2026 Best Value General Human Services Schools in Iowa
[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 13 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 Iowa
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general human services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Human Services Schools
Leading the list is Iowa Central Community College, our #1 best value for general human services in Iowa. Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Fort Dodge. In-state tuition and fees average $5,496, compared with $7,788 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,135 to complete the general human services program here. General Human Services graduates of Iowa Central Community College earn a median of $39,624 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,135 median debt.
Buena Vista University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general human services, landing the #2 spot this year. Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Storm Lake. In-state tuition and fees average $41,798. Students borrow a median of $29,317 to complete the general human services program here. Early-career general human services graduates make about $44,780. That is a strong return on a $29,317 median debt. Buena Vista University admits about 78% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Upper Iowa University one of the best values for general human services. Set in the rural area of Fayette, Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,475. Students borrow a median of $45,388 to complete the general human services program here. Soon after graduation, general human services degree recipients from Upper Iowa University generally make around $39,389. Set against $45,388 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
More General Human Services Rankings
View All General Human Services Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
