Best Online Associate in Human Services

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Find top-ranked online associate in human services degree programs for students wanting to pursue entry-level positions, including jobs as casework aides, family service assistants, addiction counselor assistants, and clinical social work aides.

Top 10 Online Human Services Associate Degrees

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  1. Thomas Edison State University
  2. Union University
  3. Central Maine Community College
  4. Purdue Global
  5. Community College of Baltimore County
  6. Columbia College
  7. Trevecca Nazarene University
  8. Shorter University
  9. Sheridan College
  10. Niagara County Community College
  1. New England College
  2. Purdue Global
  3. Southwestern Assemblies of God University
  4. Union University
  5. Empire State University
  6. Trevecca Nazarene University
  7. Thomas Edison State University
  8. University of the Cumberlands
  9. Cornerstone University
  10. Columbia College
  1. New England College 100%
  2. Shorter University 97%
  3. Southwestern Assemblies of God University 86%
  4. University of the Cumberlands 83%
  5. Cornerstone University 82%
  6. Trevecca Nazarene University 71%
  7. Union University 53%
  8. Brescia University 50%
  1. Coastline Community College 30 to 1
  2. Purdue Global 26 to 1
  3. Elizabethtown Community and Technical College 23 to 1
  4. Trevecca Nazarene University 22 to 1
  5. Columbia College 20 to 1
  6. Central Maine Community College 18 to 1
  7. University of the Cumberlands 18 to 1
  8. Wake Technical Community College 18 to 1
  9. Bluegrass Community and Technical College 18 to 1
  10. Sheridan College 17 to 1
  1. New England College $41,518
  2. Union University $36,880
  3. Trevecca Nazarene University $28,200
  4. Brescia University $27,950
  5. Cornerstone University $27,880
  6. Columbia College $24,326
  7. Shorter University $22,810
  8. Southwestern Assemblies of God University $17,782
  9. Purdue Global $10,080
  10. University of the Cumberlands $9,875
  1. Shorter University $16,800
  2. Brescia University $15,500
  3. Cornerstone University $14,160
  4. New England College $13,678
  5. Union University $12,360
  6. Thomas Edison State University $12,150
  7. Trevecca Nazarene University $11,424
  8. Empire State University $11,310
  9. Purdue Global $9,472
  10. Columbia College $8,826
  1. Hagerstown Community College
  2. Brescia University
  3. New England College
  4. Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
  5. Cornerstone University
  6. Herkimer County Community College
  7. University of the Cumberlands
  8. Baltimore City Community College
  9. Wake Technical Community College
  10. Empire State University
  1. Sheridan College
  2. Madisonville Community College
  3. Central Maine Community College
  4. Hagerstown Community College
  5. Niagara County Community College
  6. Herkimer County Community College
  7. Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
  8. Bluegrass Community and Technical College
  9. Wake Technical Community College
  10. Community College of Baltimore County
  1. Brescia University 50%
  2. Union University 53%
  3. Trevecca Nazarene University 71%
  4. Cornerstone University 82%
  5. University of the Cumberlands 83%
  6. Southwestern Assemblies of God University 86%
  7. Shorter University 97%
  8. New England College 100%
  1. New England College 7 to 1
  2. Union University 8 to 1
  3. Brescia University 9 to 1
  4. Baltimore City Community College 12 to 1
  5. Community College of Baltimore County 14 to 1
  6. Cornerstone University 15 to 1
  7. Shorter University 15 to 1
  8. Thomas Edison State University 15 to 1
  9. Niagara County Community College 15 to 1
  10. Madisonville Community College 16 to 1
  1. Coastline Community College $1,104
  2. Wake Technical Community College $2,432
  3. Baltimore City Community College $2,640
  4. Central Maine Community College $2,880
  5. Sheridan College $3,150
  6. Madisonville Community College $4,368
  7. Elizabethtown Community and Technical College $4,368
  8. Bluegrass Community and Technical College $4,368
  9. Niagara County Community College $5,040
  10. Onondaga Community College $5,190
  1. University of the Cumberlands $4,282
  2. Southwestern Assemblies of God University $8,280
  3. Columbia College $8,826
  4. Purdue Global $9,472
  5. Empire State University $11,310
  6. Trevecca Nazarene University $11,424
  7. Thomas Edison State University $12,150
  8. Union University $12,360
  9. New England College $13,678
  10. Cornerstone University $14,160

Featured Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About Human Services Degrees

Online degree programs can be a more flexible and convenient way to get a degree. Many online degree programs allow you to start the program anytime and complete your studies at your own pace.

Community colleges can also be cheaper than attending college at a traditional four-year school because you avoid on-campus housing fees and commuting costs.

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Earning an online associates degree in human services is the first step toward a gratifying career spent helping others.

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Students in an online associate’s degree in human services program will take introductory classes in sociology and psychology as well as more focused courses like Understanding Addiction, Methods of Social Casework, Issues in Child Maltreatment, and Human Sexuality.

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Most online associate’s degree in human services programs require 60 to 64 credits and can be completed on campus or online.

