Best Online Human Services Degree Programs of 2024
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Do you want to help people with your degree? Then a human services major might be a good fit. During a human services degree, you’ll learn how to administer community services programs, counsel people facing addiction or behavioral issues, and connect families with services.
If that sounds like a good fit, check out our ranking of the best online human services degrees to find the best program for your educational goals.
Featured Online Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
What Can I Do With a Human Services Degree?
While earning your online human services degree, you’ll learn how to support individuals and families as they navigate society. Your degree can lead to opportunities in social work, human services, counseling, criminal justice, and the nonprofit sector.
For example, many local and community services organizations employ human services majors to connect people with child and family services, elder assistance, and counseling services. With a degree in human services, you can also specialize in community outreach, health education, or mental health.
Where Can I Work With a Human Services Degree?
A human services degree prepares graduates for roles in the following fields:
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Community Health
A background in human services leads to opportunities in community health and health education. You can work as a health education specialist or a healthcare human service assistant. -
Addictions and Behavioral Counseling
Demand for substance abuse counselors is high, and a bachelor’s in human services meets the educational requirement for entry-level roles. You can also work as a behavioral disorder counselor with this degree. -
Government and Justice System
Human services majors often work in public sector social and human services organizations. You can become a human service assistant, case worker, or correctional treatment specialist with a bachelor’s in human services.
How Much Can I Make With a Human Services Degree?
Human services majors report an average salary of $60,000 per year, according to Oct. 2023 data from Payscale. Your earning potential with a human services degree depends on several factors, including your career path, location, and industry.
Community and social service jobs reported a median wage of $49,380 in May 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). With experience or a graduate degree, these professions can lead to higher-paying roles. For example, community and social service managers earn a median annual salary of $74,240 (BLS, May 2022). Criminal justice roles such as parole officer or correctional treatment specialist report a median pay of $59,860 (BLS, May 2022).
Demand for community and social service professionals is high, with 281,600 job openings projected annually from 2022 to 2032, according to BLS projections.
What to Look for in an Online Human Services Program
You’re investing time and money in your degree. How can you find the best online human services program to reach your professional goals? Researching graduation requirements, learning formats, and specialization options can help you identify good matches.
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Program Curriculum
In a human services program, you’ll likely take classes in case management, counseling principles, and human services administration. But the exact curriculum can vary greatly. If you’re interested in child and family services, make sure to find a program that offers courses or a concentration in that area. -
Accreditation
Accredited colleges meet high standards for academic quality. That’s one reason it’s critical to choose an accredited school for your online degree. Accreditation also means you’ll have more options when it comes to financial aid, job opportunities, and professional licensure. All the schools on our list are accredited. -
Program Length
Earning a bachelor’s in human services typically requires 120 credits of coursework, which full-time students complete in around four years. However, some programs offer part-time or accelerated enrollment options. If you have transfer credits, that can also affect program length. -
Internship Experiences
Some human services programs offer optional or required internships, where you’ll get hands-on experience. If you’d like to complete an internship, check with online programs about your options and whether they assist with internship placements. -
School Graduation Rate
Comparing graduation rates can help you identify programs where you’re more likely to succeed. A high graduation rate generally means a better choice to earn your degree. The average college graduation rate was 63% in 2022. -
Online Learning Format and Requirements
Each college offers online programs with different formats and requirements. Learn more about how you’ll attend class, what technologies you’ll use, and what support services the school offers for distance learners. That can help you find a good fit.
The Best Online Human Services Programs of 2024
We use trusted sources like
Peterson's Data
and the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools.
BestColleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
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St. Joseph's University New York
Brooklyn, NY - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: N/A
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $740
Out-of-State | $740
Credits to Graduate: 120
A private Catholic institution, St. Joseph's University offers a 100% online bachelor's in human services that ranks among the best of 2024.
Students complete 36 credits of major requirements; core classes include topics such as exploration of human services, principles of counseling, introduction to case management, and a degree-culminating capstone in human services.
Prospective students can apply online and must have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Applicants must hold a minimum 2.0 GPA for admission.
Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown, PA - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: N/A
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $525
Out-of-State | $525
Credits to Graduate: 125
Founded in 1899, Elizabethtown College is a small Pennsylvania-based Christian institution home to one of the top online bachelor's in human services. Throughout this 125-credit online program, students take classes including ethical issues in human services, research methods in human services, and social welfare programs and policy.
