Human Services at University of South Florida

University of South Florida's human services program lags behind most alternatives in Florida, placing in the 40th percentile among state offerings with first-year earnings of $33,351—about $3,000 below the state median. That's a meaningful gap when several Florida schools, including Florida State College at Jacksonville and Rasmussen, consistently place graduates around $39,000-$40,000 annually. The debt load of $28,156 is actually slightly better than state and national averages, but the combination still creates a debt-to-earnings ratio that requires careful budgeting in those early career years.

The earnings trajectory does improve substantially, with graduates seeing 23% growth by year four to reach $41,105. This suggests the field rewards experience, though it also means new graduates face their toughest financial stretch right out of college. For context, this program ranks in just the 18th percentile nationally, which reflects human services' modest pay scale more broadly rather than USF specifically underperforming.

If your student is committed to human services work in Florida, this program will get them credentialed at a moderate debt level. However, they should know they're starting behind peers from competing state programs—both in terms of immediate job prospects and initial salary. The stronger play might be looking at the higher-performing Florida schools first, particularly if in-state tuition options exist at those institutions.