The best online Human Services Masters degrees offer a flexible way for students to earn a degree to increase their earning potential. A human services online master’s degree offers many benefits for program graduates. Like any advanced degree pursuit, an online master’s degree in human services presents exclusive opportunities for those who complete these types of programs. In addition to a master’s degree in human services online affording many opportunities, it also can result in considerable earnings.
These are only a few reasons students consider earning a human services master’s degree online. A master’s human services online also provides human services professionals with flexible scheduling and other class options. In addition, some online master’s degree in human services programs offers self-paced and on-demand classes. Earning a master’s degree in human services online might also be easier due to the convenience and comfort of remote learning. A human services master’s degree online also presents other benefits such as fewer class-related expenses versus traditional schooling options and the ability to balance life and school better.
How We Ranked the Best Online Master’s in Human Services
For prospective online human services graduate students, Social Work Degree Center editors have compiled a ranking of accredited, reputable schools offering an online master’s in human services agencies. In addition, programs rank by cost, reputation, and salary potential, using data from IPEDS and Niche.
1. Purdue University Global
Purdue University Global offers an MS in Human Services that ranks among the best online masters in human service programs available, with many start dates each year. Students enrolled in Purdue University’s online baccalaureate degree must finish a minimum of 45 credit units over ten-week terms. Note – Purdue University Global’s graduate degree meets the academic requirements of the HS – BCP examination and requires an internship based on two tracks – organizational/social services or family/community service.
Purdue University Global started in 2018 and is the online extension of Purdue University. The global school began after Purdue acquired Kaplan University. Additionally, PGU has a student enrollment that exceeds 38,000 students each year.
Highlight: Purdue University Global operates mostly online but has four academic facilities in Florida and Illinois.
Degree: MS in Human Services
2. Arizona State University
Arizona State University offers an MS in Family and Human Development that requires human service master’s degree candidates to complete a minimum of thirty graduate credits units to graduate. The ASU online master of human service program includes classes in social statistics, parenting, diversity & society, theoretical issues in child development, leadership & social justice, and marriage & family relationships, human services delivery systems, plus a capstone project, among others.
Founded when Arizona was still a territory in 1885, ASU is a land and space grant school with multiple campuses. The student enrollment exceeds 145,000 when accounting for postgraduate and undergraduate students on its various campuses.
Highlight: The school’s alumni include Nobel laureates, Guggenheim, Academy of Engineering, Fulbright Scholars, and MacArthur Fellowes, among others.
Degree: MS in Family and Human Development
3. University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma offers an MA in Human and Health Services Administration that ranks among Oklahoma’s most innovative and best online masters in human service programs. The total credit hours required to complete this accelerated University of Oklahoma’s graduate degree in human services is 33. Classes for this Human service degree include cultural, social & diversity issues, geriatric issues, psychosocial aspects of disability, human services research, legal and ethical considerations, and cross-cultural health issues, plus a related internship, to name a few.
The University of Oklahoma opened in the 1890s, years before Oklahoma reached statehood. The University’s suburban campus is also a space-grant, flagship campus with nearly 28,340 students each year.
Highlight: The University of Oklahoma offers more than 400 programs (at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels) from its multiple campuses and online.
Degree: MA in Human and Health Services Administration
4. Oklahoma State University – Tulsa
Oklahoma State University Tulsa offers an online MS in Human Services with an academic emphasis in Applied Human Services. This program is offered in an accelerated form and delivered entirely online. Additionally, OSUT’s flexible and best online masters in human service program explore the topic through interdisciplinary coursework. Specialization for the Oklahoma State University’s graduate degree in human services includes infant mental health, developmental disabilities, gerontology, and nonprofit management. The total coursework for this Oklahoma State University graduate degree in human services is 33 graduate units.
OSUT is the newest campus of Oklahoma’s state university system joining in 1999. The campus in Tulsa is in the city’s historic neighborhood of Greenwood.
Highlight: Oklahoma State University’s first female president (and the university’s third elected president) in 2019.
Degree: MS in Applied Human Services
5. Kansas State University
Kansas State University offers a Master of Family and Community Services program that is among the most innovative and best online masters in human service programs in the state of Kansas and beyond. Classes for this graduate degree from Kansas State University include lifespan development, residence in families, family resource management, foundations and principles of family and community services, and crises across the lifespan, to name a few. The capstone concluding project will be a practicum in family/community services or a field study in family economics.