Prospective students must hold a high school diploma or GED. Additionally, the school recommends that students have the time to dedicate as much as 20 hours per week for each accelerated course.
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: Council for Standards in Human Service Education
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $500
Out-of-State | $500
Credits to Graduate: 120
Based in Tucson and established in 1885, the University of Arizona is a public research institution that serves over 49,000 students. Among the school's long list of online options is an online bachelor's in human services.
As students work through Arizona's standout online curriculum, they tackle core classes such as transitional resiliency, introduction to human services, and research methods in social sciences.
In addition to online coursework, human services students must complete an in-person internship before graduation. Prospective students must hold a high school diploma or GED for admission.
Mercer University
Macon, GA - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: N/A
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $525
Out-of-State | $525
Credits to Graduate: 120
Based in Macon, Georgia, Mercer University is a private research institution with a history dating back to 1833. Mercer is home to an interdisciplinary online bachelor's in human services that is flexible enough to meet the needs of working students.
Foundational courses for this 120-credit undergraduate degree include introduction to human services, case management, multicultural issues, and grant proposal development. Applicants must hold a high school diploma or GED and a minimum 2.25 GPA for admission.
LeTourneau University
Longview, TX - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: N/A
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $380-$410
Out-of-State | $380-$410
Credits to Graduate: 120
LeTourneau University is a private Christian institution based in Longview, Texas. At LeTourneau, students have access to an online bachelor's in human services that combines general education and major classes with faith-based academic content. Applicants must hold a high school diploma or GED.
Throughout this flexible online program, students complete classes such as introduction to criminal justice, grant writing, case management, and personal and professional ethics. Online learners can expect accelerated virtual coursework, allowing them to complete requirements at their own pace.
Ohio University
Athens, OH - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: N/A
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $307
Out-of-State | $312
Credits to Graduate: 120
One of the oldest public institutions in the country, Ohio University offers an online bachelor's in human services.
Throughout this flexible and affordable human services program, students complete major classes such as case management in human services, foundations in group dynamics, and ethical issues in human services. Before graduation, students also complete a human services internship at an approved site.
Prospective students apply online and have the option to submit supplemental admissions documents such as letters of recommendation, personal essays, and documentation of extracurricular activities.
Wingate University
Wingate, NC - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: N/A
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $1,575
Out-of-State | $1,575
Credits to Graduate: 120
Wingate University is a North Carolina-based private liberal arts school that's home to an interdisciplinary online bachelor's in human services, which blends fields like counseling, psychology, and sociology.
Throughout the curriculum, students tackle diverse topics, including intro to critical thinking, social stratification, developmental psychology, and introduction to human services.
Freshman applicants can apply directly through the university or via the Common App. Prospective students must include a self-reported high school GPA and SAT/ACT scores.
Rivier University
Nashua, NH - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: N/A
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $385
Out-of-State | $385
Credits to Graduate: 120
Founded in 1933, Rivier University is a small New Hampshire-based Catholic institution educating just over 2,000 students. Among the school's more than two dozen online programs is an online bachelor's in human services.
Students dedicate 45 credits to major requirements, including courses in human behavior in the social environment, social welfare policy, and counseling theory and practice. Students also complete a semester-long internship before graduation.
Prospective students must hold a high school diploma or GED and should have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.
Marian University
Fond Du Lac, WI - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: N/A
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $425
Out-of-State | $425
Credits to Graduate: 134
Based in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, Marian University is a private Catholic institution that's home to one of the best online bachelor's in human services programs. This 100% online degree boasts the flexibility required by working and non-traditional students, allowing them the freedom to complete coursework asynchronously.
Throughout this program, students tackle essential classes such as intro to epidemiology, introduction to human services, principles of management, and global health issues and interventions. Before graduation, online learners complete a semester-long health and human services capstone.
Lesley University
Cambridge, MA - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: N/A
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $495
Out-of-State | $495
Credits to Graduate: 120
Lesley University is a Massachusetts-based private institution that offers one of this year's top online bachelor's in human services programs. Throughout this program, students gain vital theoretical knowledge through online coursework while also completing two internships.
