Top 25 Online Bachelor's in Human Services Programs for 2019

Rising demand for affordable and effective approaches to healthcare create a need for human services professionals. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 15% increase in employment for community health workers by 2026. Graduates who have earned a human services degree online help people understand and seek health and social services. This page will help you select the human services bachelor's degree online program that best meets your professional goals.

What are the Best Online Bachelor's in Human Services Programs?

Top 25 Online Bachelors in Human Services Programs for 2019

1. Saint Joseph's College of Maine — Standish, ME

Admissions Rate

78%

Graduation Rate

58%

Online Enrollment

57%

Retention Rate

86%

Default Rate

5%

St. Joseph's College of Maine, a liberal arts college and religious institution, is located in Standish, just two hours from Boston. The school's human services degree online is offered as a bachelor's in interdisciplinary studies program with a minor in human services . The program has an industry-specific curriculum that prepares students to obtain social science positions. Degree candidates must complete 128 credits, and at least a quarter of those credits must be earned through SJC. Considered one of the top online colleges for human services, SJC requires a four-step application process, which involves completing an application, submitting all prior transcripts, and sending Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Testing (ACT) scores. Distance learners can tour the campus and meet with an admissions counselor for the chance to receive the Visit Scholarship.

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2. LeTourneau University — Longview, TX

3. Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion — Marion, IN

4. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College — Saint Mary of the Woods, IN

5. Saint Joseph's College-New York — Brooklyn, NY

6. Southwestern Assemblies of God University — Waxahachie, TX

7. Grace Bible College — Wyoming, MI

8. Southeastern University — Lakeland, FL

9. Southern New Hampshire University — Manchester, NH

10. Western Washington University — Bellingham, WA

11. Anderson University — Anderson, SC

12. University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh — Oshkosh, WI

13. University of the Cumberlands — Williamsburg, KY

14. Franklin Pierce University — Rindge, NH

15. Drury University — Springfield, MO

16. Judson University — Elgin, IL

17. Shorter University — Rome, GA

18. Lees-McRae College — Banner Elk, NC

19. Quincy University — Quincy, IL

20. City University of Seattle — Seattle, WA

21. Bluefield College — Bluefield, VA

22. East Tennessee State University — Johnson City, TN

23. Ottawa University-Ottawa — Ottawa, KS

24. Indiana Institute of Technology — Fort Wayne, IN

25. Columbia College — Columbia, MO

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What Will I Learn in an Online Human Services Program?

While course requirements vary by program, all human services bachelor's degree online programs provide core knowledge through key foundational courses, such as those listed below. These courses equip students with skills necessary for careers in human services.

• Case management This course examines theoretical approaches to treatment and common ethical issues to prepare students for careers as case managers and human service assistants. Topics include assessment, intervention strategies, and treatment planning for marginalized populations.

• Lifespan development This course provides future health educators and counselors with knowledge of human development. Students explore prominent theories of growth and development, which inform treatment plans and community programs. Areas of focus include physical, social, and cognitive development and cultural and environmental influences.

• Abnormal psychology This course examines the symptoms and treatments for various types of psychopathology. Students explore social and cultural perspectives of abnormal behavior and gain skills required for careers as community health workers and addiction counselors.

What Can I do with an Online Human Services Degree?

Earning a human services degree online allows graduates to pursue careers in areas such as community outreach, family services, and health education. A career in human services provides opportunities to engage in community advocacy, and professionals who pursue managerial positions often increase their salaries by 30%. The following table highlights potential careers for graduates with an online human services degree.

Job Outlook and Salary

Demand for health educators and community health workers is increasing with efforts to promote preventative health practices. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a rise in employment in the human services industry and the creation of more than 15,000 jobs from 2014 to 2024. This growth is partially due to a growing desire for reductions in treatment costs and improved outcomes by healthcare organizations. While employment in human services is growing faster than the national average, factors such as location and industry influence job availability and annual earnings.

Salary Growth by Experience

Generally, professionals with more experience in a specialized area earn higher salaries. Professionals with more than 10 years of experience in human services careers average about $4,000 more annually than those in entry-level positions. Case managers often double their salaries after 20 years. Earning a human services bachelor's degree online is the first step toward establishing a lucrative career in the human services field.

To determine the best online Bachelor's in Human Services programs, we looked at the most important factors prospective students, mainly common predictors of future success and a school's commitment to online programs. This boils down to admissions rate, student loan default rate, retention rate, graduation rate, and the percent of students enrolled in online classes. All data points are taken from information provided by colleges and universities to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Each factor is weighted evenly in order to give an objective view and determine the best online Bachelor's in Human Services programs. To calculate our rankings, we looked at a school's ranking when organized by a single factor, and then averaged each category's ranking to find an overall score: Admissions Rate (20%) + Default Rate (20%) + Retention Rate (20%) + Graduation Rate (20%) + Percent of Students Enrolled in Online Classes (20%) = Final score.