Why This Matters
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18% OF JOBS REQUIRE AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE
18% of social and human service assistant jobs require an associate degree, while 39% require a bachelor’s degree and 16% only require a postsecondary nondegree award.
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35,600 MORE SOCIAL AND HUMAN SERVICE ASSISTANTS NEEDED BY 2032
This profession is growing much faster than average, with a 9% increase in the need for social and human service assistants anticipated by 2032.
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POTENTIAL TO EARN OVER $55,000
While the median pay for social and human service assistants throughout the country is $38,520, the top 10% of workers in this field make more than $58,770.
Our Research
This list features some of the best online associate in human services degree programs at top colleges nationwide. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary education. Many of the programs on our list have been accredited by the Council for Standards in Human Services Education (CSHSE), which assesses the objectives, quality, and overall effectiveness of social and human service-related programs.
We evaluated each school’s program on admission, retention, and graduation rates as well as tuition costs, faculty, reputation, and the resources provided for online students. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
Next, we compared this comprehensive list of online associate in human services degree programs to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like U.S. News & World Report, among others, to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.
Why Trust Us
The Intelligent.com Higher Education Team is dedicated to providing students with independent, equitable school and program rankings and well-researched resources. Our expert-driven articles cover topics related to online colleges and programs, paying for school, and career outlooks. We use data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, the National Center for Education Statistics, and other reputable educational and professional organizations. Our academic advisory team reviews content and verifies accuracy throughout the year for the most current information. Partnerships do not influence rankings or editorial decisions.
- Analyzed over 2,000 national, accredited, and nonprofit colleges and universities
- 800+ rankings pages are reviewed and updated yearly
- Content is informed by reputable sources, surveys, and interviews with academic advisors and other experts
- Over 100 data points are reviewed for accuracy and quality throughout the year, including sources
How we rank schools
Our list features the best online Human Services degree programs at top colleges nationwide. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions.
We evaluated each school’s program on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, reputation, and the student resources provided for online students. We collected data from trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics, individual school and program websites, school admissions counselors, and other data sources. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100 based on the following criterion:
Academic Quality:
- Admission rate versus enrollment rate
- Retention rate of students who return after year one
- Accreditation status (regional and programmatic)
- Nonprofit status, both private and public institutions
Graduation Rate
- Overall graduation rate
- Total number of currently enrolled students, including diversity metrics
- Student-to-faculty ratio
Cost and ROI
- In-state and out-of-state per-credit tuition rates and fees
- Required credits to graduate
- Earning potential after graduation
- Availability of federal student loans, scholarships, and other financial aid options
Student Resources
- Available student services for online-only and hybrid programs
- On-campus amenities like tutoring centers and the number of libraries
Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 80 hours to write this article
- 150 universities and colleges we assessed
- 168 education programs we compared
Best 41 Online Associate in Human Services Programs
FiltersInstitution Type
Status
- Intelligent Score
- Alphabetically By University Name
- Acceptance Rate
- Enrollment
- In-state Graduate Tuition
- Out-of-state Graduate Tuition
- In-state Undergraduate Tuition
- Out-of-state Undergraduate Tuition
Madisonville Community College
Intelligent Score: 99.77In-state: $17,008
Out-of-state: $27,928
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: 16-22
In-State: $182
Out-of-State: $364 - $637
Online, On-Campus
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
60
Great Basin College
Intelligent Score: 99.64In-state: $15,343
Out-of-state: $24,607
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: Not Required
ACT: Not Required
In-State: $123 - $197
Out-of-State: $180 - $405
Online, On-Campus
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
61
Minot State University
Intelligent Score: 99.34In-state: $6,691
Out-of-state: $6,691
In-state: $8,731
Out-of-state: $8,731
SAT: 880-1070
ACT: 18-24
$597
Online
Higher Learning Commission
68
Iowa Central Community College
Intelligent Score: 99.09In-state: $17,731
Out-of-state: $19,933
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: 530 or above
ACT: 22 or above
In-State: $192
Out-of-State: $284
Online, On-Campus
Higher Learning Commission
60
Coastline Community College
Intelligent Score: 98.04In-state: $32,656
Out-of-state: $42,904
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: Not Required
