Most Affordable Online Human Services Degree Programs

What Makes a Program Affordable?

The cost of college is a major concern for many students. When researching human services degrees to find lower-cost options, keep these five affordability factors in mind:

• Total program cost – Including tuition and fees, plus costs for books, study materials, and attending any in-person components (campus seminars, internships, practicums, etc.).
• Study pace – Particularly programs with accelerated study options that can save you money with their compressed completion times.
• Flexible scheduling – Asynchronous delivery of online content, for example, provides students with greater ability to attend to their studies around their work schedules.
• Financial aid support – Scholarships, grants, and other financial aid resources to help reduce your education bill.
• Tuition discount, deferment, and installment plans.

To give you an idea of what affordability means in practice, here are profiles of three current online human services degree programs that rank high in affordability.

Comparing the Cost of Online and On-Campus Human Services Programs

In many cases, colleges and universities charge the same tuition for human services programs at the same degree level, whether the program is offered online or on campus. However, policies can vary by school, and there are some important differences to keep in mind when comparing program costs.

Here are a few key points to consider:

• Tuition parity is common: Many schools charge the same base tuition rate for online and campus-based human services programs at the same academic level.
• Some schools offer a flat online rate: Certain institutions charge a single per-credit tuition rate for all online students, often equivalent to the in-state resident rate, regardless of where the student lives.
• Out-of-state campus tuition may still be higher: Even when schools offer a flat online rate, they often continue to charge higher tuition to out-of-state students enrolled in their on-campus programs.
• Program fees can vary: Nearly all colleges assess additional fees—such as technology, course, or program fees—which can significantly affect the total cost. These fees sometimes differ between online and on-campus programs.
• Online learning may reduce other expenses: Studying online can also lead to indirect savings, particularly by eliminating the need to commute to campus or relocate for classes.

Because costs can vary widely, it’s important to review the full breakdown of tuition and fees for any program you’re considering—regardless of whether it’s delivered online or in person.

Cost-Cutting Strategies for Online Human Services Students

Many affordable options are available for earning a human services degree online. But for most students, an affordable education includes getting help to pay for their degrees, as well as finding ways to cut costs in their lives in general.

Below are just a few suggestions for what you can do to save money while pursuing your online human services degree.

Apply for Scholarships, Grants, and other Financial Aid Opportunities

At the very top of the cost-cutting strategy list (not surprisingly) are scholarships and grants. That’s because scholarships and grants provide essentially “free money” to help students pay for their educations since they’re not paid back.

Scholarships and grants for human services degree programs are available from a wide range of sources, including:

• Federal government and state governments
• Corporations and businesses
• Community and civic organizations
• Professional associations
• Private organizations and foundations
• Charitable foundations and nonprofit organizations
• Colleges and universities themselves

Other popular financial aid resources include:

• Student loans
• Tuition discounts and fee waivers
• VA benefits (military vets)
• Assistantships and fellowships (grad students)
• Work-study
• Tuition deferment and installment plans

With so many opportunities out there, you’ll need to put some time and effort into finding the right ones for you. The best place to start your search, though, is at the financial aid offices at each of the schools you’re considering.

Maintain Part-Time Employment

The study flexibility of online programs often allows students to work their studies around their job schedules, which is why many online students remain employed while earning their degrees. This is especially true when it comes to part-time employment.

If you’re current job is in the human services field, speak with your employer about cutting back your work hours in order to pursue your degree. You may find that they’re willing to do so to encourage your career advancement and hold onto you as a valued employee once you graduate.

Take Advantage of Employer Tuition Reimbursement

Employer tuition reimbursement is a benefit where an employer pays or reimburses an employee for all or part of their degree costs in return for the employee agreeing to remain working for the employer for a stated length of time upon completing their education.

Employer tuition reimbursement can be a real win-win, providing students with needed funding for their studies while helping employers hold on to their most valued employees.

If you’re currently employed in the human services field, it can be to your great advantage to find out if your employer has a tuition reimbursement program in place. And if not, ask if they might be willing to start one for you.

Utilize Free Certification Exam Prep Resources

Obtaining one or more human services professional certifications is a great way to demonstrate your dedication to your profession as well as enhance your resume. There are, however, costs involved with getting certifications, including registration, exam, and renewal fees.

Another often overlooked cost in pursuing professional certification is paying for exam prep programs. And these are costs that can really add up.

Fortunately, you can often lower these costs by taking advantage of free exam prep resources, such as:

• Official candidate handbooks and exam content outlines
• Online peer study groups and discussion forums
• Open-access practice questions and study guides
• Webinars and recorded workshops

You may be able to access free resources via official certification websites. But you’ll be surprised by how many you’ll find just by using browser’s search engine.

Ranking the Most Affordable Online Human Services Programs

We’ve explored the current crop of affordable online human services degree programs and identified what we believe to be the best available for our rankings list below. Using data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and schools themselves, we’ve made our selections considering program affordability along with such factors as accreditation, academics, student-to-faculty ratio, and support services.

Click the “About the Ranking” button to learn more about our selection methodology.