881 of the 12,294 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general 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.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a general 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 general 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 General 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 Social Worker Assistant, Social Service Designee (SSD), Social Service Aide and Community Organization Aide.
The occupation related to general 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% |
General 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 general 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 |
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