Human Services at Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw State's Human Services program lands squarely in the middle of Georgia options but lags significantly behind national standards. With graduates earning $30,437 in their first year—placing them in just the 5th percentile nationally—students here earn about $6,000 less than the typical human services graduate nationwide. Within Georgia, the program performs closer to the median, ranking at the 40th percentile, though nearby University of North Georgia and Gordon State College both deliver stronger outcomes with $3,000-4,000 higher starting salaries.

The earnings trajectory shows meaningful improvement, with income rising 25% to nearly $38,000 by year four. However, the $30,500 debt burden equals an entire year's starting salary, creating immediate financial pressure for graduates entering a helping profession known for modest compensation. The debt level itself sits near national norms, but when paired with below-average earnings, it creates a tougher payoff scenario than most human services programs.

For families committed to this field, the program offers accessibility at a reasonable state school price point, and the earnings growth suggests graduates do advance professionally. But if your student has flexibility in choosing where to study human services in Georgia, the data suggests exploring University of North Georgia first—it delivers comparable debt with $3,500 more in starting earnings.