If you have your high school diploma and need help paying for college, check out our handy Guide to Financial Aid in Higher Education.

In fact, we have a number of financial aid resources available for you:

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Though further education can help secure upper-level positions in the field, graduates can secure entry level positions in human services jobs, such as casework aides, family service assistants, addiction counselor assistants, and clinical social work aides.

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Learn more about how to major in social work.

Best Online Associate Degrees in Human Services

  1. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Student body

    13K

    Career Outlook for Human Services degree at Thomas Edison State University

    Cost of Degree: $7,372
    Starting Salary: $43,138
    Salary after 4 years: $52,996

    Online Degrees

    AA in Human Services
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
  2. #2

    Union University

    Jackson , TN
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $37K

    Acceptance

    53%

    Graduation

    67%

    Student body

    3K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1235/26

    Career Outlook for Human Services degree at Union University

    Cost of Degree: $19,363
    Expenses: $19,460
    Starting Salary: $29,553
    Salary after 4 years: $38,357
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    AS in Professional Studies

    Concentrations

    • Christian Leadership
    • Organizational Leadership
    • Human Services: Accelerated BSN
    • Human Services- Social Work
    • Required Credits: 28-32
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
  3. Tuition + fees

    $4K

    Graduation

    23%

    Student body

    4K

    Career Outlook for Human Services degree at Central Maine Community College

    Cost of Degree: $3,760
    Expenses: $13,336
    Starting Salary: $26,801
    Salary after 4 years: $32,926
    Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    AAS in Human Service
    • Required Credits: 63-64
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
  4. #4

    Purdue Global

    West Lafayette , IN
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Graduation

    20%

    Student body

    66K

    Online Degrees

    AS in Human Services
    • Required Credits: 90
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AAS in Human Services
    • Required Credits: 90
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  5. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $28K

    Acceptance

    71%

    Graduation

    61%

    Student body

    4K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1130/21

    Career Outlook for Human Services degree at Trevecca Nazarene University

    Cost of Degree: $28,500
    Expenses: $12,410
    Starting Salary: $29,196
    Salary after 4 years: $37,893
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    AA in Community and Human Services
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  6. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $23K

    Acceptance

    97%

    Graduation

    32%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1125/21

    Career Outlook for Human Services degree at Shorter University

    Cost of Degree: $23,258
    Expenses: $12,760
    Starting Salary: $29,851
    Salary after 4 years: $38,744
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    AS in Social Science

    Concentrations

    • Human Services
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 24 months
    • Format: Online
  7. #9

    Sheridan College

    Sheridan , WY

    Tuition + fees

    $5K

    Graduation

    34%

    Student body

    5K

    Career Outlook for Human Services degree at Sheridan College

    Cost of Degree: $4,830
    Expenses: $11,324
    Starting Salary: $29,813
    Salary after 4 years: $36,626
    Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    AA in Human Services
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
  8. Tuition + fees

    $6K

    Graduation

    32%

    Student body

    5K

    Career Outlook for Human Services degree at Niagara County Community College

    Cost of Degree: $6,165
    Starting Salary: $27,554
    Salary after 4 years: $33,851

    Online Degrees

    AA in Human Services
    • Required Credits: 64
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
  9. #13

    Madisonville Community College

    Madisonville , KY

    Tuition + fees

    $5K

    Graduation

    57%

    Student body

    5K

    Career Outlook for Human Services degree at Madisonville Community College

    Cost of Degree: $4,560
    Starting Salary: $24,166
    Salary after 4 years: $29,689

    Online Degrees

    AAS in Human Services
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  10. Tuition + fees

    $6K

    Graduation

    25%

    Student body

    10K

    Career Outlook for Human Services degree at Onondaga Community College

    Cost of Degree: $5,890
    Expenses: $12,212
    Starting Salary: $27,328
    Salary after 4 years: $33,573
    Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    AS in Human Services
    • Required Credits: 60-62
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
  11. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $3K

    Graduation

    31%

    Student body

    30K

    Career Outlook for Human Services degree at Wake Technical Community College

    Cost of Degree: $2,768
    Starting Salary: $26,350
    Salary after 4 years: $32,371

    Online Degrees

    AAS in Human Services Technology

    Concentrations

    • Substance Abuse
    • Required Credits: 69
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  12. Tuition + fees

    $3K

    Graduation

    10%

    Student body

    5K

    Career Outlook for Human Services degree at Baltimore City Community College

    Cost of Degree: $3,314
    Starting Salary: $24,468
    Salary after 4 years: $30,059

    Online Degrees

    AAS in Allied Human Services
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
  13. #19

    University of the Cumberlands

    Williamsburg , KY
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Acceptance

    83%

    Graduation

    44%

    Student body

    25K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1060/19

    Career Outlook for Human Services degree at University of the Cumberlands

    Cost of Degree: $9,875
    Starting Salary: $22,761
    Salary after 4 years: $29,541

    Online Degrees

    AAS in Human Services
    • Required Credits: 61
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  14. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $6K

