Compare 15 Human Services, General. programs in the Midwest. Average earnings: $36,285.
The highest-earning Human Services, General. program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $18K earnings gap across 15 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
Simpson College's Human Services, General. program leads with graduates earning $46,184, well above the $36,285 average. Grand View University follows at $42,481, while Upper Iowa University rounds out the top three at $41,928—demonstrating that smaller Midwest institutions compete effectively in this field.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Simpson College graduates borrow $26,000 and face a 15.1% payment burden, landing in the 'Manageable' category. Upper Iowa University leads for families with a 29.1% family burden, though still in the high-burden range when parent loans are included.
Highest program earnings: $46,184
Strong outcomes with 89% acceptance
15.1% payment burden | Manageable - payment 12-18% of discretionary
29.1% family burden | High burden - payment over 25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Simpson CollegePrivate | $46,184 | 17 | $26,000 | Manageable | $23,702 | High |
| #2 | Grand View UniversityPrivate | $42,481 | 32 | $22,500 | Manageable | $20,398 | High |
| #3 | Upper Iowa UniversityPrivate | $41,928 | 81 | $25,000 | Manageable | $14,000 | High |
| #4 | $39,783 | 22 | $22,162 | Manageable | $19,508 | High | |
| #5 | Columbia CollegePrivate | $37,225 | 172 | $23,879 | Challenging | $10,000 | High |
| #6 | Drury UniversityPrivate | $37,173 | 26 | $20,979 | Challenging | $26,668 | High |
| #7 | Doane UniversityPrivate | $37,067 | 17 | $25,000 | Challenging | $23,500 | High |
| #8 | $36,707 | 27 | $26,391 | High | $12,484 | High | |
| #9 | Grace Christian UniversityPrivate | $35,205 | 27 | $24,375 | High | $14,303 | High |
| #10 | Ottawa University-OttawaPrivate | $35,168 | 14 | $21,500 | Challenging | $20,600 | High |
| #11 | Judson UniversityPrivate | $35,151 | 26 | $25,000 | High | $26,048 | High |
| #12 | Quincy UniversityPrivate | $32,364 | 14 | $24,000 | High | $16,609 | High |
| #13 | $30,203 | 31 | $24,250 | High | $12,987 | High | |
| #14 | Bethel UniversityPrivate | $29,685 | 8 | $25,000 | High | $15,256 | High |
| #15 | Missouri Baptist UniversityPrivate | $27,947 | 22 | $22,500 | High | $17,265 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
