A human services degree is perfect for individuals who seek to make a positive difference for troubled members inside and outside of their communities. Human services give students the opportunity to work in many different environments with many different types of patients. Depending on a student’s interest, there are many different specialization opportunities within these top 20 online schools, and upon graduation, alumni can earn certifications that will further increase their depth of knowledge within the field, as well as their ability to affect more change with their current and future clients.
The Bureau of Labors Statistics predicts the job outlook for Human Service professionals and around 12% (faster than average) over the next 8 years. Human Service professionals on average earn around $58,000 per year.
These institutions were chosen for several factors that put them ahead of other online graduate programs—due to the: nature of the coursework, degree of thoroughness and complexity of the curriculum, 100% online availability, sufficient financial aid availability, and an education that give students more than just classroom experience. In developing this list, OnlineSchoolsCenter.com, chose not to list the schools in an ordered way, but instead highlighted twenty of the very best programs, all of which have their own unique strengths.
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY-GLOBAL CAMPUS
Program Standouts:
Colorado State University offers undergraduate students an online Bachelor’s of Human Services, in which they will be given “the knowledge of various community and social services fields such as child care, mental illness, support for people with disabilities, and elderly support.”
Campus Location: Greenwood Village, CO
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Tuition and Fees:
- $350 per credit hour—tuition
Types of Aid: Federal grants and loans; institutional and alternative scholarships; various payment plans; employer reimbursement; and Military and Veterans’ benefits.
Acceptance Rate: 96%
Admission Requirements:
Applicants must submit a completed application, SAT/ACT scores, and official high school or GED transcripts.
Program Options:
- Business Administration
- Computer Programming
- Criminal Forensics
- Criminology
- Data Management and Analysis
- Emergency Management
- Finance
- Foundations of Accounting
- Healthcare Management
- Human Resources and Organizational Development
- Information Technology Management
- Information Technology Operations
- Marketing
- Operations Management and Supervision
- Organizational Leadership
- Project Management
- Public and Non-Profit Management
- Small Business and Entrepreneurship
- Strategic Communications
Degree Outcomes:
CSU graduates have gone on to achieve employment positions in a wide variety of areas. Some alumni reported career paths include case worker, family support worker, child advocate, social service liaison, behavioral management aid, substance abuse counselor, therapeutic assistant, and probation officer.
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SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE UNIVERSITY
Program Standouts:
The curriculum of Southern New Hampshire University’s online Bachelor of Humans Services is focused on developing students’ research, communication, and advocacy skills. With a degree from SNHU, graduates have gone on to provide peerless social service for their clients.
Campus Location: Hooksett, NH
Accreditation: New England Association of Colleges and Schools
Tuition and Fees:
- $320 per credit hour—civilian tuition
- $225 per credit hour—active-duty military and their spouses’ tuition
Types of Aid: Federal and alternative loans; federal, state, and institutional grants; institutional and outside scholarships; Military benefits.
Acceptance Rate: 84%
Admission Requirements:
Applicants must submit a completed application, official high school or GED transcript, and a signed attestation form.
Program Options:
- Human Services/Child and Family Services
- Gerontology
Degree Outcomes:
Career paths within this discipline are highly varied, depending on a student’s particular area of interest/insight. Some job titles include: adult day care worker, counselor, community outreach worker, juvenile court liaison, life skills instructor, and mental health aide.
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TROY UNIVERSITY
Program Standouts:
Troy University’s online Bachelor of Human Services is designed to meet individuals’ goals and academic needs across a broad variety of fields. The curriculum is focused on developing refined research and communication skills, thereby giving students the fundamental skills necessary to provide thorough and compassionate care to their future clients.
Campus Location: Troy, AL
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Tuition and Fees:
- $338 per credit hour—tuition
- $30 one time—application fee
Types of Aid: Federal and private loans; federal grants and work-study opportunities; numerous institutional and alternative scholarships; Veterans’ and Military benefits.
Acceptance Rate: 71%
Admission Requirements:
Applicants must submit a completed application, the non-refundable application fee, official high school or GED transcripts representing a GPA of 2.0 or higher, and SAT/ACT scores.
Sampling of Coursework:
- Professional Communication Skills
- Diversity
- Human Behavior in the Social Environment
Degree Outcomes:
In this online program, students will find extremely dedicated faculty members and academic advisors who carefully guide distance education students toward their goals. Upon graduation, alumni exhibit well-defined skills and understanding of diagnosis and treatment and will be able to provide compassionate care in many different communities.
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BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY
Program Standouts:
Bellevue University has designed a detailed online program that is focused on “applications to human services and personal improvement.” Coursework includes a broad spectrum of human services and behavioral sciences fields such as psychology, sociology, and counseling. With this degree, students will go on to work in numerous environments.
