Volunteering for community service is perhaps one of the most rewarding activities out there. The value of helping the community with the problems and helping them grow only contributes to building a better society for now and for the future. There is a growing requirement for community/social workers across various communities in the country and beyond.
If you are someone that has a strong desire to give back to the community, then acquiring a degree in community service will help you reach your goals more effectively in the long run.
USDegrees has listed some of the top colleges and universities to pursue your degree in Community Service.
Also have a look at the Cheapest Online Degrees in Social Work.
How is Community Service important?
There is no doubt that helping to support the community to grow is quite a rewarding task and career option. Contributing towards the community can also help build special bonds with the population being assisted, increase social awareness and create a sense of responsibility with others too.
Difference between Community Services versus Social Work
| Social Work | Community Service |
| Social Work implies to a broader term of social services that works towards meeting the needs of clients in different social settings with their acquired skills and knowledge. This field of service takes into account various aspects such as human behavior, societal influence and the societal structure to work and improve the living conditions of groups and individuals. | Community Service comes under Social Work. This field of career focuses on the community they are assisting by understanding the structure and the problems it may have. Community Service workers may also work in smaller social settings as compared to social workers. |
Can Community Service be done online?
Students can get their degrees in Community Service via online with the advantage of flexibility of schedule. Typically, an associate’s degree will help individuals to start out in basic community service careers. In order to advance further in their career, a bachelor’s and master’s degree will help them.
Have a look at the types of online degrees they can acquire in Community Service:
| Degree | Credits (may vary) | Typical Program Length | General Admission Requirements (vary by college) |
| Associate’s Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years | High School Transcripts |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years | High School GPA of 3.25 or higher or ACT Composite score of 21 or higher |
| Master’s Degree | 30-60 credits | 1-2 years | A Bachelor’s Degree in a related field. |
5 Online Associate’s Degree in Community Services
1. Great Basin College
Program: Human Services – A.A.S.
Tuition: $120.25/credit hour (resident); $176.75/credit hour (non-resident)
Accreditation: The program is accredited by the Council for Standards in Human Service Education (CSHSE). The college is regionally accredited by the NWCCU.
Financial Aid: Available, with 60% of students receiving financial aid.
This 2-year associates program allows students to prepare for both entry-level professions in community services and further academic pursuits in the bachelor’s and master’s level degrees.
2. Allegany College of Maryland
Program: Human Services – A.A.S.
Tuition: $129/credit hour (in-county); $262/credit hour (out-of-county); $340/credit hour (out-of-state)
Accreditation: The program is accredited by the CSHSE. The college is regionally accredited by the MSCHE.
Ranking: Ranked #8 in Best Community Colleges in Maryland.
Financial Aid: Available, with 99% of students receiving financial aid.
This program major prepares individuals to be ready for a career in community service which responds to the human needs and problems. Professionally, the program will help students develop skills to work with families, children, adults and also prepare students for future academic pursuits.
3. Central Ohio Technical College
Program: Human Services – A.A.S.
Tuition: $209/credit hour (resident); $324/credit hour (non-resident)
Accreditation: This program is accredited by the CSHSE. The college is regionally accredited by the HLC.
Financial Aid: Available, with 94% of students receiving financial aid.
The associate’s degree program helps students to acquire skills and prepare for a career across various fields in community service. The program offers various courses that include psychology, social science, etc., that are crucial in developing community service skills.
4. University of Alaska Anchorage
Programs: A.A.S. in Human Services
Tuition: $234/credit hour
Accreditation: This program is accredited by the CSHSE. The university is regionally accredited by the NWCCU.
Financial Aid: Available, with 86% of students receiving financial aid.
The Human Services program allows students to learn about the structure of a community and its problems. It then prepares individuals to be ready for entry level jobs across institutions and agencies that offer various kinds of community services to the people in need
5. University of Maine at Augusta
Program: Mental Health & Human Services – A.S.
Tuition: $245/credit hour (resident); $319/credit hour (out-of-state)
Accreditation: The program is accredited by the CSHSE. The university is regionally accredited by the NECHE.
Financial Aid: Available, with 99% of students receiving financial aid.
Acquiring an associate’s degree in this program will allow students to develop the skills to be able to work in entry-level positions across institutions and agencies that provide social relief, community services and mental health services.