ACT: Not Required
In-State: $46
Out-of-State: $381
Online, On-Campus
Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
60
Wake Technical Community College
Intelligent Score: 96.54In-state: $22,360
Out-of-state: $28,504
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: 480 or higher
ACT: 18 or higher
In-State: $76
Out-of-State: $268
Online, On-Campus
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
67-70
Montgomery County Community College
Intelligent Score: 96.53In-state: $27,306
Out-of-state: $32,046
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: Not Required
ACT: Not Required
In-State: $156
Out-of-State: $312 - $468
Online, On-Campus
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
64
Camden County College
Intelligent Score: 96.2In-state: $16,670
Out-of-state: $16,670
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: 500 or higher
ACT: 22 or higher
In-County: $115 Out-of-County: $119
Out-of-State: $199
Online, On-Campus
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
60
Cornerstone University
Intelligent Score: 95.98In-state: $22,000
Out-of-state: $22,000
In-state: $13,920
Out-of-state: $13,920
SAT: 1040-1060
ACT: 19-26
$395
Online, On-Campus
Higher Learning Commission
61
Brescia University
Intelligent Score: 95.01In-state: $24,500
Out-of-state: $24,500
In-state: $600
Out-of-state: $600
SAT: 985-1085
ACT: 19-25
$450 - $675
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
60
Niagara County Community College
Intelligent Score: 95In-state: $11,805
Out-of-state: $16,845
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: 500 or higher
ACT: 20 or higher
$420
Online, On-Campus
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
64
Herkimer County Community College
Intelligent Score: 94.58In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
Resident: $189
Non-Resident: $325
Online
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
64
Bismarck State College
Intelligent Score: 91.65In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$260 - $303
Online, On-Campus
Higher Learning Commission
60
Northcentral Technical College
Intelligent Score: 91.35In-state: $18,126
Out-of-state: $19,847
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: Not Required
ACT: Not Required
$153
Online
Higher Learning Commission
66
Monroe Community College
Intelligent Score: 91.08In-state: $21,194
Out-of-state: $21,194
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: 1050-1260
ACT: 23-31
Resident: $198
Non-Resident: $396
Online, On-Campus
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
60-62
University of the Cumberlands
Intelligent Score: 90.35In-state: $9,875
Out-of-state: $9,875
In-state: $4,282
Out-of-state: $4,282
SAT: 930-1140
ACT: 19-24
$335
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
60
Alexandria Technical & Community College
Intelligent Score: 90.22In-state: $24,038
Out-of-state: $24,038
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$211
Online, On-Campus
Higher Learning Commission
64
Cypress College
Intelligent Score: 88.58In-state: $35,679
Out-of-state: $43,623
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: 550 or higher
ACT: 22 or higher
$331
Online, On-Campus
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
60
What You Should Know About This Degree
Human services degrees are focused on teaching students how to provide advocacy and intervention help to families and individuals. While this degree has a relatively broad focus when it comes to crises, there are similar degrees that prepare students to provide more specialized services. This includes degrees in addiction studies or substance abuse counseling, as well as degrees in child development and psychology.
When selecting your degree program, it’s important to consider your career goals, as well as your learning style. Use the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs to ensure that your chosen program is properly accredited and that credits are transferable to other institutions should you move or decide to upgrade your education.
After graduation, you may have several rewarding job opportunities to choose from. Those who complete this degree may work as probation and parole agents, social workers, benefits managers, adult daycare workers, or youth workers.
If you choose a career that involves working with private information or vulnerable individuals, it’s worth noting that background checks are usually required by employers. Additionally, some professions in this field, including social worker, may require you to obtain licensing from your state.
What’s Next?
Here are some questions to ask when researching online associate in human services programs:
- What licensing and certifications are required? If you choose to work with at-risk youth or individuals, you may need to become a licensed social worker. This involves passing an examination with your state board and keeping your licensing up to date as per state regulations. Additionally, many careers in human services require workers to pass regular background checks.
- Am I eligible for this program? Online associate degree programs all differ, as do their prerequisites. While some colleges offer open enrollment for human services programs, meaning there are no prerequisites, others may require students to have minimum scores on SAT or ACT tests.
While researching available programs, be sure to keep track of important details about each program that appeals to you. That includes taking note of deadlines and application requirements, as well as costs. If you require financial aid or decide to apply for scholarships or grants, be sure to submit applications on time.