Kansas State University (KSU) is a multiple-campus higher learning institution. The school began as the state’s first public higher learning institution. Additionally, the university’s college-town campus covers more than 600 acres and serves nearly 21,000 students.
Highlight: Kansas State University has nine colleges and schools to serve students each year.
Degree: Master of Family and Community Services
6. University of Nebraska Lincoln
The University of Nebraska Lincoln offers an MS in Human and Family Services Administration that is among Nebraska’s most affordable online programs. Classes for this graduate human service degree from the University of Nebraska Lincoln include family professionals as consumers of research, theories of human development and family relations, special topics in family and cultural diversity, and introduction to the nonprofit sector, to name a few.
The University of Nebraska (NU) is a land-grant higher learning institution that opened in 1869. In addition, the Lincoln Branch is a space-grant flagship school. The University of Nebraska in Lincoln serves approximately 25,450 graduate and undergraduate students each year.
Highlight: The University of Nebraska is home to the ‘Nebraska Method,’ an ecological study regarding grassland ecology.
Degree: MS in Human and Family Services Administration
7. CUNY School of Professional Studies
The CUNY School of Professional Studies offers an MS in Disability Services in Higher Education that is among the best online masters in human service programs. Classes for this graduate degree in human services require the completion of 30-semester units that include higher education disability service administration, neurodiverse students in college, the legal aspect of disability service, and assistive technology in higher education, plus a capstone course, among others.
CUNY School of Professional Studies is a member of the city’s university system. Located in midtown Manhattan, CUNY’s School of Professional Studies meets the educational needs of working adults and learners.
Highlight: The City University of NY’s School of Professional Studies is home to the JFK Jr institute of Worker Education, designed to develop human service initiatives.
Degree: MS in Disability Services in Higher Education
8. University of Arizona
The University of Arizona offers an MA in Human Services that is among the best online masters in human service programs available. UA’s graduate degree in human services includes coursework in human services delivery skills, group theories, and human systems. Additionally, students learn an overview of human services and complete an integrative project for human services. Specialization courses include gerontology, criminal justice organizations, mental health compliance issues, and victimology theory and research.
Founded in the mid-1880s when Arizona was still a territory, the University of Arizona was the state’s first institution of higher education. The urban campus and online platform are home to nearly 46,000 postgraduate and undergraduate students each year.
Highlight: The Arizona Wildcats represent the university in the NCAA’s Pac-12 conference, winning various national titles.
Degree: MA in Human Services
9. California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge offers An MS in Assistive Technology Studies and Human Services that ranks among the nation’s best online masters in human service programs according to onlinemasters.com. Students enrolled in CSUN’s graduate human services degree must finish a minimum of 30-semester credits. However, 70% of the credits students must complete in residence at California State University. Class examples include assistive technology across the lifespan, medical conditions affecting the quality of life, and a directed comprehension study project, to name a few. There Are several steps to take if you would like to become a social worker in California after graduation.
California State University, Northridge (CSUN) started as an extension center of Cal State in Los Angeles but became independent in the late 1950s. This member school of California’s state university system is the third largest, with nearly 39,000 students.
Highlight: Cal State University is one of the nation’s most diverse higher education institutions.
Degree: MS in Assistive Technology Studies and Human Services
10. Bryan College
Bryan College offers an MA in Human Services that explores the many integrated social, psychological, spiritual aspects of health. The school’s online masters in human service program prepare students for rewarding careers as caseworkers, family advocates, human services counselors, and non-licensed counselors. Students need thirty graduate credits to complete the Bryan College program. However, they can meet all of the credits online. Classes for this human services degree from Bryan College include group dynamics, multicultural awareness in human services, adult development, and aging, plus Christianity & Counseling, to name a few.
Bryan College is an interdenominational Christian school that opened in the 1920s, after the Scopes Trial. This private institution of higher learning is home to approximately 750 students each year online and on the school’s Dayton, Tennessee campus.
Highlight: The college’s campus is within walking distance to Downtown Dayton, on a hilltop covering more than 100 acres.
Degree: MA in Human Services
11. Concordia University St Paul
Concordia University-St Paul offers a MA in Human Services with an academic track in Forensic Behavioral Health that is among Minnesota’s best online masters in human service programs. This graduate degree from Concordia University St Paul requires human services degree candidates to finish a minimum of 36 credit units to meet the graduation requirements. Required classes for Concordia University St Paul’s human service master’s degree include family violence, research methods inhuman services, psychopathology in human services, and ethical/legal consideration, to name a few.
