2027 Best Value Human Services Master’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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 21 schools to find the best return on investment for human services students.
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2027 Best Value Human Services Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in human services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Human Services Schools
University Of South Florida Main Campus tops our 2027 list of the best value human services schools in the United States. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $28,156 to complete the human services program here. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $55,494. That is a strong return on a $28,156 median debt. The acceptance rate is 43%.
A rank of #2 makes Purdue University Global one of the best values for human services. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,101 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,412. Students borrow a median of $36,516 to complete the human services program here. Early-career human services graduates make about $45,040. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at East Central University earned it the #3 place for human services. East Central University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Ada. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,032, compared with $17,842 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the human services program here. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from East Central University generally make around $43,213. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. East Central University admits about 58% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mississippi Valley State University earned it the #4 place for human services. Located in the rural area of Itta Bena, Mississippi Valley State University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,692. Median earnings reach $31,919 ten years out. Roughly 92% 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. Human Services graduates carry a median of $24,619 in student loans. Human Services graduates of University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earn a median of $50,590 early in their careers. Set against $24,619 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Wilmington University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value human services schools. Wilmington University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of New Castle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,630. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $26,054. Human Services graduates of Wilmington University earn a median of $49,445 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lincoln University Of Pennsylvania earned the #7 position for value in human services this year. Lincoln University Of Pennsylvania is a small public school located in the suburb of Lincoln University. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,512, with out-of-state students paying around $19,384. Students borrow a median of $37,500 to complete the human services program here. Human Services graduates of Lincoln University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $50,514 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Boricua College earned the #8 position for value in human services this year. Boricua College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,025. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $10,492. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Boricua College generally make around $53,245. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt.
Concordia University Saint Paul earned the #9 position for value in human services this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $25,600 in tuition and fees. Human Services graduates carry a median of $29,026 in student loans. Early-career human services graduates make about $58,285. That is a strong return on a $29,026 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Bellevue University earned the #10 position for value in human services this year. Set in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,873. Human Services graduates carry a median of $10,312 in student loans. Human Services graduates of Bellevue University earn a median of $61,548 early in their careers. Set against $10,312 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Capella University landed the #11 spot for human services value this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,400. Students borrow a median of $35,998 to complete the human services program here. Early-career human services graduates make about $52,083. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of South Dakota came in at #12 for value in human services this year. University Of South Dakota is a large public school located in the town of Vermillion. Students from in state pay about $9,432 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,942 for out-of-state students. Human Services graduates carry a median of $26,322 in student loans. Early-career human services graduates make about $74,147. That is a strong return on a $26,322 median debt. University Of South Dakota admits about 99% of applicants.
Touro University Worldwide placed #13 among the best values for human services. Touro University Worldwide is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Los Alamitos. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,640. Human Services graduates carry a median of $32,289 in student loans. Early-career human services graduates make about $55,346. That is a strong return on a $32,289 median debt.
Wayland Baptist University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value human services schools. Wayland Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Plainview. Students from in state pay about $23,782 in tuition and fees. Human Services graduates carry a median of $27,258 in student loans. Human Services graduates of Wayland Baptist University earn a median of $33,082 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,258 median debt. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Post University placed #15 among the best values for human services. Set in the city of Waterbury, Post University is a very large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,922. Human Services graduates carry a median of $54,002 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Post University generally make around $57,109. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saint Leo University earned the #16 position for value in human services this year. Saint Leo University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Saint Leo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,000. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $50,406. Human Services graduates of Saint Leo University earn a median of $39,740 early in their careers. Set against $50,406 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Webster University landed the #17 spot for human services value this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $31,750 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,939 to complete the human services program here. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Webster University generally make around $43,936. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Chestnut Hill College landed the #18 spot for human services value this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Chestnut Hill College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,870. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $43,125. Early-career human services graduates make about $52,066. That is a strong return on a $43,125 median debt. Chestnut Hill College admits about 74% of applicants.
University Of San Diego came in at #19 for value in human services this year. Set in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,486. Students borrow a median of $23,795 to complete the human services program here. Human Services graduates of University Of San Diego earn a median of $68,281 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of San Diego admits about 52% of applicants.
Ashford University came in at #20 for value in human services this year. Located in the city of Chandler, Ashford University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,960 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $39,515 to complete the human services program here. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Ashford University generally make around $48,476. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Walden University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value human services schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Walden University is a very large private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,067. Human Services graduates carry a median of $50,495 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Walden University generally make around $46,189. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Other Human Services Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Human Services rankings across degree levels:
View All Human Services Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 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.
