2026 Best Value Human Services Schools in Ohio

[Human Services](/majors/social-services-public-administration/human-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for human services students.
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2026 Best Value Human Services Schools in Ohio
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 Ohio. Located in the rural area of Mansfield, North Central State College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,786, compared with $11,374 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $12,236. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from North Central State College generally make around $47,458. Set against $12,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ohio University Main Campus earned it the #2 place for human services. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. 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.
A rank of #3 makes Ohio Christian University one of the best values for human services. Located in the rural area of Circleville, Ohio Christian University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Ohio Christian University admits about 38% of applicants.
More Human Services Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.