Concordia University-St Paul is a member of the Concordia system, which is the 2nd largest body of schools related to the Lutheran Church. The St. Paul campus of Concordia opened in the 1890s. Additionally, the university has accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.
Highlight: More than 5,450 graduate and undergraduate students attend classes online and on the Twin Cities Campus in St. Paul.
Degree: MA in Human Services – Forensic Behavioral Health
12. University of Redlands
The University of Redlands offers an MA Education – Human Services emphasis, considered among California’s most innovative and best online masters in human service programs available online. The University of Redlands graduates of this graduate degree in human services finds rewarding careers in government, educational agencies, and nonprofits, among others. Classes include learning theory and program development, designing & implementing action research, human development, introduction to social science research, and also foundations in human services.
The University of Redlands started in 1907 with programs and degrees for working adults. Additionally, the private university serves approximately 5,000 students each year in its eight locations and online.
Highlight: The university has five schools and colleges with human services degree programs in arts, sciences, business, education, theology, and also applied wisdom.
Degree: MEd in Human Services
13. Minot State University
Minot State University offers an MS in Disability Human Services. This human services degree program requires candidates to complete 31 to 34 graduate semester units to graduate. The university’s online human service master’s program is flexible, affordable, and is also three decades old. Classes for Minot State University’s degree include an introduction to severe disabilities, management principles and practices, research design and methodology, law and regulation, and also human resource management. Additionally, students complete a practicum.
Minot State University opened in 1913 and is a member of the state’s university system. This public higher learning institution was once a normal school to train teachers in rural North Dakota. Additionally, MSU is also a space-grant school with a student enrollment that exceeds 3,300 students each year.
Highlight: The university has three colleges and schools that offer diplomas and degrees in health sciences, arts, sciences, and also business & education.
Degree: MS in Disability Human Services
14. University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
The University of Wisconsin offers an MS in Human Services Leadership that is 100% online. This online master’s in human service program offers rolling admissions, no entrance exam, and only 30 credits to graduate. Classes for this human services degree include transcultural leadership, global issues in local communities, and also foundations of human services management. Additionally, students complete a master’s thesis or final capstone course before graduating.
The University of Wisconsin started as a state teacher’s college in the 1870s. Additionally, this university holds the distinction of having the first kindergarten with free tuition. Furthermore, UW’s graduates strongly commit to teaching children in Wisconsin.
Highlight: The University of Wisconsin is well known for its renewable energy use.
Degree: MS in Human Services Leadership
15. Nova Southeastern University Florida
Nova Southeastern Online offers a Master of Human Services with an academic track in Child Protection & Juvenile Justice. Furthermore, this human services degree is one of Florida’s most affordable online MHS programs. Classes for this master’s degree include the theory of child protection and investigation, family dynamics, motivation and support, and also cultural factors in treatment. Additionally, students study substance abuse treatment in the community, juvenile justice system structure and processes, and also complete fieldwork.
Nova Southeastern University Florida started as a tech institute in the mid-1960s. Additionally, the university maintains various campuses across south Florida and serves more than 20,000 students each year.
Highlight: The university’s 300+ acre campus once served as a naval land field from the second world war.
Degree: Master of Human Services (MHS) with a Child Protection & Juvenile Justice (CPJJ) track
16. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
The Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota offers an MA in Health & Human Services Administration (HHSA), one of the best online masters in human service programs in the Twin Cities vicinity. Students enrolled in Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota’s graduate human service degree program must complete a minimum of 36-semester credits over an average period of 24 months. Coursework for Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota’s graduate degree includes health informatics, financial practices, aging, illness, and also the continuum of care.
The Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota (SMUM) is a Lasallian institution of higher education that opened in 1912. Additionally, the school operates various sites domestically and in Jamaica.
Highlight: Nearly 6,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students are online and on its campuses each year.
Degree: MA in Health and Human Services Administration
17. Regent University
Regent University offers an MA in Human Services with an academic track in Human Services Counseling that students can complete online. This program requires thirty-semester credits to graduate. Classes for this degree include foundations of human services, professional ethics in the human service fields, advanced counseling skills & techniques, and also group counseling.
Regent University was started in the 1970s by P. Robertson. Each year, the university’s urban campus serves more than 8,550 interdenominational evangelical students.
Highlight: The campus of Regent is one of the nation’s most beautiful.
