2026 Best Value General Human Services Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[General Human Services](/majors/social-services-public-administration/human-services/human-services-general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 65 schools to find the best return on investment for general human services students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value General Human Services Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general human services degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Human Services Schools
Our analysis ranked North Central State College the best value for a degree in general human services in the Great Lakes Region. North Central State College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Mansfield. Students from in state pay about $5,786 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,374. Students borrow a median of $12,236 to complete the general human services program here. Early-career general human services graduates make about $47,458. Set against $12,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Joliet Junior College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general human services, landing the #2 spot this year. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,530, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Students borrow a median of $11,995 to complete the general human services program here. General Human Services graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $40,118 early in their careers. Set against $11,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northcentral Technical College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general human services schools. Located in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,889 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,132. General Human Services graduates carry a median of $11,709 in student loans. General Human Services graduates of Northcentral Technical College earn a median of $41,696 early in their careers. Set against $11,709 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in general human services will find it at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne, which ranked #4. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a large public school located in the city of Fort Wayne. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,532, with out-of-state students paying around $22,887. Students borrow a median of $24,119 to complete the general human services program here. Early-career general human services graduates make about $49,424. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value general human services schools. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public school located in the city of Oshkosh. In-state tuition and fees average $8,532, while out-of-state students pay about $16,446. General Human Services graduates carry a median of $24,619 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general human services degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh generally make around $50,590. Set against $24,619 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh admits about 86% of applicants.
Purdue University Global came in at #6 for value in general human services this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,101 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,412. General Human Services graduates carry a median of $36,516 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general human services degree recipients from Purdue University Global generally make around $33,875. Set against $36,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global came in at #7 for value in general human services this year. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Marion. In-state tuition and fees average $9,648. Students borrow a median of $40,228 to complete the general human services program here. General Human Services graduates of Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global earn a median of $37,366 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $40,228 median debt.
Rasmussen College Illinois earned the #8 position for value in general human services this year. Located in the city of Rockford, Rasmussen College Illinois is a mid-sized private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,581. Students borrow a median of $36,597 to complete the general human services program here. Soon after graduation, general human services degree recipients from Rasmussen College Illinois generally make around $36,998. Set against $36,597 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #9 spot for general human services value this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Typical student debt for general human services graduates is $24,546. General Human Services graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $49,736 early in their careers. Set against $24,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Grace Bible College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value general human services schools. Set in the city of Wyoming, Grace Bible College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,190. Typical student debt for general human services graduates is $28,648. Soon after graduation, general human services degree recipients from Grace Bible College generally make around $35,205. Set against $28,648 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Herzing University Madison ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value general human services schools. Located in the city of Madison, Herzing University Madison is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,450. Typical student debt for general human services graduates is $30,328. Soon after graduation, general human services degree recipients from Herzing University Madison generally make around $53,203. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Cornerstone University placed #12 among the best values for general human services. Cornerstone University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Grand Rapids. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,000. Students borrow a median of $29,243 to complete the general human services program here. Soon after graduation, general human services degree recipients from Cornerstone University generally make around $44,501. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cornerstone University admits about 78% of applicants.
Ohio Christian University placed #13 among the best values for general human services. Located in the rural area of Circleville, Ohio Christian University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $19,190. Typical student debt for general human services graduates is $29,940. Soon after graduation, general human services degree recipients from Ohio Christian University generally make around $45,829. Set against $29,940 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Saint Mary Of The Woods College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value general human services schools. Located in the rural area of Saint Mary of the Woods, Saint Mary Of The Woods College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,240. Students borrow a median of $28,366 to complete the general human services program here. General Human Services graduates of Saint Mary Of The Woods College earn a median of $48,088 early in their careers. Set against $28,366 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 65 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
