2026 Best Value Human Services Schools in Kentucky
[Human Services](/majors/social-services-public-administration/human-services/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value human services schools.
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2026 Best Value Human Services Schools in Kentucky
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in human services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Human Services Schools
For return on investment in human services, no school beat Hazard Community And Technical College this year. Located in the town of Hazard, Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $15,500. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Hazard Community And Technical College generally make around $32,626. That is a strong return on a $15,500 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College earned it the #2 place for human services. Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Cumberland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Human Services graduates carry a median of $9,687 in student loans. Early-career human services graduates make about $35,946. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Big Sandy Community And Technical College one of the best values for human services. Set in the town of Prestonsburg, Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $17,993. Human Services graduates of Big Sandy Community And Technical College earn a median of $33,956 early in their careers. Set against $17,993 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Maysville Community And Technical College one of the best values for human services. Maysville Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Maysville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $13,031. Early-career human services graduates make about $37,769. Set against $13,031 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in human services, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $12,245 to complete the human services program here. Early-career human services graduates make about $45,486. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gateway Community And Technical College came in at #6 for value in human services this year. Set in the suburb of Florence, Gateway Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Human Services graduates carry a median of $21,100 in student loans. Early-career human services graduates make about $46,993. That is a strong return on a $21,100 median debt.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value human services schools. Set in the city of Lexington, Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,808, with out-of-state students paying around $6,512. Human Services graduates carry a median of $13,366 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Bluegrass Community And Technical College generally make around $44,431. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jefferson Community And Technical College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value human services schools. Located in the city of Louisville, Jefferson Community And Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,808, with out-of-state students paying around $6,512. Human Services graduates carry a median of $13,917 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Jefferson Community And Technical College generally make around $44,346. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Murray State University landed the #9 spot for human services value this year. Set in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,900, with out-of-state students paying around $19,836. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $23,420. Soon after graduation, human services degree recipients from Murray State University generally make around $48,423. That is a strong return on a $23,420 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of The Cumberlands came in at #10 for value in human services this year. Set in the town of Williamsburg, University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,875. Human Services graduates carry a median of $22,783 in student loans. Early-career human services graduates make about $32,938. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of The Cumberlands admits about 99% of applicants.
Lindsey Wilson College came in at #11 for value in human services this year. Lindsey Wilson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $27,808. Typical student debt for human services graduates is $22,774. Human Services graduates of Lindsey Wilson College earn a median of $29,318 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
More Human Services Rankings
View All Human Services Rankings >
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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