Degree: MA in Human Services
18. Saint Leo University
Saint Leo University offers an MS in Human Services Administration that students attend online in eight-week terms. SLU’s program prepares students for careers in grant writing, nonprofits, human services field, government work, community services, or also long-term care. Additionally, classes for these degrees include legal and ethical issues in human services, funding sources for human service organizations, advocacy and policy analyses, and also grantsmanship.
Saint Leo is a coed institution of higher education that opened in the 1880s. Additionally, this Roman Catholic university serves nearly 12,000 students, with about 60% studying online.
Highlight: The school’s name is Pope Leo, Rome’s bishop for more than twenty years.
Degree: MS in Human Services Administration
19. Houston Baptist University
Houston Baptist University offers an MA in Human Services Counseling that offers two primary tracks. Students can choose either professional life coaching or the marriage and family track. Classes for this online master’s in human service program include theories and techniques in counseling, study to be community service managers, human growth and development, human services field, crisis response, and also trauma care. Additionally, students take Christian Integration seminars on gender issues and differences, assessment & counseling with couples & families, and also an introduction to human services counseling.
Houston BU started in 1960 as a private Baptist school. The school’s urban campus in Houston is in the once Chinatown area. Additionally, the school enrolls nearly 4,000 students each year.
Highlight: Houston Baptist University is a Southland Athletic Conference member and competes as the Huskies.
Degree: MA in Human Services Counseling
20. Warner Pacific University
Warner Pacific University offers an MA in Human Services that students can complete entirely online. This accelerated online master’s in human service program requires the completion of thirteen classes at the master’s level. Students enrolled in Warner’s graduate degree in human services attend in six-week terms. Additionally, the coursework covers theoretical and practical experiential knowledge.
Warner Pacific University began in Spokane by the Church of God in 1937. The school’s urban campus and online platform are home to nearly 1,400 students each year. Additionally, the university has accreditation from the NCOCU.
Highlight: Student-athletes attending WPU play as the Knights in the NAIA Division II.
Degree: MA in Human Services
21. Walden University
Walden University offers an MS in Human Services that offers degree candidates a choice of specialty. Students can choose a concentration in studies in aging, family studies & interventions, general program, criminal justice, disaster crisis, study to be community service managers, community & social services, mental health, human service nonprofits, or also military families and culture. This online master’s in human service program prepares grads for careers in emergency management, social service, and also health service management.
Two educators started Walden University as a for-profit school in 1970 in Naples, Florida. The university serves its students primarily online, with a student enrollment that nears 50,000. Additionally, the university has five colleges and schools with degree programs in education, management, technology, nursing, health sciences, and also social & behavioral sciences.
Highlight: WU has notable alumni from the fields of management, politics, national security, and also other high-level government workers.
Degree: MS in Human Services
22. Liberty University
Liberty University offers an MA in Human Services Counseling that is ranked among Virginia’s most innovative online masters in human service programs. Additionally, students can complete this graduate degree from Liberty University in about one year if studying full time. Specializations for this degree include criminal justice, crisis response, business, addictions, Christian Ministries, marriage and family, executive leadership, study to be community service managers, parenting & children development, family advocacy, life coaching, health and wellness, and also military resilience.
Liberty University is an evangelical institution of higher education that opened in the early 1970s as a Baptist college. The Virginia university is also one of the largest evangelical institutions of higher learning. Furthermore, it enrolls more than 100,000 graduate and undergraduate students each year.
Highlight: More than 79,000 students attend classes online and on the Lynchburg campus each year.
Degree: MA in Human Services Counseling
23. Concordia University Chicago
Concordia University Chicago offers an MA in Human Services that can be completed in as few as two years, all online. The Chicago university’s online program requires students to take and pass at least thirty-three credits at the graduate level. Additionally, classes for this master’s degree in human services include values, attitudes and ethics, intervention and direct services, and also planning and evaluation in human services.
Concordia Chicago is a member of the Concordia system with a Lutheran Church affiliation. The Chicago campus enrolls more than 6,150 graduate and undergraduate students each year. Furthermore, this school opened in 1864 to train parochial school teachers and takes its name from the Addison Teachers Seminary.
Highlight: The school has four colleges and schools with degree programs in business, education, arts, and also health & science.
Degree: MA in Human Services
24. Springfield College
Springfield College offers an MS in Human Services that students can complete in 1.5 to 2 years, depending on the student’s time commitment. This program is offered by a nationally-ranked institution of higher education. The master’s degree includes a concentration in mental health counseling. Additionally, up to six credits may be transferred if they meet Springfield College’s eligibility requirements.
