Most Affordable Online Human Services Degrees

Overview

If you’re hoping to get a good deal on a great Human Services education, Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) is the first place to look. FSCJ is #1 on our list for its overall affordability. Located on the northeast coast of Florida, FSCJ has five campuses throughout Jacksonville. It enrolls close to 50,000 students each year.

Program Features

Beyond its affordability, the Bachelor of Science in Human Services degree at FSCJ has a number of things going for it. For one, you can complete this accelerated degree in just 20 months. You’ll attend online and learn at your own pace. This 120-credit degree includes upper-level classes like:

• Intra and Interpersonal Techniques
• Multicultural Perspectives in Mental Health
• Health Welfare Delivery Systems
• Drug Awareness and Education

Notables

The Human Services curriculum at FSCJ is designed to prepare you for the final requirement: an internship in the field of your choice. This means that when you graduate, your tuition dollars will have been well spent—you’ll already have one foot into the professional world of Human Services!

Overview

The University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) is another affordable program with a top online program in Human Services. It delivers its online degrees through the College of Professional Studies. It has been listed as a top public comprehensive university in the northeast region by U.S. News and World Report.

Program Features

The online Bachelor of Science in Mental Health & Human Services gives you the best of both worlds. After completing coursework in the foundations of human services, you’ll get the chance to specialize in one of three concentrations: Adult Mental Health Rehabilitation, Addiction Counseling, or Child and Family Services. Some core classes include:

• Community Mental Health
• Group Process
• Assessment and Planning
• Interviewing and Counseling

Notables

The program at UMA is highly regarded in the Mental Health and Human Services field. Upon graduation, you’ll meet the requirements for Licensed Social Worker-Conditional credentialing, as well as the Mental Health Rehabilitation/Community credentialing.

Overview

Located in Minot, North Dakota, Minot State University is a small public school that began as a teacher’s college. It now offers over sixty different degrees to its undergraduates, some of which are delivered online. Although it has a student body of around 3,000 students, it is the third-largest university in the state.

Program Features

The Minot State University program is unique in its focus: you’ll earn a Bachelor of Science in Human Services with a Major in Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities. This online program features paid field experiences and a number of unique classes. These include:

• Dual Diagnoses: ID and Mental Health Disorders
• Assisting People with Traumatic Brain Injury
• Developing Communicative Interactions
• Instructional Interventions for People with DD

Notables

If you’re interested in working with this population, you’ve found the perfect spot in Minot State University. This program is affordable ($9,987 per year) and specific in its demographic—two features that will serve you well in your working career. Just note, you’ll graduate with a non-teaching degree.

Overview

A top public school of the South (23rd according to U.S. News and World Report), Troy University has been around since 1887. It serves students in four different campuses throughout Alabama. Troy University offers degrees in both in-person and online formats.

Program Features

If you’re looking for a generalist degree in Human Services, Troy University might be of interest. This major requires 36 credit hours of upper-level courses specific to the degree. However, it also integrates social work and rehabilitation courses throughout the curriculum. Some foundational classes include:

• Human Behavior and the Social Environment
• Professional Communication Skills
• Human Services Seminar
• Human Behavior in the Social Environment

Notables

The capstone feature to this program is the Human Service Field Experience. You’ll spend a minimum of 120 hours at an agency transferring your book knowledge to hands-on experience. This is a fantastic way to get a feel for what corner of Human Services interests you the most.

Overview

Based out of Topeka, Kansas, Washburn University is home to around 7,000 students. This public university is often listed on U.S. News and World Report’s ranking of the top schools in the Midwest. It also features generous tuition deals, offering in-state tuition to students from Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Program Features

The Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Services at Washburn University covers all the important bases of the field: addictions, youth services, aging, mental health, homelessness, and more. Within this 124-credit-hour program—which can be completed online or in-person—you’ll get a taste of everything:

• Family Issues
• Prevention and Social Change
• Substance Abuse & Co-occuring Disorders
• Human Development

Notables

One unique feature of Washburn University’s program is the option to specialize in Addiction Counseling. The Career Ladder in Addiction Counseling is a program that prepares you for the Kansas state exam to become a Licensed Addiction Counselor. An internship is included in this track.

