by our College Data Analytics Team
[Human Services](/majors/social-services-public-administration/human-services/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The highest-paying schools turn a human services degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 21 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying human services schools.
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.
For graduate earnings in human services, no school beat University Of South Dakota this year. Located in the town of Vermillion, University Of South Dakota is a public institution. Early-career human services graduates from University Of South Dakota make a median of around $74,375 per year.
Post University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying human services schools. Set in the city of Waterbury, Post University is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the human services program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,996.
Strong graduate earnings at Albertus Magnus College earned it the #3 place for human services. Albertus Magnus College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. Human Services graduates of Albertus Magnus College earn a median of about $57,619 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in human services will find them at Chestnut Hill College, which ranked #4. 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 $65,208.
Strong graduate earnings at Concordia University Saint Paul earned it the #5 place for human services. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a private not-for-profit institution. Human Services graduates of Concordia University Saint Paul earn a median of about $51,499 a year early in their careers.
University Of South Florida Main Campus landed the #6 spot for human services salaries this year. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a public institution. After graduating, human services degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus typically earn about $55,494 annually.
Concordia University Chicago landed the #7 spot for human services salaries this year. Concordia University Chicago is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. Early-career human services graduates from Concordia University Chicago make a median of around $53,541 per year.
University Of Illinois At Springfield earned the #8 position for human services graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a public institution. Early-career human services graduates from University Of Illinois At Springfield make a median of around $60,700 per year.
Lincoln University Of Pennsylvania placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for human services. Set in the suburb of Lincoln University, Lincoln University Of Pennsylvania is a public institution. After graduating, human services degree recipients from Lincoln University Of Pennsylvania typically earn about $56,003 annually.
Capella University landed the #10 spot for human services salaries this year. Capella University is a private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. Human Services graduates of Capella University earn a median of about $50,799 a year early in their careers.
Wilmington University landed the #11 spot for human services salaries this year. Set in the suburb of New Castle, Wilmington University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the human services program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,640.
Ashford University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying human services schools. Ashford University is a private for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. After graduating, human services degree recipients from Ashford University typically earn about $48,476 annually.
Walden University earned the #13 position for human services graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Walden University is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, human services degree recipients from Walden University typically earn about $50,404 annually.
Purdue University Global ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying human services schools. Purdue University Global is a public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Students who complete the human services program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,040.
East Tennessee State University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying human services schools. East Tennessee State University is a public school located in the city of Johnson City. Students who complete the human services program here go on to a median salary of roughly $44,716.
Mercer University landed the #16 spot for human services salaries this year. Located in the city of Macon, Mercer University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career human services graduates from Mercer University make a median of around $44,355 per year.
Webster University landed the #17 spot for human services salaries this year. Webster University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Human Services graduates of Webster University earn a median of about $43,936 a year early in their careers.
East Central University landed the #18 spot for human services salaries this year. Located in the town of Ada, East Central University is a public institution. Early-career human services graduates from East Central University make a median of around $43,213 per year.
Lenoir Rhyne University came in at #19 for human services graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Hickory, Lenoir Rhyne University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, human services degree recipients from Lenoir Rhyne University typically earn about $39,939 annually.
Saint Leo University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying human services schools. Located in the town of Saint Leo, Saint Leo University is a private not-for-profit institution. Human Services graduates of Saint Leo University earn a median of about $39,740 a year early in their careers.
Southeastern University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying human services schools. Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lakeland. Students who complete the human services program here go on to a median salary of roughly $38,671.
Explore the highest-paying human services schools at other degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their human services graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 21 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.