Springfield College is a multi-campus institution of higher education that is comprised of four colleges/schools offering degrees in arts/sciences, health sciences, social work, and also physical education & sports leadership. Additionally, Springfield is home to more than 5,050 undergraduate and graduate students each year across its campuses in many states.
Highlight: The college began as an internal division of the city of Springfield’s YMCA, specializing in preparing young men for work in business and other YMCA organizations.
Degree: MS in Human Services
25. Lenoir-Rhyne University
Lenoir-Rhyne University offers an MA in Human Services that is among North Carolina’s best online masters in human service programs. This master’s degree in human services program requires students to finish a minimum of 33 semester units. Classes for this degree include human systems, theoretical foundations, history of human services, and also interpersonal communications for human service professionals. Students also study psychopathology, study to be community service managers, diagnosis, treatment, and also complete a practicum or applied research project.
Lenoir-Rhyne University started in the 1890s by the Evangelical Lutheran Church. The school’s distance-learning platform and Hickory campus are home to nearly 2,750 graduate and undergraduate students each year. In addition, the school’s athletes compete as Bears and perform in nearly two dozen intercollegiate sports.
Highlight: Many notable professional athletes call Lenoir-Rhyne University their alma mater.
Degree: MA in Human Services
How Do I Choose An Online Human Services Master’s Program?
One of the most important steps in earning an online human services master’s degree is choosing the right program. When choosing the right school or program for earning an online master’s degree, there are several considerations.
One of the first and most important considerations is verifying the accreditation. A master’s in human services online accredited program ensures that both the school and human services program are valid and approved. Graduates of these accredited programs also, in turn, offer employers the reassurance they are skilled, trained, and qualified for the job.
What Should I Look For An An Online Masters program?
Along with verifying that the program is accredited, it is important to evaluate human services program options, such as the aforementioned self-paced classes or online evening classes. Once students have narrowed the list down to the preferred accredited master’s degrees in human services programs, it is then a matter of choosing which human services master’s degree program best suits your schedule and life. It is also important to look into tuition costs for many human services master’s online human services programs, as they can vary greatly from program to program.
Yes, choosing a human services program can take some work, but choosing and graduating from the right program will be good for your future and your career. That also looks like more than simply monetary benefits.
Will a Master’s in Human Services Help My Career?
Will a master’s in human services help your career path? One of the greatest benefits of earning a master’s degree is how it can benefit your career in the human services profession. A master’s in human services career options include roles that are both managerial and administrative, in addition to specialized and supervisory positions.
What Can I do With a Master’s Degree in Human Services
Careers with a master’s in human services cover many fields and also countless job titles within human services agencies systems. Moreover, human services counseling jobs are a popular choice for graduates. A few of the masters of human services careers are listed below.
- Human services agency director
- Drug and alcohol human services program manager
- Marriage and family therapist
- College instructor in human services
- Student affairs administrator
- Community service managers
So, these positions are a few of the roles and career opportunities awaiting graduates of online human services master’s programs. Employment positions come with responsibility, status, and in many cases, excellent benefits packages. But, these are also jobs that make a difference, providing a sense of job satisfaction and career meaning. And these careers also offer considerable earning potential, which can’t be discounted either.
How Much Can I Make With a Master’s in Human Services?
Several factors can influence a master’s in human services salary. These include the position itself, the region or location of the job, and the type of employer. These considerations are part of determining salary. So, is a master’s in human services systems worth it?
According to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, a master’s degree in human services salary for a position such as a genetic counselor offers a median wage of $85,700 per year. However, based on data from the same source, a human services salary with a master’s degree credential will earn a median wage of $69,600 per year for a community service manager position.
Can You Make Good Money With a Human Services Degree?
Yes, but those aforementioned factors will impact each position. For example, is the job in an area with a high cost of living, or a metropolitan area such as Los Angeles or New York? Is the employer private, public, or government-funded, or perhaps a non-profit?
These are also a few factors that will influence earnings for those with a human service master’s degree. So, yes, the consensus says earning an online master’s in human services is worth it. However, how much that means in dollars and cents will depend on a few variables.
Related:
- 25 Best Online Human and Social Services Master’s Degrees
- Best Online Associate in Human and Social Services Degrees
- 25 Best Online Human Services Bachelor’s Degrees
