2026 Best Value Human Services Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Human Services](/majors/social-services-public-administration/human-services/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 65 schools to find the best return on investment for human services students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Human Services Schools in the Great Lakes Region
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
Our analysis ranked North Central State College the best value for a degree in human services in the Great Lakes Region. 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, compared with $11,374 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $12,236. Early-career human services graduates make about $47,458. Set against $12,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Joliet Junior College one of the best values for human services. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,530, compared with $13,800 for out-of-state students. Human Services graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans. Human Services graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $40,118 early in their careers. Set against $11,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northcentral Technical College earned it the #3 place for human services. Located in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,889, while out-of-state students pay about $7,132. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $11,709. Human Services graduates of Northcentral Technical College earn a median of $41,696 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,709 median debt.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value human services schools. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a large public school located in the city of Fort Wayne. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,532, compared with $22,887 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $24,119. Early-career human services graduates make about $49,424. That is a strong return on a $24,119 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earned it the #5 place for human services. Located in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,532 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,446 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,619 to complete the human services program here. Early-career human services graduates make about $50,590. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh admits about 86% of applicants.
Purdue University Global earned the #6 position for value in human services this year. Purdue University Global is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Students from in state pay about $10,101 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,412. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $36,516. Human Services graduates of Purdue University Global earn a median of $33,875 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global earned the #7 position for value in human services this year. Set in the rural area of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,648. Human Services graduates carry a median of $40,228 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global generally make around $37,366. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rasmussen College Illinois earned the #8 position for value in human services this year. Located in the city of Rockford, Rasmussen College Illinois is a mid-sized private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,581. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $36,597. Early-career human services graduates make about $36,998. Set against $36,597 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #9 spot for human services value this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Human Services graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. Human Services graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $49,736 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Grace Bible College came in at #10 for value in human services this year. Grace Bible College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Wyoming. Students from in state pay about $17,190 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,648 to complete the human services program here. Human Services graduates of Grace Bible College earn a median of $35,205 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,648 median debt. Grace Bible College admits about 99% of applicants.
Herzing University Madison earned the #11 position for value in human services this year. Herzing University Madison is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Madison. In-state tuition and fees average $13,450. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $30,328. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Herzing University Madison generally make around $53,203. That is a strong return on a $30,328 median debt. Herzing University Madison admits about 94% of applicants.
Cornerstone University came in at #12 for value in human services this year. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Cornerstone University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,000. Human Services graduates carry a median of $29,243 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Cornerstone University generally make around $44,501. Set against $29,243 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cornerstone University admits about 78% of applicants.
Ohio Christian University came in at #13 for value in human services this year. Set in the rural area of Circleville, Ohio Christian University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,190. Students borrow a median of $29,940 to complete the human services program here. Human Services graduates of Ohio Christian University earn a median of $45,829 early in their careers. Set against $29,940 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Saint Mary Of The Woods College landed the #14 spot for human services value this year. Located in the rural area of Saint Mary of the Woods, Saint Mary Of The Woods College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,240. Students borrow a median of $28,366 to complete the human services program here. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Saint Mary Of The Woods College generally make around $48,088. That is a strong return on a $28,366 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 65 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
