2026 Best Value Human Services Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[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 92 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for human services students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Human Services Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in human services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Human Services Schools
For return on investment in human services, no school beat Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, while out-of-state students pay about $15,420. Students borrow a median of $12,678 to complete the human services program here. Human Services graduates of Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earn a median of $43,545 early in their careers. Set against $12,678 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice admits about 57% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Bronx Community College earned it the #2 place for human services. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Bronx Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,206 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,086. Human Services graduates carry a median of $8,071 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Cuny Bronx Community College generally make around $36,338. Set against $8,071 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny New York City College Of Technology earned it the #3 place for human services. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,332, 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. The acceptance rate is 80%.
A rank of #4 makes Suffolk County Community College one of the best values for human services. 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. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $35,667. That is a strong return on a $11,246 median debt.
Nassau Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value human services schools. Nassau Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Garden City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,330, with out-of-state students paying around $12,130. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $13,569. Human Services graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $27,581 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Stella And Charles Guttman Community College earned the #6 position for value in human services this year. Stella And Charles Guttman Community College is a small public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,194, while out-of-state students pay about $8,074. Human Services graduates of Stella And Charles Guttman Community College earn a median of $22,496 early in their careers.
Hudson Valley Community College landed the #7 spot for human services value this year. Hudson Valley Community College is a large public school located in the city of Troy. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,796, while out-of-state students pay about $11,852. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $11,925. Early-career human services graduates make about $32,887. Set against $11,925 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Burlington County College landed the #8 spot for human services value this year. Burlington County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Mount Laurel. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,990, compared with $9,495 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $12,488. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Burlington County College generally make around $52,240. That is a strong return on a $12,488 median debt.
Ulster County Community College landed the #9 spot for human services value this year. Located in the rural area of Stone Ridge, Ulster County Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,666, while out-of-state students pay about $12,146. Human Services graduates carry a median of $13,354 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Ulster County Community College generally make around $47,424. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Union County College placed #10 among the best values for human services. Set in the suburb of Cranford, Union County College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,280, with out-of-state students paying around $9,500. Students borrow a median of $10,942 to complete the human services program here. Human Services graduates of Union County College earn a median of $38,168 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,942 median debt.
Raritan Valley Community College earned the #11 position for value in human services this year. Located in the rural area of Branchburg, Raritan Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,664, with out-of-state students paying around $7,584. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $9,668. Early-career human services graduates make about $47,248. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Schenectady County Community College placed #12 among the best values for human services. Set in the city of Schenectady, Schenectady County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,190, with out-of-state students paying around $8,974. Median earnings reach $40,902 ten years out.
Orange County Community College came in at #13 for value in human services this year. Orange County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Middletown. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,526, compared with $12,334 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $14,152. Human Services graduates of Orange County Community College earn a median of $43,442 early in their careers. Set against $14,152 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Erie Community College landed the #14 spot for human services value this year. Located in the city of Buffalo, Erie Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,100, with out-of-state students paying around $11,300. Students borrow a median of $12,580 to complete the human services program here. Early-career human services graduates make about $37,069. That is a strong return on a $12,580 median debt.
Onondaga Community College placed #15 among the best values for human services. Located in the suburb of Syracuse, Onondaga Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,102, compared with $11,392 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,019 to complete the human services program here. Early-career human services graduates make about $27,366. That is a strong return on a $12,019 median debt.
Westmoreland County Community College placed #16 among the best values for human services. Westmoreland County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Youngwood. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,306, compared with $14,728 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $11,000. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,439 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Monroe Community College landed the #17 spot for human services value this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Monroe Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,006 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,056 for out-of-state students. Human Services graduates carry a median of $17,984 in student loans. Human Services graduates of Monroe Community College earn a median of $26,571 early in their careers. Set against $17,984 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Delaware Technical Community College Terry earned the #18 position for value in human services this year. Located in the city of Dover, Delaware Technical Community College Terry is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,332 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,763. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $9,240. Early-career human services graduates make about $30,923. Set against $9,240 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Niagara County Community College came in at #19 for value in human services this year. Niagara County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Sanborn. Students from in state pay about $6,894 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,030. Students borrow a median of $13,970 to complete the human services program here. Human Services graduates of Niagara County Community College earn a median of $36,258 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Dutchess Community College came in at #20 for value in human services this year. Dutchess Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. Students from in state pay about $5,670 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,670 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,324 to complete the human services program here. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Dutchess Community College generally make around $24,622. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mohawk Valley Community College placed #21 among the best values for human services. Set in the city of Utica, Mohawk Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,218, with out-of-state students paying around $8,851. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $11,750. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Mohawk Valley Community College generally make around $25,855. That is a strong return on a $11,750 median debt.
Suny Westchester Community College came in at #22 for value in human services this year. Set in the suburb of Valhalla, Suny Westchester Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,948, with out-of-state students paying around $12,486. Human Services graduates carry a median of $8,764 in student loans. Human Services graduates of Suny Westchester Community College earn a median of $57,520 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,764 median debt.
Cayuga County Community College landed the #23 spot for human services value this year. Located in the town of Auburn, Cayuga County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,056, compared with $12,336 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $38,709 ten years out.
Genesee Community College placed #24 among the best values for human services. Genesee Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Batavia. In-state tuition and fees average $5,900, while out-of-state students pay about $6,500. Students borrow a median of $15,991 to complete the human services program here. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Genesee Community College generally make around $40,106. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Broome Community College earned the #25 position for value in human services this year. Set in the suburb of Binghamton, Broome Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,624, while out-of-state students pay about $14,288. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $16,830. Early-career human services graduates make about $41,560. That is a strong return on a $16,830 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Human Services Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s human services value ranking:
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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 · 92 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 27 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.