Overview

The third-largest university in the state, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh enrolls close to 14,000 students annually. The university prides itself on investing in sustainability throughout its campus, as well as investing in Wisconsin-based education.

Program Features

The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh realizes the importance of strong leaders in human services. The degree program, an online Bachelor’s degree in Human Services Leadership addresses that need directly. If you envision starting your own non-profit or running one in the future, this is your program! Some highlight courses include:  

• Social Issues & Solutions in Human Services
• Program Evaluation & Grant Writing
• Financial Sustainability in Non-Profit Organizations
• Globalization in Human Services

Notables

The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh has a generous transfer policy and accepts a number of technical college degrees from incoming students. Even more, the online format makes this degree even easier to complete. The platform, Desire 2 Learn (D2L), makes communication between peers and professors simple and effective.

Overview

While the main campus of National Louis University is located in Chicago, Illinois, you’ll find other locations in Florida, Wisconsin, and even Poland! That’s not to mention their online platform. National Louis University specializes in three areas: business, human services, and behavioral science.

Program Features

You’ll choose between one of two degrees at National Louis University: a B.A. in Human Services, or a B.A. in Human Services/Psychology. While they share some core classes, the a B.A. in Human Services focuses more on hands-on internships while the other deals with more theoretical behavioral science. Regardless, you’ll take classes such as:

• Crisis Intervention Principles and Practices
• Legal Issues in Human Services
• Survey of Populations with Special Needs
• Theories of Personality

Notables

Beyond your core degree, you’ll also be able to choose a concentration from the following options: Aging Studies, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Long Term Care, or Urban and Policy Studies. Specializing early makes you much more marketable in your field.

Overview

SUNY Empire State College is one of thirteen State Universities of New York. Beyond its many locations throughout the state, it hosts a strong online program through its Center for Distance Learning. SUNY Empire State College’s affordability has made it a popular program for many, and has led to partnerships with organized labor groups, military branches, and more.

Program Features

SUNY Empire State College works hard to meet your specific needs. Within the general B.S. in Human Services, you can major in the following areas: Early Childhood Studies, Marketing for Non-Profits, and Studies in Mental Health. You’ll take interesting courses that cover a wide range of relevant topics in the field:

• The Third-Sector: Not-for-Profits in the United States
• Human Exceptionalities
• Adolescence and Addiction
• Family and Society

Notables

Beyond these degrees, SUNY Empire State College encourages students to find their own path through concentrated electives. You can specialize in children and family services, criminal justice services, disability services, health and human services, and substance abuse services.

Overview

If you’re an adult student coming back to your education or starting for the first time, you might want to take particular interest in Granite State College. It is based in Conrad, New Hampshire, but is primarily a distance-learning program. You’ll find the epitome of affordability and flexibility at Granite State College.

Program Features

The B.S. in Human Services at Granite State College weaves together threads from psychology, sociology, research methodology, and hands-on learning. Upon graduation, this 120-credit-hour program will have you prepared to jump into your sector of choice. Some stand-out classes include:

• Social Stratification and Inequality
• Human Services and the Helping Process
• Crisis Intervention, Occupational Stress, and Victims Rights
• Human Development

Notables

You should note that 84 percent of Granite State College students are transfer students. The statistic should speak for itself. With an added feature of online learning, Granite State College makes it simple and affordable to finish your degree!

Overview

Founded in 1911 as a Teacher’s College, East Tennessee State University is now a thriving public university in Johnson City, Tennessee. It has been listed as a top school in the region, and made it on The Princeton Review’s list of “America’s Best Value Colleges.” Over 14,500 students enroll annually.

Program Features

This online B.S. in Human Services is aimed specifically at students who are interested in case management, counseling, and administration. You’ll cover all the basics in this program, as well as develop skills in more specialized tasks such as grant writing, program evaluation, and more. The curriculum features some of the following electives:

• Hospitalized Child
• Family Health and Human Sexuality
• Homelessness, Hunger, Poverty, and Politics
• Divorce: Causes and Consequences

Notables

At the end of your online B.S. in Human Services degree, you’ll take two courses to cement your skills in the field: Human Services Practicum and Human Services Internship. You’ll take this time to switch from online to in-person and make connections with other human services professionals.

