Compare 22 Human Services, General. programs in the South. Average earnings: $39,257.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Human Services, General. tells a different story. Across 22 programs, earnings range from $32,781 to $65,687—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation.
George Washington University's Human Services program leads with graduates earning $65,687, well above the $39,257 average. University of Delaware follows at $51,146, while Towson University rounds out the top three at $45,819—proving that program-specific factors drive outcomes more than institutional prestige.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. George Washington University graduates borrow $20,449 and face just a 6.5% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, making the premium earnings sustainable.
Highest program earnings: $65,687
Strong outcomes ($51,146) with 65% acceptance
6.5% payment burden | Excellent
17.8% family burden | Manageable
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | George Washington UniversityPrivate | $65,687 | 12 | $20,449 | Excellent | $30,881 | Manageable |
| #2 | University Of DelawarePublic | $51,146 | 96 | $24,572 | Good | $43,000 | High |
| #3 | Towson UniversityPublic | $45,819 | 119 | $18,718 | Good | $28,489 | High |
| #4 | East Central UniversityPublic | $42,443 | 36 | $17,671 | Manageable | $9,573 | Challenging |
| #5 | $41,105 | 60 | $17,988 | Manageable | $15,541 | High | |
| #6 | Wingate UniversityPrivate | $40,096 | 34 | $25,000 | Challenging | $27,506 | High |
| #7 | Wayland Baptist UniversityPrivate | $39,568 | 68 | $23,106 | Challenging | $12,820 | High |
| #8 | Carson-Newman UniversityPrivate | $39,213 | 15 | $21,500 | Manageable | $17,541 | High |
| #9 | Bluefield UniversityPrivate | $39,167 | 23 | $21,855 | Challenging | $21,200 | High |
| #10 | Mercer UniversityPrivate | $37,972 | 17 | $24,199 | Challenging | $20,000 | High |
| #11 | $37,958 | 57 | $23,833 | Challenging | $19,000 | High | |
| #12 | Southern Wesleyan UniversityPrivate | $37,681 | 35 | $26,000 | Challenging | $16,072 | High |
| #13 | $37,663 | 41 | $17,750 | Manageable | $12,100 | High | |
| #14 | $36,206 | 67 | $19,442 | Challenging | $16,938 | High | |
| #15 | Anderson UniversityPrivate | $35,884 | 7 | $26,700 | High | $22,081 | High |
| #16 | $35,720 | 65 | $14,911 | Manageable | $11,623 | High | |
| #17 | Lees-Mcrae CollegePrivate | $34,811 | 23 | $17,375 | Challenging | $17,576 | High |
| #18 | Lindsey Wilson CollegePrivate | $34,370 | 166 | $16,784 | Challenging | $12,000 | High |
| #19 | Shorter UniversityPrivate | $33,307 | 18 | $25,000 | High | $16,793 | High |
| #20 | Saint Leo UniversityPrivate | $32,781 | 44 | $25,278 | High | $14,773 | High |
| #21 | Lenoir-Rhyne UniversityPrivate | $32,732 | 20 | $26,000 | High | $28,512 | High |
| #22 | Southeastern UniversityPrivate | $32,323 | 17 | $21,500 | High | $22,632 | 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 →
