2027 Best Value Human Services Associate’s Degree Schools
[Human Services](/majors/social-services-public-administration/human-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong human services education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 108 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for human services students.
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2027 Best Value Human Services Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the human services degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Human Services Schools
Leading the list is Santa Ana College, our #1 best value for human services in the United States. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, compared with $10,756 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,196 to complete the human services program here. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $39,633. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Bronx Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in human services, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Bronx Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,206 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,086. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $8,071. Human Services graduates of Cuny Bronx Community College earn a median of $36,338 early in their careers. Set against $8,071 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Metropolitan Community College Area is a great value for students pursuing a degree in human services, landing the #3 spot this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $4,950. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $9,728. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Metropolitan Community College Area generally make around $34,392. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in human services will find it at Joliet Junior College, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,530, compared with $13,800 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,995 to complete the human services program here. Early-career human services graduates make about $40,118. Set against $11,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Midlands Technical College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value human services schools. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $14,700. Students borrow a median of $18,203 to complete the human services program here. Early-career human services graduates make about $39,610. That is a strong return on a $18,203 median debt.
Cerritos College placed #6 among the best values for human services. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $12,004. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $11,306. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Cerritos College generally make around $29,495. Set against $11,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Modesto Junior College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value human services schools. Modesto Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Modesto. In-state tuition and fees average $1,282, while out-of-state students pay about $9,264. Human Services graduates carry a median of $8,575 in student loans. Human Services graduates of Modesto Junior College earn a median of $36,525 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,575 median debt.
Trident Technical College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value human services schools. Set in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,546 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,620. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $18,116. Early-career human services graduates make about $50,166. Set against $18,116 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ventura College landed the #9 spot for human services value this year. Set in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Human Services graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Early-career human services graduates make about $99,778. That is a strong return on a $20,250 median debt.
Suffolk County Community College landed the #10 spot for human services value this year. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,630, with out-of-state students paying around $12,460. Students borrow a median of $11,246 to complete the human services program here. Human Services graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $35,667 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saddleback College came in at #11 for value in human services this year. Located in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,432, with out-of-state students paying around $14,812. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $5,707. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Saddleback College generally make around $15,890. That is a strong return on a $5,707 median debt.
Wilkes Community College landed the #12 spot for human services value this year. Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wilkesboro. Students from in state pay about $2,572 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,716. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $9,125. Early-career human services graduates make about $36,341. Set against $9,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny New York City College Of Technology ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value human services schools. Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Students from in state pay about $7,332 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,282 for out-of-state students. Human Services graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Early-career human services graduates make about $42,839. Set against $9,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny New York City College Of Technology admits about 80% of applicants.
Cypress College placed #14 among the best values for human services. Set in the city of Cypress, Cypress College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,150, compared with $12,379 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,533.
Hazard Community And Technical College came in at #15 for value in human services this year. Set in the town of Hazard, Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Solano Community College placed #16 among the best values for human services. Located in the suburb of Fairfield, Solano Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,172, with out-of-state students paying around $9,772. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete the human services program here. 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.
Santa Rosa Junior College came in at #17 for value in human services this year. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,318, with out-of-state students paying around $11,308. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $14,692. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College generally make around $80,047. That is a strong return on a $14,692 median debt.
Stella And Charles Guttman Community College landed the #18 spot for human services value this year. Stella And Charles Guttman Community College is a small public school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $5,194, while out-of-state students pay about $8,074. Early-career human services graduates make about $22,496.
Stanly Community College came in at #19 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, while out-of-state students pay about $8,816. Early-career human services graduates make about $41,920.
Westmoreland County Community College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value human services schools. Set in the suburb of Youngwood, Westmoreland County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,306, compared with $14,728 for out-of-state students. Human Services graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $37,439. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Orange County Community College came in at #21 for value in human services this year. Located in the suburb of Middletown, Orange County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,526, while out-of-state students pay about $12,334. Human Services graduates carry a median of $14,152 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Orange County Community College generally make around $43,442. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Folsom Lake College landed the #22 spot for human services value this year. Folsom Lake College is a large public school located in the city of Folsom. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,288, compared with $12,616 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $42,568 ten years out.
Horry Georgetown Technical College landed the #23 spot for human services value this year. Horry Georgetown Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Conway. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,518, compared with $10,978 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $35,140 to complete the human services program here. Human Services graduates of Horry Georgetown Technical College earn a median of $37,387 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Elgin Community College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value human services schools. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,252, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete the human services program here. Human Services graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of $43,975 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fresno City College earned the #25 position for value in human services this year. Located in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,378, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Human Services graduates carry a median of $6,334 in student loans. Human Services graduates of Fresno City College earn a median of $37,470 early in their careers. Set against $6,334 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Human Services Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in human services:
Other Human Services Degree Levels
Explore the best-value human services schools at other degree levels:
View All Human Services Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 108 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 108 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