Overview

Located in Norfolk, Virginia—and one of the largest universities in the state—Old Dominion University (ODU) enrolls around 24,000 students each year. ODU Online is one of the more established distance-learning programs in the country. This year, ODU was ranked #23 in College Factual’s “Top Online Colleges for Social Sciences.”

Program Features

The online Human Services degree at Old Dominion University prepares you to know both the theory and hands-on applications of the field. You’ll complete a 12-credit internship at the end of the degree. But some of the core Human Services courses that you’ll take before that include:

• Diversity Issues in Human Services
• Fund Raising
• Psycho-educational Groups
• Family Guidance

Notables

If you’re particularly interested in the substance abuse side of human services, you’ll be happy to know that this program is accredited to grant Substance Abuse Counselor and Alcohol and Drug Counselor certifications. This would be another great “tool in your belt” upon graduation.

Overview

Connected to the larger Colorado State University system, Colorado State University-Global Campus is the distance-learning branch. It was founded in 2007 to educate adult professionals and non-traditional students at the undergraduate and graduate level.  

Program Features

Colorado State University-Global Campus delivers a 100 percent online B.S. in Human Services. This program uniquely awards top students with field-specific awards like Best Research and Decision Making in Human Services. This would be a great addition to a resume. The curriculum lets you choose from a wide variety of classes, including:

• Working in Modern Society
• Grant Writing
• Race, Gender, and Ethnic Relations in the U.S.
• Crisis Intervention

Notables

Beyond your general B.S. in Human Services, CSU-Global makes it possible for you to specialize in an area of your choice. Students in the past have paired their degree with Business Administration, Healthcare Management, Public Relations, Criminal Justice, and more.

Overview

Western Washington University, located in Bellingham, is a school of around 14,000 students. It delivers both bachelor’s and master’s degrees. We’re not the only ones who have taken notice at Western Washington University’s affordability. Forbes and Kiplinger have both named it a “top value university.”

Program Features

Western Washington University takes a social justice approach to their B.A. in Human Services. You’ll wrestle with the ways Human Services address social need at an individual, community, and global level. Within the 76 major credits, you’ll take stand-out classes such as:

• Interpersonal and Small Group Systems
• Inequity in U.S. Policy and Institutions
• Diversity & Social Justice
• Conflict Resolution in Human Services

Notables

This program is similar to others in its requirement of a Human Services internship. However, Western Washington University goes above and beyond in requiring 380 of field experience in total. This will give you ample amount of time to integrate your classroom knowledge to real-life scenarios.

Overview

Ashford University was established in 1918 as a teacher education college. Today, however, it is a 100 percent online university that grants degrees at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Close to 49,000 students attend Ashford University through its distance learning programs.

Program Features

You’ll take one course at a time through Ashford University’s online B.A. in Health and Human Services. Each course is five weeks long. Ashford University blends its curriculum with a mix of classes in health care administration, sociology, and human services. Certain degree programs may not be available in all states. A sampling of courses includes:

• Communication Skills for Health & Human Service Personnel
• Social Implications of Medical Issues
• Cultural Awareness in the Human Services
• Special Populations

Notables

You can choose to specialize in two areas within the Health and Human Services major: Health Care Informatics Systems and Long-Term Care. You’ll need to take four 3-credit classes in the area of your choice. A specialization goes a long way in the professional world!

Overview

Ohio Christian University is a private institution based in Circleville, Ohio. It was founded by the Churches of Christ in Christian Union denomination, and teaches Biblical principles in its core classes. Ohio Christian University also maintains an Adult and Online Degree Program.

Program Features

The B.A. in Human Services curriculum at Ohio Christian University approaches this field from a Biblical perspective. The classes cover elements from counseling, psychology, criminology, and social work. You can look forward to a wide variety of course topics, some of which include:

• Advocacy and Public Policy
• Victimology
• Theories of Personality
• Conflict Resolution

Notables

Aside from being overall an affordable school, Ohio Christian University is a certified “Military Friendly School.” All military services members can take advantage of a tuition rate of $250 per credit hour. Ohio Christian University also accepts military education benefits.