by our College Data Analytics Team
[Human Services](/majors/social-services-public-administration/human-services/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 84 schools to find where human services graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send human services graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
George Washington University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid human services graduates in the United States. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the human services program here go on to a median salary of roughly $74,786.
Strong graduate earnings at Notre Dame De Namur University earned it the #2 place for human services. Notre Dame De Namur University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Belmont. Early-career human services graduates from Notre Dame De Namur University make a median of around $65,823 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in human services will find them at University Of Scranton, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Scranton, University Of Scranton is a private not-for-profit institution. Human Services graduates of University Of Scranton earn a median of about $58,107 a year early in their careers.
Mount Saint Mary College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in human services, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Newburgh, Mount Saint Mary College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, human services degree recipients from Mount Saint Mary College typically earn about $55,974 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Northeastern University earned it the #5 place for human services. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Human Services graduates of Northeastern University earn a median of about $60,248 a year early in their careers.
Goodwin College landed the #6 spot for human services salaries this year. Goodwin College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of East Hartford. After graduating, human services degree recipients from Goodwin College typically earn about $49,492 annually.
Hilbert College earned the #7 position for human services graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Hamburg, Hilbert College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career human services graduates from Hilbert College make a median of around $50,463 per year.
Fitchburg State University landed the #8 spot for human services salaries this year. Fitchburg State University is a public school located in the suburb of Fitchburg. Human Services graduates of Fitchburg State University earn a median of about $53,170 a year early in their careers.
Metropolitan State University came in at #9 for human services graduate earnings this year. Metropolitan State University is a public school located in the city of Saint Paul. Human Services graduates of Metropolitan State University earn a median of about $51,794 a year early in their careers.
Cuny New York City College Of Technology placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for human services. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a public institution. Students who complete the human services program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,637.
Simpson College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying human services schools. Located in the town of Indianola, Simpson College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, human services degree recipients from Simpson College typically earn about $46,184 annually.
Dakota Wesleyan University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying human services schools. Located in the town of Mitchell, Dakota Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career human services graduates from Dakota Wesleyan University make a median of around $45,601 per year.
University Of Bridgeport placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for human services. Located in the city of Bridgeport, University Of Bridgeport is a private not-for-profit institution. Human Services graduates of University Of Bridgeport earn a median of about $45,554 a year early in their careers.
California State University Monterey Bay earned the #14 position for human services graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a public institution. Early-career human services graduates from California State University Monterey Bay make a median of around $57,518 per year.
Elizabethtown College placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for human services. Located in the suburb of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the human services program here go on to a median salary of roughly $44,928.
Post University placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for human services. Post University is a private for-profit school located in the city of Waterbury. After graduating, human services degree recipients from Post University typically earn about $50,579 annually.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver came in at #17 for human services graduate earnings this year. Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a public school located in the city of Denver. After graduating, human services degree recipients from Metropolitan State College Of Denver typically earn about $49,323 annually.
Chestnut Hill College placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for human services. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Chestnut Hill College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the human services program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,095.
Cambridge College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying human services schools. Set in the city of Boston, Cambridge College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, human services degree recipients from Cambridge College typically earn about $43,032 annually.
Colorado State University Global Campus landed the #20 spot for human services salaries this year. Set in the city of Denver, Colorado State University Global Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the human services program here go on to a median salary of roughly $44,167.
Western Washington University came in at #21 for human services graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a public institution. Students who complete the human services program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,357.
Saint Josephs College New York came in at #22 for human services graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Saint Josephs College New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the human services program here go on to a median salary of roughly $43,105.
Towson University earned the #23 position for human services graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a public institution. Human Services graduates of Towson University earn a median of about $52,612 a year early in their careers.
Touro College landed the #24 spot for human services salaries this year. Set in the city of New York, Touro College is a private not-for-profit institution. Human Services graduates of Touro College earn a median of about $45,562 a year early in their careers.
Grand View University landed the #25 spot for human services salaries this year. Located in the city of Des Moines, Grand View University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career human services graduates from Grand View University make a median of around $45,288 per year.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid human services ranking:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Human Services rankings across degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries human services graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 84 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.