2026 Best Value Human Services Schools in the Southeast Region
[Human Services](/majors/social-services-public-administration/human-services/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong human services education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 79 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 Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in human services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Human Services Schools
Our analysis ranked Florida State College At Jacksonville the best value for a degree in human services in the Southeast Region. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,657, while out-of-state students pay about $9,631. Human Services graduates carry a median of $30,726 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Florida State College At Jacksonville generally make around $39,173. That is a strong return on a $30,726 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Trident Technical College earned it the #2 place for human services. Trident Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Charleston. In-state tuition and fees average $4,546, compared with $8,620 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $18,116. Human Services graduates of Trident Technical College earn a median of $50,166 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,116 median debt.
Wilkes Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in human services, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,572, with out-of-state students paying around $8,716. Students borrow a median of $9,125 to complete the human services program here. Early-career human services graduates make about $36,341. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Hazard Community And Technical College one of the best values for human services. Located in the town of Hazard, Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Human Services graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. Early-career human services graduates make about $32,626. Set against $15,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Stanly Community College earned it the #5 place for human services. Stanly Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Albemarle. In-state tuition and fees average $2,672, compared with $8,816 for out-of-state students. Early-career human services graduates make about $41,920.
Florence Darlington Technical College placed #6 among the best values for human services. Located in the rural area of Florence, Florence Darlington Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,636, while out-of-state students pay about $6,772. Students borrow a median of $7,230 to complete the human services program here. Early-career human services graduates make about $34,948. Set against $7,230 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Midlands Technical College landed the #7 spot for human services value this year. Located in the suburb of West Columbia, Midlands Technical College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,100, compared with $14,700 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,203 to complete the human services program here. Human Services graduates of Midlands Technical College earn a median of $39,610 early in their careers. Set against $18,203 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indian River State College placed #8 among the best values for human services. Indian River State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fort Pierce. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,764, compared with $10,201 for out-of-state students. Human Services graduates carry a median of $13,583 in student loans. Early-career human services graduates make about $36,107. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Horry Georgetown Technical College came in at #9 for value in human services this year. Set in the city of Conway, Horry Georgetown Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,518 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,978. Students borrow a median of $35,140 to complete the human services program here. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Horry Georgetown Technical College generally make around $37,387. That is a strong return on a $35,140 median debt.
Blue Ridge Community And Technical College earned the #10 position for value in human services this year. Set in the rural area of Martinsburg, Blue Ridge Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,752, compared with $8,808 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $18,402. Early-career human services graduates make about $41,032. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value human services schools. Located in the rural area of Cumberland, Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Human Services graduates carry a median of $9,687 in student loans. Human Services graduates of Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College earn a median of $35,946 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Carolina Technical College placed #12 among the best values for human services. Set in the city of Sumter, Central Carolina Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,715 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,016 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $15,750. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Central Carolina Technical College generally make around $40,598. That is a strong return on a $15,750 median debt.
Big Sandy Community And Technical College placed #13 among the best values for human services. Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Prestonsburg. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $17,993. Early-career human services graduates make about $33,956. Set against $17,993 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College earned the #14 position for value in human services this year. Located in the city of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $12,245. Early-career human services graduates make about $45,486. That is a strong return on a $12,245 median debt.
University Of South Florida Main Campus earned the #15 position for value in human services this year. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Human Services graduates carry a median of $28,156 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $44,423. That is a strong return on a $28,156 median debt. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
Gateway Community And Technical College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value human services schools. Gateway Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Florence. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $21,100 to complete the human services program here. Early-career human services graduates make about $46,993. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jefferson Community And Technical College landed the #17 spot for human services value this year. Set in the city of Louisville, Jefferson Community And Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,808, compared with $6,512 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,917 to complete the human services program here. Early-career human services graduates make about $44,346. Set against $13,917 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Maysville Community And Technical College earned the #18 position for value in human services this year. Located in the rural area of Maysville, Maysville Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Human Services graduates carry a median of $13,031 in student loans. Early-career human services graduates make about $37,769. Set against $13,031 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College placed #19 among the best values for human services. Located in the city of Lexington, Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,808 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,512. Human Services graduates carry a median of $13,366 in student loans. Human Services graduates of Bluegrass Community And Technical College earn a median of $44,431 early in their careers. Set against $13,366 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Greenville Technical College placed #20 among the best values for human services. Set in the city of Greenville, Greenville Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,495, while out-of-state students pay about $10,775. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $16,411. Early-career human services graduates make about $42,177. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
American Public University System placed #21 among the best values for human services. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,438 to complete the human services program here. Early-career human services graduates make about $57,404. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Palm Beach State College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value human services schools. Palm Beach State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lake Worth. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,050, while out-of-state students pay about $10,910. Students borrow a median of $12,518 to complete the human services program here. Human Services graduates of Palm Beach State College earn a median of $42,501 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pitt Community College placed #23 among the best values for human services. Set in the suburb of Winterville, Pitt Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,871, compared with $13,087 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $19,741. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Pitt Community College generally make around $43,022. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of The Cumberlands placed #24 among the best values for human services. Set in the town of Williamsburg, University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,875. Students borrow a median of $22,783 to complete the human services program here. Human Services graduates of University Of The Cumberlands earn a median of $32,938 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,783 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Davidson County Community College earned the #25 position for value in human services this year. Located in the rural area of Thomasville, Davidson County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,980, while out-of-state students pay about $6,588. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $16,693. Human Services graduates of Davidson County Community College earn a median of $35,625 early in their careers. Set against $16,693 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 48 Best Value Human Services Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in human services:
Narrow Human Services Schools by State
More Human Services Rankings
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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 · 79 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 26 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.
