by our College Data Analytics Team
[Human Services](/majors/social-services-public-administration/human-services/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 50 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for human services students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the human services degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Indian River State College, our #1 best value for human services in the Southeast Region. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $10,201. Students borrow a median of $13,583 to complete the human services program here. Early-career human services graduates make about $36,107. That is a strong return on a $13,583 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in human services will find it at Trident Technical College, which ranked #2. Trident Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Charleston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,546, compared with $8,620 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,116 to complete the human services program here. Early-career human services graduates make about $50,166. Set against $18,116 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida State College At Jacksonville is a great value for students pursuing a degree in human services, landing the #3 spot this year. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. In-state tuition and fees average $2,657, while out-of-state students pay about $9,631. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $30,726. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Florida State College At Jacksonville generally make around $39,173. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wilkes Community College earned it the #4 place for human services. Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wilkesboro. In-state tuition and fees average $2,572, compared with $8,716 for out-of-state students. Human Services graduates carry a median of $9,125 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Wilkes Community College generally make around $36,341. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Midlands Technical College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value human services schools. Set in the suburb of West Columbia, Midlands Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,100, with out-of-state students paying around $14,700. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $18,203. Early-career human services graduates make about $39,610. That is a strong return on a $18,203 median debt.
Hazard Community And Technical College placed #6 among 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, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete the human services program here. Human Services graduates of Hazard Community And Technical College earn a median of $32,626 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Henderson Community College earned the #7 position for value in human services this year. Located in the rural area of Henderson, Henderson Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $13,528. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Henderson Community College generally make around $40,259. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Horry Georgetown Technical College came in at #8 for value in human services this year. Set in the city of Conway, Horry Georgetown Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,518, compared with $10,978 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $35,140 to complete the human services program here. Human Services graduates of Horry Georgetown Technical College earn a median of $37,387 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College ranked #9 on our 2027 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, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Human Services graduates carry a median of $9,687 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College generally make around $35,946. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Big Sandy Community And Technical College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value human services schools. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $17,993. Early-career human services graduates make about $33,956. That is a strong return on a $17,993 median debt.
Maysville Community And Technical College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value human services schools. Set in the rural area of Maysville, Maysville Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $13,031. Early-career human services graduates make about $37,769. That is a strong return on a $13,031 median debt.
Stanly Community College earned the #12 position for value in human services this year. Located in the town of Albemarle, Stanly Community College is a mid-sized public university. 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.
Blue Ridge Community And Technical College came in at #13 for value in human services this year. Blue Ridge Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Martinsburg. Students from in state pay about $4,752 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,808. 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.
Madisonville Community College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value human services schools. Set in the town of Madisonville, Madisonville Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Human Services graduates carry a median of $10,985 in student loans. Early-career human services graduates make about $41,084. That is a strong return on a $10,985 median debt.
Gateway Community And Technical College placed #15 among the best values for human services. Gateway Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Florence. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Human Services graduates carry a median of $21,100 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Gateway Community And Technical College generally make around $46,993. Set against $21,100 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value human services schools. Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Lexington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,808, with out-of-state students paying around $6,512. Human Services graduates carry a median of $13,366 in student loans. Early-career human services graduates make about $44,431. 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,808, compared with $6,512 for out-of-state students. Human Services graduates carry a median of $13,917 in student loans. Human Services graduates of Jefferson Community And Technical College earn a median of $44,346 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Carolina Technical College earned the #18 position for value in human services this year. Located in the city of Sumter, Central Carolina Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,715, while out-of-state students pay about $9,016. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $15,750. Human Services graduates of Central Carolina Technical College earn a median of $40,598 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock earned the #19 position for value in human services this year. Located in the suburb of Flat Rock, Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,660 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,804. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $16,252. Early-career human services graduates make about $42,443. Set against $16,252 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Beaufort County Community College landed the #20 spot for human services value this year. Located in the rural area of Washington, Beaufort County Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,540 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Students borrow a median of $7,947 to complete the human services program here. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Beaufort County Community College generally make around $38,009. That is a strong return on a $7,947 median debt.
University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #21 for value in human services this year. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $28,156. 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. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
Pitt Community College earned the #22 position for value in human services this year. Located in the suburb of Winterville, Pitt Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,871, while out-of-state students pay about $13,087. 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.
Palm Beach State College earned the #23 position for value in human services this year. Located in the suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,050 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,910. Human Services graduates carry a median of $12,518 in student loans. Human Services graduates of Palm Beach State College earn a median of $42,501 early in their careers. Set against $12,518 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
American Public University System landed the #24 spot for human services value this year. American Public University System is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $23,438. Human Services graduates of American Public University System earn a median of $57,404 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Davidson County Community College placed #25 among the best values for human services. Set in the rural area of Thomasville, Davidson County Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,980, while out-of-state students pay about $6,588. Human Services graduates carry a median of $16,693 in student loans. Early-career human services graduates make about $35,625. Set against $16,693 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
These schools also delivered strong value for human services this year:
The ranking above is published 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 · 50 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 50 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.