    Graduation

    30%

    Student body

    3K

    Career Outlook for Human Services degree at Herkimer County Community College

    Cost of Degree: $5,776
    Expenses: $16,464
    Starting Salary: $25,973
    Salary after 4 years: $31,909
    Cost Recoup Time: 8 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    AAS in Human Services
    • Required Credits: 64
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
  15. #21

    Cornerstone University

    Grand Rapids , MI
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $28K

    Acceptance

    82%

    Graduation

    62%

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for Human Services degree at Cornerstone University

    Cost of Degree: $27,880
    Expenses: $14,780
    Starting Salary: $24,310
    Salary after 4 years: $31,552
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    AS in Human Services
    • Required Credits: 62
    • Completion time: 28 months
    • Format: Online
  16. #23

    New England College

    Henniker , NH
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $42K

    Acceptance

    100%

    Graduation

    31%

    Student body

    5K

    Career Outlook for Human Services degree at New England College

    Cost of Degree: $27,054
    Expenses: $19,802
    Starting Salary: $26,634
    Salary after 4 years: $34,568
    Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    AS in Human Services
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
  17. #24

    Brescia University

    Owensboro , KY

    Tuition + fees

    $28K

    Acceptance

    50%

    Graduation

    43%

    Student body

    <1K

    Career Outlook for Human Services degree at Brescia University

    Cost of Degree: $27,950
    Expenses: $15,640
    Starting Salary: $28,600
    Salary after 4 years: $37,120
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Degrees

    AA in Human Services
    • Required Credits: 63
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
  18. Tuition + fees

    $6K

    Graduation

    35%

    Student body

    5K

    Career Outlook for Human Services degree at Hagerstown Community College

    Cost of Degree: $6,390
    Starting Salary: $27,855
    Salary after 4 years: $34,221

    Online Degrees

    AS in Arts And Sciences

    Concentrations

    • Human Services
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online

Career Outlook for Students with Human Services Degree

Go to Degree Finder tool

Human Services

Degree Level: Associate's

  • Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
  • Avg. Starting Salary*: $27,679
  • Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $34,005
  • * denotes ‘annually’

Career Salaries

CareerJob GrowthAvg. Salary
Social and Community Service Managers9.08%$69,922
Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other6.50%$46,416
Social and Human Service Assistants8.55%$37,060

Average Career Salaries

Bottom 10%MedianTop 10%
$34,960$51,136$78,309

Promising Job Markets

StateCost of LivingAvg. Salary
#2 Virginia5% higher than average$62,077
#3 Michigan15% higher than average$52,563
#4 Pennsylvania5% higher than average$58,440
#5 Tennessee14% higher than average$50,773
#6 South Dakota7% higher than average$54,580

Top Industries

IndustryAvg. Salary
Social and Community Service Managers$69,922
Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$46,416
Social and Human Service Assistants$37,060
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Online Human Services Programs Looking for You

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Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require a time of adjustment. Although you’ll typically learn the same material and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, going online will require greater independence and responsibility than going in person. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, for harnessing the online educational technology that you’ll need to use, and for completing the course requirements, such as listening to lectures, learning lessons, reading texts, and handing in assignments. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take the initiative in building relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

No. The only part of online education that’s easier than campus-based education is ease of access: all you need is a computer and an internet connection for online education. But even this seeming advantage of online education can be misleading: what’s easier, studying online with your computer and internet connection from your home where you need to cook, clean, pay rent, and maintain a job? Or studying on campus in a dorm where all your living needs are handled by the school, and college staff are there to help you every step of the way?

If you take the commute to campus out of the equation, campus-based education is easier. All the support structures available on campus for students, especially with real people to help you in person, are not there online. The demands on you as an online student will largely be the same as for your campus-based counterpart, but without the same helps.

In general, your online courses will present the same material and test you in the same way as traditional in-person courses. In many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning with remote educational technology for the first time, online college may be considerably more challenging than campus-based college. For a few insights on how to manage this new online experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable non-profit institutions on the one end and less-than-reputable for-profit institutions on the other end. Accreditation gives you the power to identify the more reputable actors in online education. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency indicating that a college or university is meeting standards of quality and credibility. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university that is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. For students seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that they opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree. For more on this important topic, check out our What is Accreditation and Why Does It Matter? College & University Accreditation Guide.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited (see the previous point), you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer of credits. In many cases, you will encounter some bureaucratic haggling in which some of your credits will be transferred and others may be refused. However, provided that you have attended an online school with recognized regional accreditation, you should be in good shape in transferring your credits earned online.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript, or resumé differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

Some employers may express the concern that because you did your degree online, you may need to transition from an online education experience to in-person workplace experience. But in an age of Covid, that concern seems much diminished. The fact is that much employment these days is remote. And collaboration increasingly happens online over Zoom. Many employers will therefore view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will be less than ideal for you (though depending on your circumstances, it may also be the only viable option).

While there is much in traditional campus-based education that can be substituted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing that can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual in-person classroom setting. As you transition to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face in getting the most out of your online classes is overcoming this difference between “real reality” and “virtual reality.” Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

The advantages of online classes are many. Above all, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete at your own pace and on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

Resources for Online College-Bound Students

Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.

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