[Human Services](/majors/social-services-public-administration/human-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 497 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value human services schools.
Finding the Best Value Human Services School for You
The right human services school can pay off for years to come. That is why we built our Best Value Human Services Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Human Services Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Leading the list is Fresno City College, our #1 best value for human services in the United States. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,378, compared with $8,638 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $6,334. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Fresno City College generally make around $37,470. Set against $6,334 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice one of the best values for human services. Located in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, while out-of-state students pay about $15,420. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $12,678. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice generally make around $43,545. Set against $12,678 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Students looking for strong value in human services will find it at California State University Dominguez Hills, which ranked #3. California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public school located in the city of Carson. Students from in state pay about $7,454 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,054 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,886 to complete the human services program here. Early-career human services graduates make about $52,683. That is a strong return on a $15,886 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Metropolitan Community College Area came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value human services schools. Set in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,375, compared with $4,950 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,728 to complete the human services program here. Human Services graduates of Metropolitan Community College Area earn a median of $34,392 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,728 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Santa Ana College one of the best values for human services. Set in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,756. Human Services graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans. Early-career human services graduates make about $39,633. Set against $11,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida State College At Jacksonville landed the #6 spot for human services value this year. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,657, compared with $9,631 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $30,726. Human Services graduates of Florida State College At Jacksonville earn a median of $39,173 early in their careers. Set against $30,726 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Fullerton came in at #7 for value in human services this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,470, while out-of-state students pay about $20,070. Students borrow a median of $15,525 to complete the human services program here. Human Services graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $54,471 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,525 median debt. California State University Fullerton admits about 90% of applicants.
Cuny Bronx Community College came in at #8 for value in human services this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Bronx Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,206, compared with $8,086 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,071 to complete the human services program here. Early-career human services graduates make about $36,338. That is a strong return on a $8,071 median debt.
Cerritos College placed #9 among the best values for human services. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $11,306. Early-career human services graduates make about $29,495. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Diego City College landed the #10 spot for human services value this year. San Diego City College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $9,514. Early-career human services graduates make about $26,218. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Moreno Valley College placed #11 among the best values for human services. Located in the suburb of Moreno Valley, Moreno Valley College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,428 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Students borrow a median of $12,643 to complete the human services program here. Early-career human services graduates make about $45,515. Set against $12,643 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Shasta College came in at #12 for value in human services this year. Set in the suburb of Redding, Shasta College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,197 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,853. Human Services graduates carry a median of $12,275 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Shasta College generally make around $50,330. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Trident Technical College came in at #13 for value in human services this year. Set in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,546, with out-of-state students paying around $8,620. Human Services graduates carry a median of $18,116 in student loans. Early-career human services graduates make about $50,166. Set against $18,116 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny New York City College Of Technology came in at #14 for value in human services this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,332, compared with $15,282 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,000 to complete the human services program here. Early-career human services graduates make about $42,839. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt. Cuny New York City College Of Technology admits about 80% of applicants.
Folsom Lake College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value human services schools. Set in the city of Folsom, Folsom Lake College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,288, with out-of-state students paying around $12,616. Median earnings reach $42,568 ten years out.
Santa Rosa Junior College came in at #16 for value in human services this year. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,318, compared with $11,308 for out-of-state students. Human Services graduates carry a median of $14,692 in student loans. Early-career human services graduates make about $80,047. That is a strong return on a $14,692 median debt.
Wilkes Community College landed the #17 spot for human services value this year. Set in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,572 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,716 for out-of-state students. Human Services graduates carry a median of $9,125 in student loans. Early-career human services graduates make about $36,341. That is a strong return on a $9,125 median debt.
Suffolk County Community College came in at #18 for value in human services this year. Suffolk County Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Selden. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,630, with out-of-state students paying around $12,460. Human Services graduates carry a median of $11,246 in student loans. Early-career human services graduates make about $35,667. That is a strong return on a $11,246 median debt.
Solano Community College came in at #19 for value in human services this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfield, Solano Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,172, compared with $9,772 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $10,500. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,170 ten years after entry. Set against $10,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Central State College landed the #20 spot for human services value this year. Set in the rural area of Mansfield, North Central State College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,786, with out-of-state students paying around $11,374. Students borrow a median of $12,236 to complete the human services program here. Human Services graduates of North Central State College earn a median of $47,458 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Midlands Technical College earned the #21 position for value in human services this year. Located in the suburb of West Columbia, Midlands Technical College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,100 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,700. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $18,203. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Midlands Technical College generally make around $39,610. Set against $18,203 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Redwoods earned the #22 position for value in human services this year. College Of The Redwoods is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Eureka. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,196, compared with $8,852 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $20,000. Early-career human services graduates make about $98,703. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Nassau Community College landed the #23 spot for human services value this year. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,330 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,130 for out-of-state students. Human Services graduates carry a median of $13,569 in student loans. Human Services graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $27,581 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,569 median debt.
Hazard Community And Technical College landed the #24 spot for human services value this year. Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hazard. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $15,500. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Hazard Community And Technical College generally make around $32,626. That is a strong return on a $15,500 median debt.
Stanly Community College came in at #25 for value in human services this year. Located in the town of Albemarle, Stanly Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,672, compared with $8,816 for out-of-state students. Human Services graduates of Stanly Community College earn a median of $41,920 early in their careers.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Human Services Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in human services:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 497 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 110 ranked schools only.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
[Human Services](/majors/social-services-public-administration/human-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
