Are human and family development graduates in high demand?

Yes. The BLS projects 18% job growth for substance use, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors, eclipsing the projected growth rate for all occupations during that period.

How much money can I make with a master's in human and family development?

According to the BLS, community and social service occupations earned a median annual wage of $52,000 in May 2023, exceeding the median yearly wage for all occupations.

What are the highest-paying jobs with a master's in human and family development?

According to the BLS, the highest-paying job with a master's in human and family development is likely school or career counselor. As of May 2023, these professionals earned a median annual salary of $61,710. Keep in mind that counselor positions in public schools require a state-issued license.

Best Online Master’s in Human and Family Development Programs

A ranking of the best online master’s in human and family development programs. Programs ranked by affordability, flexibility, and academic quality.

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Updated October 2, 2024

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Do you like working with people? If so, a master’s in human and family development might be for you. This graduate degree can prepare you to advance within a growing field that helps millions of people every year.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects faster-than-average growth for community and social services careers between 2022-2032, with approximately 280,000 job openings in the field each year over that period.

Read on to learn more about common human and family development courses, careers, and admission requirements and find answers to frequently asked questions.

Featured Online Human and Family Development Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

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In this Article

Best Online Master’s in Human and Family Development Programs

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN4 yearCampus + Online

$53,160

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$53,160

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

Acceptance Rate

10%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$58,130

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$58,130

Retention Rate

96%

Students Enrolled

13,456

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$53,160

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$53,160

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$53,160

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$53,160

Acceptance Rate

Online Enrollment

10%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$58,130

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$58,130

Retention Rate

96%

Students Enrolled

13,456

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, TX4 yearCampus + Online

$6,956

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$15,136

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

71%

Acceptance Rate

63%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$8,934

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$21,174

Retention Rate

85%

Students Enrolled

40,773

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$6,956

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$15,136

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, TX4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$6,956

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$15,136

Acceptance Rate

71%

Online Enrollment

63%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$8,934

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$21,174

Retention Rate

85%

Students Enrolled

40,773

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS4 yearCampus + Online

$10,294

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$23,018

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

80%

Acceptance Rate

49%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,632

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,944

Retention Rate

87%

Students Enrolled

19,745

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,294

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$23,018

Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,294

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$23,018

Acceptance Rate

80%

Online Enrollment

49%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,632

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,944

Retention Rate

87%

Students Enrolled

19,745

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Concordia University-Wisconsin

Mequon, WI4 yearCampus + Online

$12,042

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$12,042

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

68%

Acceptance Rate

57%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$32,770

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$32,770

Retention Rate

79%

Students Enrolled

5,063

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$12,042

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,042

Concordia University-Wisconsin

Mequon, WI4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$12,042

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,042

Acceptance Rate

68%

Online Enrollment

57%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$32,770

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$32,770

Retention Rate

79%

Students Enrolled

5,063

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

What Can I Expect From an Online Master’s in Human and Family Development Program?

Empathetic, meticulous, mission-driven, and people-oriented students often succeed in graduate-level human and family development programs. After graduation, many excellent human services professionals share these same qualities. You can develop the hard skills and knowledge you need over the course of your program.

Many online master’s in human and family development programs require 30-42 credits and take 12-24 months to complete. Some programs take longer to complete, especially for part-time students. Possible concentration options include mental health and trauma, health, equity, and wellness, and human development, among many others.

Some programs require fieldwork or internship experience in the field. Many programs allow you to complete theoretical coursework asynchronously and without on-campus requirements. However, some programs may require on-campus residencies to create a sense of camaraderie and rapport among cohorts. These residencies are also excellent networking opportunities.

What Can I Do With an Online Master’s in Human and Family Development Degree?

Many of these positions are helping occupations involving long hours, often working with other people or clients. While these careers can prove challenging, many professionals find them personally rewarding.

A master’s degree in human and family development can lead to managerial or more advanced positions in these fields, often leading to higher salaries and growth potential.

Human and Family Development Careers and Salaries
Job Title	Median Annual Salary (May 2023)
Marriage and Family Therapist	$58,510
Social Worker	$58,380
School and Career Counselor	$61,710
Rehabilitation Counselor	$44,040
Substance Use, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor	$53,710

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Frequently Asked Questions About Master’s in Human and Family Development Programs

While the value of any degree is subjective, an online master’s in human and family development often leads to in-demand and rewarding careers. Graduates often make salaries that exceed the median annual wage for all occupations and can pursue various positions.

Furthermore, a master’s degree in human and family development qualifies graduates for leadership, advanced practice, and managerial roles.

Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed April, 29, 2024.