2026 Best Value General Human Services Schools in North Carolina
[General Human Services](/majors/social-services-public-administration/human-services/human-services-general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for general human services students.
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2026 Best Value General Human Services Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general human services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Human Services Schools
Our analysis ranked Wilkes Community College the best value for a degree in general human services in North Carolina. Set in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,572, while out-of-state students pay about $8,716. Students borrow a median of $9,125 to complete the general human services program here. Soon after graduation, general human services degree recipients from Wilkes Community College generally make around $36,341. That is a strong return on a $9,125 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Stanly Community College earned it the #2 place for general human services. Stanly Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Albemarle. In-state tuition and fees average $2,672, with out-of-state students paying around $8,816. Early-career general human services graduates make about $41,920.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pitt Community College earned it the #3 place for general human services. Pitt Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Winterville. Students from in state pay about $3,871 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,087 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,741 to complete the general human services program here. Early-career general human services graduates make about $43,022. That is a strong return on a $19,741 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in general human services will find it at Mount Olive College, which ranked #4. Set in the rural area of Mount Olive, Mount Olive College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,366. Typical student debt for general human services graduates is $30,798. Early-career general human services graduates make about $45,131. That is a strong return on a $30,798 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Davidson County Community College earned it the #5 place for general human services. Located in the rural area of Thomasville, Davidson County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $1,980 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,588. Students borrow a median of $16,693 to complete the general human services program here. Early-career general human services graduates make about $35,625. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wingate University placed #6 among the best values for general human services. Located in the suburb of Wingate, Wingate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $42,576. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general human services program here. Soon after graduation, general human services degree recipients from Wingate University generally make around $32,843. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Lees Mcrae College came in at #7 for value in general human services this year. Located in the rural area of Banner Elk, Lees Mcrae College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,850. Typical student debt for general human services graduates is $15,750. General Human Services graduates of Lees Mcrae College earn a median of $34,811 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Elon University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value general human services schools. Set in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $46,958 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general human services graduates is $21,619. Early-career general human services graduates make about $50,463. That is a strong return on a $21,619 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
More General Human Services Rankings
View All General Human Services Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
