2027 Best Value Human Services Schools in North Carolina
[Human Services](/majors/social-services-public-administration/human-services/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for human services students.
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2027 Best Value Human Services Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in human services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Human Services Schools
Our analysis ranked Wilkes Community College the best value for a degree in human services in North Carolina. Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wilkesboro. In-state tuition and fees average $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. 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.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Stanly Community College earned it the #2 place for human services. Set in the town of Albemarle, Stanly Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,672 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,816. Early-career human services graduates make about $41,920.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock earned it the #3 place for human services. Located in the suburb of Flat Rock, Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,660, with out-of-state students paying around $8,804. Students borrow a median of $16,252 to complete the human services program here. 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 came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value human services schools. Located in the rural area of Washington, Beaufort County Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,540, while out-of-state students pay about $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. Set against $7,947 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pitt Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value human services schools. Pitt Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Winterville. Students from in state pay about $3,871 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,087 for out-of-state students. Human Services graduates carry a median of $19,741 in student loans. Human Services graduates of Pitt Community College earn a median of $43,022 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Davidson County Community College earned the #6 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,980, compared with $6,588 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $16,693. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Davidson County Community College generally make around $35,625. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Carteret Community College placed #7 among the best values for human services. Carteret Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Morehead City. In-state tuition and fees average $2,310, compared with $8,222 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $5,566. Early-career human services graduates make about $48,953. Set against $5,566 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mount Olive College came in at #8 for value in human services this year. Located in the rural area of Mount Olive, Mount Olive College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $27,366 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $30,798 to complete the human services program here. Early-career human services graduates make about $45,131. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Caldwell Community College And Technical Institute earned the #9 position for value in human services this year. Located in the suburb of Hudson, Caldwell Community College And Technical Institute is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,528, while out-of-state students pay about $6,528. Human Services graduates carry a median of $8,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Caldwell Community College And Technical Institute generally make around $44,734. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wingate University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value human services schools. Wingate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wingate. Students from in state pay about $42,576 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the human services program here. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Wingate University generally make around $32,843. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Lees Mcrae College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value human services schools. Located in the rural area of Banner Elk, Lees Mcrae College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $33,850 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $15,750. Human Services graduates of Lees Mcrae College earn a median of $34,811 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Elon University placed #12 among the best values for human services. Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. Students from in state pay about $46,958 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,619 to complete the human services program here. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Elon University generally make around $50,463. That is a strong return on a $21,619 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
More Human Services Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
