Best Online Bachelor's Degree in Human Services (2025)

Human services is a broad career field that spans topics like:

• criminal justice
• healthcare
• social work

These programs are available on campus and online. Keep reading to discover some of the best online degrees in human services.

Featured Online Human Services Degree Programs

Several colleges and universities across the United States offer online human services degree programs. We've featured 10 of these programs below in alphabetical order.

1. Colorado State University Global

Colorado State University Global is a public university system in Colorado. Its online global campus offers a Bachelor of Science in human services.

This program provides a thorough understanding of how to support diverse populations through community and social welfare organizations. Courses cover topics like crisis intervention, case management, and community development.

Students learn practical knowledge in human development, intervention methods, case management, and human services administration that will help them in whatever human services career they choose.

2. Columbia College of Missouri

Columbia College of Missouri is a private non-profit college based in Columbia, MO. It offers a variety of online degrees, including a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in human services.

Students in this program will gain insights into specific topics like:

• counseling
• case management
• rehabilitation

Students also study strengths-based practices for working with individuals, families, groups, and communities.

The BA program is for students who want to take more humanities courses, specifically courses in a foreign language, while the BS is for students who want to take more human services-specific coursework.

3. East Tennessee State University

East Tennessee State University is a public research university in Johnson City, TN. It offers an online Bachelor of Science in human services.

This degree is designed to provide a human and behavioral science background for persons interested in entering professions such as counseling, case management, teaching, and program administration.

The program also offers a child life concentration, which educates students about the developmental impact of illness and injury and the potentially traumatic events that can impact a patient's ability to cope.

4. Elizabethtown College

Elizabethtown College is a private, non-profit college in Elizabethtown, PA. It offers a Bachelor of Science in human services online in a highly flexible format.

Students gain a comprehensive understanding of issues affecting individuals and society and develop the skills needed for effective service administration, counseling, and advocacy.

The program is available as a general human services degree or with a concentration in behavioral and addiction counseling. Additionally, the variety of electives allows students to tailor their education to their specific interests.

5. Indiana Wesleyan University

Indiana Wesleyan University is a private evangelical Christian university based in Marion, IN. It offers an online Bachelor of Science in human services with two concentrations: leadership and life coaching.

The leadership concentration focuses on the principles and practices of effective leadership and prepares students to empower others to achieve success in their careers, relationships, and more.

The life coaching concentration also prepares students to empower others but focuses more on advocating for positive social change and demonstrating respect for cultural differences.

6. Ohio University

Ohio University is a public research university in Athens, OH. It offers a Bachelor of Applied Human and Consumer Sciences in human services online.

Students in this program enhance their leadership and problem-solving skills for working with the elderly, youth, and adolescent populations. They also are trained to help in the following areas:

• job and family services
• substance abuse treatment and mental health centers
• corrections facilities

No face-to-face meetings are required, and the program also allows students to take advantage of credits they have previously earned to transfer into this bachelor's degree program.

7. Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University is a private, non-profit university in Manchester, NH. It offers a variety of online degrees, including a Bachelor of Arts in human services.

Three concentrations are available.

• The child and family services concentration explores how social issues affect the well-being of families and their communities.
• The gerontology concentration prepares students to serve the baby boomer generation and beyond.
• The substance abuse concentration serves as an important educational first step toward becoming a drug and alcohol counselor.

This degree program and all its concentrations are designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to help individuals, families, and groups in need.

8. University of the Cumberlands

The University of the Cumberlands is a private Christian university in Williamsburg, KY. It offers a Bachelor of Science in human services online.

Students get the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills to work in a field that focuses on bettering the lives of others through a curriculum focused on professional helping skills, behavioral therapy, and current social issues.

The overall goal of this convenient online program is to enhance self-awareness and increase an understanding of personal values while developing an appreciation for diversity and the needs of humanity.

9. University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh

The University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh is a public university in Oshkosh, WI. It's part of the University of Wisconsin System and offers an online Bachelor of Science in human services leadership.

This program prepares students to become well-rounded leaders of social change at all levels who advocate for individuals, families, and communities and address personal, social, and environmental issues.

This is an accelerated online program since courses are offered in seven-week sessions. Students will have additional flexibility if they are working full time.

10. Western Washington University

Western Washington University is a public university in Bellingham, WA. It offers one online bachelor's degree: a Bachelor of Arts in human services.

Students learn through a curriculum with a social justice orientation, which engages students in critical analysis and reflection as they examine social issues at the individual, group, organization, community, and global levels.

The program includes two required internships, which online students can complete through the university's partnerships with community colleges, like-minded universities, and community centers.

What Is a Human Services Degree?

The human services field is broad. Most programs cover topics like:

• social work and social services
• mental health
• substance abuse

Some programs also offer concentrations or elective courses in areas like:

• family studies
• human development
• disability advocacy
• nonprofit management
• trauma studies

What Can You Do with a Human Services Degree?

Graduates of human services degree programs may find jobs as:

• social workers
• community service managers
• community outreach coordinators
• caseworkers
• health education specialists

A bachelor's degree in human services can also prepare you to advance to a master's degree or doctoral degree in areas like:

• social work
• therapy
• public health

These fields have some careers that may require a graduate degree for licensure.

FAQs about Earning Your Human Services Degree Online

Below we answer some of the most commonly asked questions about earning an online human services degree.

Are Online Human Services Degrees Taken Seriously?

As online degrees become more common, more employers are taking online degrees seriously. As long as your school is accredited, your online human services degree will be worth the same as an in-person one.

What Is the Fastest Human Services Degree To Get Online?

The fastest human services degree to get online is an associate degree since these typically require 60 credit hours. Bachelor's degrees require around 120 credits, meaning you can complete an associate degree in just half the time.

Is There Financial Aid for Online Human Services Programs?

Many students can obtain different kinds of financial aid regardless of their major by filling out the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA). This allows you to be eligible for:

• federal grants
• scholarships
• student loans
• work-study positions

Online human services majors may be able to find specific financial aid options through scholarship finders like CareerOneStop.org.

How Much Does an Online Human Services Bachelor's Degree Cost?

The cost of your human services education depends on many factors, including what level of degree you're earning, whether your school is public or private, and your financial aid opportunities.

Currently, the average annual cost of tuition is $9,678 for in-state students at public schools and $38,768 per year at public schools. Sometimes, online courses cost less than in-person ones.

How Long Does It Take To Complete an Online Degree in Human Services?

Most online bachelor's programs in human services require at least 120 semester hours, which take about four years of full-time study to complete. However, some universities, including those listed above, offer accelerated programs to help students finish more quickly.

Start Your Human Services Degree Online

Many colleges and universities offer online human services degrees. For additional information, reach out about the program of your choice and request info on things like start dates and admissions requirements.