Human Services, General: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 106 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$223,836 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
68.9 yrsModeled economic break-even
−85%Modeled 10-year ROI
$48,799Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$48,799Median reported earnings · year 4
$45,789Average reported earnings · year 5
$31,549Median federal debt
18thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
106Reporting programs
99With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $29,382
- Federal debt
- $16,248
- Reporting programs
- 12
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $40,247
- Federal debt
- $20,441
- Reporting programs
- 83
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $48,799
- Federal debt
- $31,549
- Reporting programs
- 106
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $57,277
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 23
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $72,005
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $52,538
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$44,155National median$48,79975th percentile$52,309
99 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Syracuse University$68,3142Goodwin University$66,5833George Washington University$65,1904Northeastern University$61,1525Northeastern University Professional Programs$61,1526St. Joseph's University-New York$60,0917University of Nevada-Las Vegas$58,1308University of Baltimore$58,1179Mount Saint Mary College$57,91010CUNY New York City College of Technology$56,827Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Community and Social Service Specialists, All OtherSOC 21-1099 · 1 crosswalk linksSocial and Community Service ManagersSOC 11-9151 · 1 crosswalk linksSocial and Human Service AssistantsSOC 21-1093 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Syracuse UniversityBachelor's Degree | Syracuse, NY | $68,314 | $26,273 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | Goodwin UniversityBachelor's Degree | East Hartford, CT | $66,583 | $35,166 | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | George Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $65,190 | Not available | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Northeastern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $61,152 | $26,000 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Northeastern University Professional ProgramsBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $61,152 | $26,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 6 | St. Joseph's University-New YorkBachelor's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $60,091 | $35,750 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | University of Nevada-Las VegasBachelor's Degree | Las Vegas, NV | $58,130 | $26,945 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | University of BaltimoreBachelor's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $58,117 | $37,809 | -44% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Mount Saint Mary CollegeBachelor's Degree | Newburgh, NY | $57,910 | $29,250 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | CUNY New York City College of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $56,827 | $9,000 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | California State University, Monterey BayBachelor's Degree | Seaside, CA | $56,719 | $14,480 | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Monroe UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bronx, NY | $56,245 | $31,000 | -53% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | University of DelawareBachelor's Degree | Newark, DE | $55,209 | $24,413 | -59% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Walden UniversityBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $55,040 | $50,495 | -68% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Cambridge CollegeBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $55,038 | $32,524 | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Metropolitan State University of DenverBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $54,896 | $29,913 | -59% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Central Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ellensburg, WA | $54,318 | $19,893 | -63% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Western Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bellingham, WA | $53,788 | $20,041 | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | University of OregonBachelor's Degree | Eugene, OR | $53,559 | $21,417 | -68% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Fitchburg State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fitchburg, MA | $52,945 | $26,352 | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Colorado State University GlobalBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $52,742 | $44,111 | -69% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Ottawa University-OttawaBachelor's Degree | Ottawa, KS | $52,309 | $39,775 | -75% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Ottawa University-Kansas CityBachelor's Degree | Overland Park, KS | $52,309 | $39,775 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 24 | Ottawa University-MilwaukeeBachelor's Degree | Brookfield, WI | $52,309 | $39,775 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 25 | Ottawa University-OnlineBachelor's Degree | Overland Park, KS | $52,309 | $39,775 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 26 | Ottawa University-SurpriseBachelor's Degree | Surprise, AZ | $52,309 | $39,775 | -77% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Towson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Towson, MD | $52,223 | $21,250 | -71% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | University of ScrantonBachelor's Degree | Scranton, PA | $52,172 | $26,000 | -77% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Touro UniversityBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $51,886 | $31,525 | -77% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Doane UniversityBachelor's Degree | Crete, NE | $51,673 | $35,959 | -77% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | Canisius UniversityBachelor's Degree | Buffalo, NY | $51,522 | Not available | -74% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Elizabethtown CollegeBachelor's Degree | Elizabethtown, PA | $51,224 | Not available | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | University of New Hampshire-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Durham, NH | $51,220 | Not available | -77% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies OnlineBachelor's Degree | Manchester, NH | $51,220 | Not available | -72% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | Post UniversityBachelor's Degree | Waterbury, CT | $51,181 | $54,002 | -77% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Metropolitan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $51,009 | $31,000 | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Lincoln UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lincoln University, PA | $50,390 | $37,500 | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Shorter UniversityBachelor's Degree | Rome, GA | $50,113 | $46,320 | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Hilbert CollegeBachelor's Degree | Hamburg, NY | $50,111 | $27,000 | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | Elmira CollegeBachelor's Degree | Elmira, NY | $49,723 | $27,000 | -82% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | Mercy UniversityBachelor's Degree | Dobbs Ferry, NY | $49,634 | $28,500 | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | Northern Illinois UniversityBachelor's Degree | Dekalb, IL | $49,514 | $27,000 | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Southern New Hampshire UniversityBachelor's Degree | Manchester, NH | $49,508 | $36,787 | -86% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | Wayland Baptist UniversityBachelor's Degree | Plainview, TX | $48,921 | $27,258 | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | Fisher CollegeBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $48,902 | $29,935 | -86% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | Rasmussen University-FloridaBachelor's Degree | Ocala, FL | $48,799 | $46,312 | -86% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | Rasmussen University-MinnesotaBachelor's Degree | St. Cloud, MN | $48,799 | $46,312 | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | Rasmussen University-North DakotaBachelor's Degree | Fargo, ND | $48,799 | $46,312 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 49 | Rasmussen University-IllinoisBachelor's Degree | Rockford, IL | $48,799 | $46,312 | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Rasmussen University-WisconsinBachelor's Degree | Green Bay, WI | $48,799 | $46,312 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 51 | Rasmussen University-KansasBachelor's Degree | Topeka, KS | $48,799 | $46,312 | -86% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | Grand Canyon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Phoenix, AZ | $48,766 | $30,509 | -86% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Upper Iowa UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fayette, IA | $48,461 | $45,388 | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | Chestnut Hill CollegeBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $48,375 | $43,125 | -88% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Southeastern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lakeland, FL | $48,006 | $26,121 | -90% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | University of Phoenix-ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Phoenix, AZ | $47,742 | $50,140 | -88% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | Grace Christian UniversityBachelor's Degree | Wyoming, MI | $47,559 | $36,149 | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | Kennesaw State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kennesaw, GA | $47,540 | $30,500 | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | Southern Wesleyan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Central, SC | $47,528 | $41,027 | -90% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | Columbia CollegeBachelor's Degree | Columbia, MO | $46,785 | $39,973 | -93% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Purdue University GlobalBachelor's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $46,580 | $57,500 | -93% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | Florida State College at JacksonvilleBachelor's Degree | Jacksonville, FL | $46,467 | $30,726 | -93% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | Wingate UniversityBachelor's Degree | Wingate, NC | $45,558 | $27,000 | -98% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | Mercer UniversityBachelor's Degree | Macon, GA | $45,484 | $54,500 | -98% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | University of Minnesota-MorrisBachelor's Degree | Morris, MN | $45,453 | Not available | -98% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | Indian River State CollegeBachelor's Degree | Fort Pierce, FL | $44,549 | $13,583 | -102% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | Gordon State CollegeBachelor's Degree | Barnesville, GA | $44,286 | $31,000 | -103% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | East Central UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ada, OK | $44,238 | $28,000 | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | Indiana Wesleyan University-MarionBachelor's Degree | Marion, IN | $44,155 | $40,228 | -103% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | Indiana Wesleyan University-National & GlobalBachelor's Degree | Marion, IN | $44,155 | $40,228 | -103% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | Grand View UniversityBachelor's Degree | Des Moines, IA | $44,106 | $30,750 | -103% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | University of South FloridaBachelor's Degree | Tampa, FL | $43,976 | $28,156 | -105% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | University of North GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Dahlonega, GA | $43,810 | $27,850 | -105% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | Bluefield UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bluefield, VA | $43,789 | $25,000 | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | Lees-McRae CollegeBachelor's Degree | Banner Elk, NC | $43,273 | $15,750 | -106% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | Lancaster Bible CollegeBachelor's Degree | Lancaster, PA | $42,735 | $48,590 | -108% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | Anderson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Anderson, SC | $42,718 | $42,953 | -108% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | Lindsey Wilson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Columbia, KY | $42,004 | $22,774 | -112% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | Ohio Christian UniversityBachelor's Degree | Circleville, OH | $41,533 | $32,498 | -113% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | Geneva CollegeBachelor's Degree | Beaver Falls, PA | $41,383 | Not available | -113% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | Pennsylvania College of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Williamsport, PA | $41,244 | $42,463 | -113% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | Missouri Baptist UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Louis, MO | $41,036 | $29,389 | -114% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | Grace College and Theological SeminaryBachelor's Degree | Winona Lake, IN | $40,727 | $22,460 | -116% | Negative payoff |
| 84 | East Tennessee State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Johnson City, TN | $40,288 | $22,150 | -119% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | Drury UniversityBachelor's Degree | Springfield, MO | $39,257 | $33,492 | -122% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | Drury University-College of Continuing Professional StudiesBachelor's Degree | Springfield, MO | $39,257 | $33,492 | -126% | Negative payoff |
| 87 | Judson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Elgin, IL | $38,639 | $34,455 | -125% | Negative payoff |
| 88 | Bethel UniversityBachelor's Degree | Mishawaka, IN | $38,515 | $44,418 | -125% | Negative payoff |
| 89 | Saint Leo UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Leo, FL | $38,043 | $50,406 | -126% | Negative payoff |
| 90 | University of the CumberlandsBachelor's Degree | Williamsburg, KY | $37,823 | $22,783 | -130% | Negative payoff |
| 91 | Bellevue UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bellevue, NE | $36,592 | $10,312 | -134% | Negative payoff |
| 92 | Liberty UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lynchburg, VA | $36,290 | Not available | -129% | Negative payoff |
| 93 | Indiana Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Fort Wayne, IN | $35,467 | $47,683 | -135% | Negative payoff |
| 94 | Indiana Institute of Technology-College of Professional StudiesBachelor's Degree | Fort Wayne, IN | $35,467 | $47,683 | -136% | Negative payoff |
| 95 | Notre Dame de Namur UniversityBachelor's Degree | Belmont, CA | Not available | $31,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 96 | Quincy UniversityBachelor's Degree | Quincy, IL | Not available | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $20,359 |
| 97 | Lesley UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cambridge, MA | Not available | $31,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $31,152 |
| 98 | Excelsior UniversityBachelor's Degree | Albany, NY | Not available | $31,573 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 99 | Lenoir-Rhyne UniversityBachelor's Degree | Hickory, NC | Not available | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $20,689 |
| 100 | Carson-Newman UniversityBachelor's Degree | Jefferson City, TN | Not available | $25,562 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $20,251 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.