10 Online Bachelor’s Degree in Community Service
1. University of Maine at Augusta
Program: Mental Health & Human Services – B.S.
Tuition: $245/credit hour (resident); $319/credit hour (out-of-state)
Accreditation: The program is accredited by the CSHSE. The university is regionally accredited by the NECHE.
Financial Aid: Available, with 99% of students receiving financial aid.
A degree in human services will place graduates in one of the fastest growing career fields where there is an ever-growing need for human services across communities, families, groups and amongst individuals.
2. University of Alaska Anchorage
Program: Bachelor of Human Services
Tuition: $282/credit hour
Accreditation: This program is accredited by the CSHSE. The university is regionally accredited by the NWCCU.
Financial Aid: Available, with 86% of students receiving financial aid.
The Human Services bachelor’s degree will prepare students to develop skill sets to allow them to work in various community settings as youth workers, social service specialists, case managers and more.
3. Ohio University
Program: Bachelor of Applied Human and Consumer Sciences in Human Services
Tuition: $307/credit hour (resident); $312/credit hour (out-of-state)
Accreditation: The program is accredited by the AAFCS. The university is regionally accredited by the HLC.
Ranking: Ranked #3 in Top Public Universities in Ohio.
Financial Aid: Available, with 99% of students receiving financial aid.
The degree will help individuals to develop problem solving and leadership skills that are required to serve across various community settings and advance in their social service careers.
4. Western New Mexico University
Program: Bachelor of Social Work
Tuition: $319.06/credit hour (resident); $403.36/credit hour (non-resident)
Accreditation: The program is accredited by the CSWE. The university is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
Financial Aid: Available, with 96% of students receiving financial aid.
Graduates from this program acquire values, skills and knowledge to practice social work with different groups and ages of individuals in various communities. With a bachelor’s degree in social work, individuals will get the opportunity to work across various settings such as hospitals, government agencies and clinics to name a few.
5. Old Dominion State University – Global
Program: Bachelor of Science – Human Services
Tuition: $374/credit hour (resident); $407/credit hour (non-resident)
Accreditation: The program is accredited by the CSHSE. The university is regionally accredited by the SACSCOC.
Ranking: The university is ranked #21 in Colleges with the Best Professors in Virginia.
Financial Aid: Available, with 91% of students receiving financial aid.
The online bachelor’s program in Human Services will help graduates prepare for positions in social services. They will acquire certain skills that will benefit them as they work for the betterment of certain communities across the state and the country.
6. East Tennessee State University
Program: Bachelor of Science – Human Services
Tuition: $429/credit hour (resident); $493/credit hour (non-resident)
Accreditation: This program is accredited by the CSHSE. The university is regionally accredited by the SACSCOC.
Ranking: The university is ranked #6 in Colleges with the Best Professors in Tennessee.
Financial Aid: Available, with 98% of students receiving financial aid.
Human Services focuses on making the lives of people in various communities better by offering aid in solving certain issues faced by individuals, groups and families. Acquiring a degree in the program will help graduates to better understand the dynamics of society and help communities with their knowledge and skills.
7. Bethel University – Minnesota
Program: Social Work – B.A.
Tuition: $430/credit hour
Accreditation: This program has been accredited by the CSWE. The university is regionally accredited by the SACSCOC.
Ranking: Ranked #19 in Colleges with the Best Professors in Minnesota.
Financial Aid: Available, with 99% of students receiving financial aid.
This program covers a wide range of coursework where students get to learn about the societal structure, the history of social welfare, human behavior and more. The dynamic coursework will help students to prepare and be ready to work in the across various social service fields.
8. University of South Carolina – Beaufort
Program: Bachelor of Science in Human Services
Tuition: $431/credit hour (resident); $891/credit hour (non-resident)
Accreditation: This program is accredited by the CSHSE. The university is regionally accredited by the SACSCOC.
Ranking: Ranked #11 in Colleges with Best Professors in South Carolina.
Financial Aid: Available, with 93% of students receiving financial aid.
The online program in Human Services at USCB prepares graduates for an advancement in their social services career by helping them develop practical and analytical skills. Graduates will qualify for job opportunities such as counselors, community outreach workers, and social service specialists to name a few.
9. University of Arizona
Program: Bachelor of Applied Science – Human Services
Tuition: $500/credit hour
Accreditation: The program is accredited by the CSHSE. The university is regionally accredited by the HLC.
