2026 Best Value General Human Services Schools in the Southwest Region
[General Human Services](/majors/social-services-public-administration/human-services/human-services-general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 28 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general human services students.
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2026 Best Value General Human Services Schools in the Southwest 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
For return on investment in general human services, no school beat Cochise College this year. Set in the city of Sierra Vista, Cochise College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,280, with out-of-state students paying around $6,120. Typical student debt for general human services graduates is $12,013. Early-career general human services graduates make about $40,712. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
East Central University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value general human services schools. Located in the town of Ada, East Central University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,032 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,842. Typical student debt for general human services graduates is $28,000. Early-career general human services graduates make about $37,648. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. East Central University admits about 58% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Santa Fe Community College one of the best values for general human services. Santa Fe Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Santa Fe. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,851, while out-of-state students pay about $4,131. Students borrow a median of $15,267 to complete the general human services program here. Soon after graduation, general human services degree recipients from Santa Fe Community College generally make around $51,935. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Phoenix Arizona came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value general human services schools. Set in the city of Phoenix, University Of Phoenix Arizona is a very large private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,552. Typical student debt for general human services graduates is $38,352. Early-career general human services graduates make about $40,224. That is a strong return on a $38,352 median debt.
University Of Arizona came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value general human services schools. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Typical student debt for general human services graduates is $21,861. Early-career general human services graduates make about $50,834. Set against $21,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Southwestern Assemblies Of God University earned the #6 position for value in general human services this year. Set in the suburb of Waxahachie, Southwestern Assemblies Of God University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,064. Students borrow a median of $28,248 to complete the general human services program here. General Human Services graduates of Southwestern Assemblies Of God University earn a median of $37,774 early in their careers. Set against $28,248 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Southern University earned the #7 position for value in general human services this year. Set in the city of Houston, Texas Southern University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,637 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,473. Typical student debt for general human services graduates is $35,330. General Human Services graduates of Texas Southern University earn a median of $41,890 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas Southern University admits about 97% of applicants.
Wayland Baptist University came in at #8 for value in general human services this year. Located in the town of Plainview, Wayland Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $23,782 in tuition and fees. General Human Services graduates carry a median of $27,258 in student loans. Early-career general human services graduates make about $33,082. Set against $27,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Grand Canyon University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value general human services schools. Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,508. General Human Services graduates carry a median of $30,509 in student loans. Early-career general human services graduates make about $35,433. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 28 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