Online learners complete 51 credits of major coursework, including classes such as micro/macro assessment, practical ethics in human services, social policy, and sociological lens on systemic inequities. Prospective students can apply online. Transfer students can transfer up to 90 credits from prior schools.
How We Rank Schools
To create this ranking, BestColleges sourced the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. We then ranked each school according to the top variables college students selected in our College Choice and Admissions Survey. To learn more, check out our full rankings methodology or read the summary below.
Ranking Methodology Summary
To qualify for our rankings lists, each school must be an accredited public or private, nonprofit institution. Each eligible school was then ranked based on a formula measuring:
- Affordability (30%)
- Student outcomes (30%)
- Reputation (20%)
- Diversity and social mobility (20%)
In addition, we only included colleges with graduation rates in the top third of all online colleges.
What Can I Expect From an Online Human Services Program
During your online human services degree, you’ll take general education courses, human services classes, and electives. Plan to spend four years earning your degree if you’re a full-time student with no prior college credits.
As a human services major, you can choose a concentration or minor to focus your course of study. A concentration or minor in counseling, child and family services, or criminal justice can prepare you for a specific career path after graduation.
Your program may incorporate an internship or capstone course. An internship is a great way to gain real-world experience while in school. And a capstone can help you bring together the knowledge and skills you’ll build during your degree.
What Are the Admission Requirements for an Online Human Services Degree?
Ready to apply to online human services programs? First, make sure you have the admission materials you’ll need to apply. Generally, that includes official transcripts, standardized test scores, and any other required materials. While each program sets its own requirements, you’ll typically see the following:
Admission Materials
Plan to submit an online application and official transcripts from high school and college, if you’ve taken any college courses. Some programs also ask for letters of recommendation and essays.
Education
You’ll need a high school diploma or the equivalent to apply to undergraduate programs. Colleges verify this by reviewing your official transcripts, GED record, or homeschooling records.
GPA
Most colleges set a minimum GPA for admissions, which is typically between a 2.0 and 3.0 GPA. If you don’t meet the minimum, you may still qualify for provisional admissions.
Entrance Exam
In the past, nearly every college required SAT or ACT scores. Today, many schools use test optional admissions. But make sure to carefully review the entrance exam requirements when deciding where to apply.
How Much Does a Human Services Degree Cost?
The total cost of a human services degree varies widely. You can expect to pay around $9,600 per year in tuition if you choose an in-state public school, or around $34,000 per year at a private college, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. On top of that, you’ll need to factor in textbooks, fees, and other expenses.
Earning your human services degree online can save you money. The most affordable programs cost around $300 per credit. Distance learners can also save on transportation and living costs.
By choosing an accredited institution, you’ll also qualify for federal student aid and many scholarships and grants. For example, distance learners can use the Pell Grant to pay for their degree.
Average Annual Tuition Cost of a Bachelor's Degree, 2021-2022
Public Institution
$9,596
Private Institution
$34,041
Everything Else You Need to Know About Human Services Programs
Is human services the same as HR?
No, human services and HR are two different fields. Human services focuses on social and community services that support individuals and families, including mental health resources, addiction counseling, rehabilitation services, and housing support. HR stands for human resources, and this field manages the administrative tasks for organizations, including hiring, benefits, and compensation.
What is the difference between social work and human services?
Social work and human services overlap because both focus on helping people address problems in their lives. Human services encompasses a broader range of services, including community outreach and social services. Social work is a subfield of human services that emphasizes case management, social justice, and clinical practice.
What are some careers for a human services major?
Human services majors work in a variety of careers, including public sector jobs in social, community, and human services organizations. They can also work in community health and outreach, counseling, and criminal justice settings.
Is a bachelor's in human services worth it?
Yes, a bachelor's in human services can pay off. You'll strengthen communication, analytical, and interpersonal skills while exploring topics like case management and human services administration. With a human services degree, you can work in community service organizations, entry-level social work roles, and addiction counseling.
Is BA or BS better in human services?
Both a BA and a BS in human services prepare you for careers in a high-demand field. While your major coursework will likely be the same whether you earn a BA or a BS, your other graduation requirements may differ. BA requirements typically include a foreign language and more humanities and social science coursework. A BS may require more social science and STEM coursework to graduate.