Ranking: The university is ranked #65 in Top Public Universities in America.
Financial Aid: Available, with 95% of students receiving financial aid.
This degree will allow graduates to develop skills in advocacy and cultural competency while nurturing a deeper sense of self-awareness. These skill sets will further prepare individuals to effectively examine the social structure and the human behavior that will allow them to better serve their roles in the community.
10. Angelo State University
Program: Bachelor of Social Work
Tuition: $9,310 per year (resident); $21,550 (non-resident)
Accreditation: This program is accredited by the CSWE. The university is regionally accredited by the SACSCOC.
Ranking: Ranked #16 in Top Public Universities in Texas.
Financial Aid: Available, with 97% of students receiving financial aid.
The Human Servicesdegree curriculum consists of challenging coursework that allow students to advance in their skills and knowledge base. The program also gives focus on areas like psychology, behavior, crisis intervention and ethics.
10 Online Master’s Degree in Community Services
| School | Program | Accreditation | Tuition | Financial Aid |
| Arkansas State University | Master of Social Work | This program is accredited by the CSWE. The university is regionally accredited by the HLC. | $291/credit hour (US resident); $320/credit hour (International student) | Available, with 100% of students receiving financial aid. |
| Albany State University | Master of Social Work | This program is accredited by the CSWE. The university is regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. | $300/credit hour | Available, with 93% of students receiving financial aid. |
| University of North Georgia | Human Services Delivery & Administration – M.S. | The program has been accredited by the CSHSE. The university is regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. | $303/credit hour | Available, with 94% of students receiving financial aid. |
| University of Illinois Springfield | Human Services – M.A. | The Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association accredits this program. The university is regionally accredited by the HLC. | $365.75/credit hour | Available, with 98% of students receiving financial aid. |
| Purdue University | Human Services – M.S. | The program is accredited by the CSHSE. The University is regionally accredited by the HLC. | $420/credit hour | Available, with 93% of students receiving financial aid. |
| Austin Peay State University | Master of Social Work | This program is accredited by the CSWE. The university is regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. | $457/credit hour (resident); $734/credit hour (resident) | Available, with 99% of students receiving financial aid. |
| University of South Dakota | Master of Social Work | The program is accredited by the CSWE. The University is regionally accredited by the HLC. | $470.45/credit hour | Available, with 95% of students receiving financial aid. |
| Capella University | M.S. in Human Services – Social and Community Services | This program is accredited by the CSHSE. The University is regionally accredited by the HLC. | $555/credit hour | Available, with 100% of students receiving financial aid. |
| Carlow University | MSW – Direct Practice Specialization | This program is accredited by the CSWE. The university is regionally accredited by the MSCHE. | $650/credit hour | Available, with 100% of students receiving financial aid. |
| Chamberlain University | Master of Social Work | This program is accredited by the CSWE. The university is regionally accredited by the HLC. | $695/credit hour | Available, with 94% of students receiving financial aid. |
Job Outlook for individuals with a degree in Community Service
Community Service-related occupations according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics is projected to grow 12% in from 2021 till 2031. This indicates a high growth in community service occupations that include counselors, social service specialists, social and community service managers, and social workers to name a few.
Have a look at the representation below to understand the difference of growth of community service occupations with other occupations:
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
Also here are some of the top career options in Community Service with the median annual salary:
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
| Substance Abuse Counsellor | $101,048 |
| School Counsellor | $89,338 |
| Family Service Counsellor | $81,531 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $74,000 |
| Disability Support Worker | $64,272 |
| Youth Worker | $69,939 |
Source: Indeed & Pay Scale
Is a degree in Community Service worth it?
Every day we come across different kinds of people from different walks of life having various experiences. Some people are comfortable as they are with their lives – financially, mentally and physically. However, there are other people who are less fortunate to have all of these at once. This is where community service plays a major role in society where individuals work towards improving the lives of others that need a helping hand.
Now, service to the community may not always be about recognition but it will definitely fulfill a sense of achievement within you. You will learn to connect with new people, create new bonds and also develop social awareness as you work towards improving other people’s lives.
If you believe you can do more for the community by helping them grow and solve various issues one step at a time, getting a degree in Community Service is definitely worth it.
