2026 Best Value Human Services Schools in Maine
[Human Services](/majors/social-services-public-administration/human-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for human services students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Human Services Schools in Maine
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in human services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Human Services Schools
Leading the list is York County Community College, our #1 best value for human services in Maine. Set in the suburb of Wells, York County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,156, with out-of-state students paying around $7,036. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $10,773. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from York County Community College generally make around $29,599. That is a strong return on a $10,773 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in human services will find it at Central Maine Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Auburn, Central Maine Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,140, while out-of-state students pay about $7,020. Human Services graduates carry a median of $18,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Central Maine Community College generally make around $40,029. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in human services will find it at Eastern Maine Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Bangor, Eastern Maine Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,156, while out-of-state students pay about $7,036. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $17,741. Early-career human services graduates make about $52,263. Set against $17,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southern Maine Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value human services schools. Located in the city of South Portland, Southern Maine Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,156 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,036. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $13,869. Early-career human services graduates make about $41,328. Set against $13,869 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
More Human Services Rankings
View All Human Services Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 6 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.
