2026 Best Value Human Services Schools in Pennsylvania
[Human Services](/majors/social-services-public-administration/human-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 22 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value human services schools.
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2026 Best Value Human Services Schools in Pennsylvania
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 Westmoreland County Community College the best value for a degree in human services in Pennsylvania. Westmoreland County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Youngwood. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,306, compared with $14,728 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $11,000. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $37,439. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Peirce College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value human services schools. Peirce College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,060. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $44,247. Human Services graduates of Peirce College earn a median of $53,071 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $44,247 median debt.
Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a great value for students pursuing a degree in human services, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Harrisburg, Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,975 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,472 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $36,401. Early-career human services graduates make about $33,674. Set against $36,401 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in human services will find it at Lincoln University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Lincoln University, Lincoln University Of Pennsylvania is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,512, while out-of-state students pay about $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 $42,444 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lincoln University Of Pennsylvania admits about 66% of applicants.
Community College Of Philadelphia is a great value for students pursuing a degree in human services, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Community College Of Philadelphia is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,632, compared with $12,744 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $18,242. Early-career human services graduates make about $24,893. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
York College Pennsylvania landed the #6 spot for human services value this year. Set in the suburb of York, York College Pennsylvania is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,588. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $26,537. Early-career human services graduates make about $53,667. Set against $26,537 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. York College Pennsylvania admits about 74% of applicants.
Harcum College earned the #7 position for value in human services this year. Harcum College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bryn Mawr. Students from in state pay about $32,000 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $23,540. Early-career human services graduates make about $26,558. That is a strong return on a $23,540 median debt.
Pennsylvania College Of Technology came in at #8 for value in human services this year. Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Williamsport. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,940, with out-of-state students paying around $25,680. Students borrow a median of $42,463 to complete the human services program here. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Pennsylvania College Of Technology generally make around $35,787. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chestnut Hill College placed #9 among the best values for human services. Chestnut Hill College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students from in state pay about $39,870 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $43,125 to complete the human services program here. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Chestnut Hill College generally make around $46,201. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Scranton came in at #10 for value in human services this year. University Of Scranton is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Scranton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,777. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the human services program here. Early-career human services graduates make about $56,861. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. University Of Scranton admits about 81% 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. 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 · 22 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.
