2027 Best Value Human Services Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Human Services](/majors/social-services-public-administration/human-services/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 22 schools to find the best return on investment for human services students.
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2027 Best Value Human Services Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in human services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Human Services Schools
Metropolitan Community College Area tops our 2027 list of the best value human services schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,375, compared with $4,950 for out-of-state students. Human Services graduates carry a median of $9,728 in student loans. Human Services graduates of Metropolitan Community College Area earn a median of $34,392 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Riverland Community College earned it the #2 place for human services. Set in the town of Austin, Riverland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,297 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $15,732. Human Services graduates of Riverland Community College earn a median of $49,194 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saint Louis Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in human services, landing the #3 spot this year. Saint Louis Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Bridgeton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $6,990. Students borrow a median of $15,102 to complete the human services program here. Human Services graduates of Saint Louis Community College earn a median of $34,931 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in human services will find it at Iowa Central Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the town of Fort Dodge, Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,496 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,788 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $16,135. Early-career human services graduates make about $39,624. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in human services will find it at Minneapolis Community And Technical College, which ranked #5. Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,161. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $39,289. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Minneapolis Community And Technical College generally make around $29,762. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sinte Gleska University placed #6 among the best values for human services. Sinte Gleska University is a small public school located in the rural area of Mission. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,714. Graduates go on to earn a median of $20,948 ten years after entry.
Metropolitan State University earned the #7 position for value in human services this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,840. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the human services program here. Early-career human services graduates make about $45,751. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Washburn University landed the #8 spot for human services value this year. Set in the city of Topeka, Washburn University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,945 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,949. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $21,175. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Washburn University generally make around $50,955. That is a strong return on a $21,175 median debt.
Lake Area Technical Institute landed the #9 spot for human services value this year. Set in the town of Watertown, Lake Area Technical Institute is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,718 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the human services program here. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Lake Area Technical Institute generally make around $26,730. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bellevue University came in at #10 for value in human services this year. Located in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,873. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $10,312. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Bellevue University generally make around $61,548. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Concordia University Saint Paul came in at #11 for value in human services this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,600. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $29,026. Early-career human services graduates make about $58,285. Set against $29,026 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Rasmussen College Minnesota came in at #12 for value in human services this year. Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit school located in the city of St. Cloud. In-state tuition and fees average $12,199. Human Services graduates carry a median of $36,597 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Rasmussen College Minnesota generally make around $36,998. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Buena Vista University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value human services schools. Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Storm Lake. In-state tuition and fees average $41,798. Human Services graduates carry a median of $29,317 in student loans. Human Services graduates of Buena Vista University earn a median of $44,780 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,317 median debt. Buena Vista University admits about 78% of applicants.
Capella University landed the #14 spot for human services value this year. Capella University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400. Human Services graduates carry a median of $35,998 in student loans. Human Services graduates of Capella University earn a median of $62,133 early in their careers. Set against $35,998 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of South Dakota came in at #15 for value in human services this year. Set in the town of Vermillion, University Of South Dakota is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,432, compared with $12,942 for out-of-state students. Human Services graduates carry a median of $26,322 in student loans. Human Services graduates of University Of South Dakota earn a median of $74,147 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Grand View University landed the #16 spot for human services value this year. Located in the city of Des Moines, Grand View University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $34,762 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $30,750 to complete the human services program here. Early-career human services graduates make about $40,750. That is a strong return on a $30,750 median debt. Grand View University admits about 99% of applicants.
Upper Iowa University placed #17 among the best values for human services. Set in the rural area of Fayette, Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $19,475. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $45,388. Early-career human services graduates make about $39,389. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Upper Iowa University admits about 96% of applicants.
Evangel University College Of Online Learning landed the #18 spot for human services value this year. Evangel University College Of Online Learning is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,175. Human Services graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Human Services graduates of Evangel University College Of Online Learning earn a median of $41,610 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Evangel University College Of Online Learning admits about 49% of applicants.
Columbia College Missouri earned the #19 position for value in human services this year. Columbia College Missouri is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. Students from in state pay about $12,276 in tuition and fees. Human Services graduates carry a median of $36,544 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Columbia College Missouri generally make around $36,286. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Midland University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value human services schools. Set in the town of Fremont, Midland University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $42,050 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $27,536. Early-career human services graduates make about $51,524. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Midland University admits about 66% of applicants.
Webster University came in at #21 for value in human services this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,750. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $25,939. Human Services graduates of Webster University earn a median of $43,936 early in their careers. Set against $25,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Walden University earned the #22 position for value in human services this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Walden University is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,067. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $50,495. Early-career human services graduates make about $52,786. Set against $50,495 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 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.