Campus Location: Bellevue, NE
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Tuition and Fees:
- $395 per credit hour—tuition
Types of Aid: Federal and private loans; federal and state grants; federal work-study opportunities; institutional, private, and outside scholarships; various payment plans; Military and Veterans’ benefits.
Acceptance Rate: unavailable
Admission Requirements:
Applicants must submit a completed application, the application fee, official high school or GED transcripts representing a GPA of 2.0 or higher, and standardized test scores.
Sampling of Coursework:
- American Vision and Values
- Social Deviance and Psychopathological Perspectives
- Research and Data Analysis
Degree Outcomes:
Upon exiting the program, graduates “will be qualified to enter the human service field.” Whether alumni are interested in entering directly into the workforce, or into a graduate program, Bellevue University gives students the understanding and experience to apply for challengingly fulfilling futures in human services.
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LETOURNEAU UNIVERSITY
Program Standouts:
LeTourneau University offers a unique perspective into the field of human services. This online bachelor’s program is designed to give students a variety of coursework, all of which is centered around the mores and tenants of Christianity. This curriculum will give students the knowledge and experience to provide peerless care for patients across a huge variety of ages and backgrounds.
Campus Location: Longview, TX
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Tuition and Fees:
- $450 per credit hour—tuition
Types of Aid: Federal and state grants; institutional and outside scholarships; federal, state, and private loans; work-study opportunities.
Acceptance Rate: 56%
Admission Requirements:
Applicants to this program must submit a completed application and official high school or GED transcripts.
Sampling of Coursework:
- Abnormal Psychology
- Theories and Techniques of Counseling
- Addiction Theory
Degree Outcomes:
Graduates from LeTourneau University have gone on to follow many different career paths, including but not limited to: case worker, case manager, human service program director, grant writer, and human service development director, as well as other versatile options in the health care and social assistance industries.
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AMERICAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
Program Standouts:
American Public University System offers an online Bachelor of Human Development and Family Studies that will prepare students to communicate deeply and compassionately with families and married couples. The curriculum “is regularly reviewed by an advisory council of industry experts for relevancy to today’s marketplace.”
Campus Location: Charles Town, WV
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools; Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council
Tuition and Fees:
- $270 per credit hour—tuition
Types of Aid: Federal loans and grants; private loans; employer tuition assistance; institutional and outside scholarships; various payment plans; Military and Veterans’ benefits.
Acceptance Rate: unavailable
Admission Requirements:
Applicants must submit a completed online application and official high school or GED transcripts.
Sampling of Coursework:
- Effect of the Environment on Human Development
- Marriage and the Family
- Family Communications
Degree Outcomes:
Graduates from the American Public University System’s online bachelor’s program will demonstrate a huge variety of applicable research, communication, and counseling skills. Alumni will go on to effect change on a local and community level, providing crucial support to individuals in need.
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NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE
Program Standouts:
New England College’s online Bachelor of Human Services is focused on educating students in strong communication skills. Students will be trained to form connections with trouble individuals of all ages who suffer from developmental disabilities, substance abusers, crime victims and offenders, and other struggles.
Campus Location: Henniker, NH
Accreditation: New England Association of Colleges and Schools
Tuition and Fees:
- $405 per credit hour—tuition
Types of Aid: Federal loans and grants; state loans, grants, and scholarships; Military and Veterans’ benefits.
Acceptance Rate: 77%
Admission Requirements:
Applicants must submit a completed application that includes a writing sample, and official high school/military transcripts.
Sampling of Coursework:
- Social Welfare Policy
- Interpersonal Relationships and Interview Skills
- client Assessment and Planning
Degree Outcomes:
New England College graduates will have the research skills and understanding to provide well-grounded counseling to individuals and families. Some career paths for New England College alumni include advocacy, mental health fields, social services, criminal justice, community support, and others.
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GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY
Program Standouts:
Grand Canyon University offers distance education students a Bachelor of Sociology-Social Work. This online program will prepare students for “an exciting career in the fields of social work and human services among settings such as nonprofit organizations and government agencies.” Grand Canyon students learn to assist individuals, children, families, and communities.
Campus Location: Phoenix, AZ
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Tuition and Fees:
- $470 per credit hour—tuition
- $250 per credit hour—active duty and active reserve tuition
Types of Aid: Federal, state, and private loans; numerous institutional and alternative scholarship opportunities; institutional and private grants; Military and Veterans’ benefits.
Acceptance Rate: 37%
Admission Requirements:
Applicants must submit a completed application, official high school transcripts representing a GPA of 3.0 or higher/GED transcripts with a cumulative score of 680 or above, and SAT/ACT scores.
Sampling of Coursework:
- Social Research and Statistics
- Human Behavior and the Social Environment
- Case Management and Direct Practice
Degree Outcomes:
Upon graduation, Grand Canyon University alumni exhibit a huge amount of skill and understanding within the field of sociology and human services. Graduates will have the ability to connect with future clients and provide sociological perspectives and analyses through applied sociology and social work.