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Human services programs in California

15 human services programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

11 schools offer these human services programs, and California has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Social and human service assistants help clients in fields such as psychology, rehabilitation and social work. Most need at least a high school diploma and learn on the job, though some employers prefer an associate's or bachelor's degree in human services or a related field.1

In California, 4 of the 15 programs take students without a high school diploma, 7 ask for a diploma or equivalent and 4 ask for earlier courses first.

By kind, the 15 programs here are human services certificate (10 programs), human services or social work (associate degree, 4 programs) and case management and eligibility worker course (1 program).

See the 15 programs

How much do human services programs cost in California?

$1,081 to $2,352 is what most human services programs in California cost if you pay yourself

That is the middle half of the 15 programs with a price. All of them: $414 to $4,333

In the typical program

Finished the program
100%
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Length
32 to 64 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in California may also offer human services programs. How these figures are made

Are there free human services programs in California?

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 15 human services programs in California approved for WIOA funding

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15 programs

  • Human services certificateHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Human Services Pre-Social Work

    Fresno City College

    Fresno

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Fresno City College, FresnoHuman services certificate · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$1,422
    Program website, Human Services Pre-Social Work at Fresno City College
    More details about Human Services Pre-Social Work at Fresno City College
    Finished
    100%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    36 weeks, 20 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,132
    Students counted
    654
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $1,422
    Program website, Human Services Pre-Social Work at Fresno City College

  • Human services certificateHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Human Service Worker Certificate of Achievement

    Mendocino College

    Ukiah

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Mendocino College, UkiahHuman services certificate · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$1,265
    Program website, Human Service Worker Certificate of Achievement at Mendocino College
    More details about Human Service Worker Certificate of Achievement at Mendocino College
    Finished
    100%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    34 weeks, 14 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $534
    Students counted
    292
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $1,265
    Program website, Human Service Worker Certificate of Achievement at Mendocino College

  • Human services or social work (associate degree)HybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Human Services Paraprofessional Associate of Science Degree

    Mendocino College

    Ukiah

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Mendocino College, UkiahHuman services or social work (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$2,760
    Program website, Human Services Paraprofessional Associate of Science Degree at Mendocino College
    More details about Human Services Paraprofessional Associate of Science Degree at Mendocino College
    Finished
    100%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    68 weeks, 16 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $2,072
    Students counted
    291
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $2,760
    Program website, Human Services Paraprofessional Associate of Science Degree at Mendocino College

  • Human services or social work (associate degree)HybridNo diploma needed

    Human Services - Human Services AS Degree

    Cabrillo College

    Aptos

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Cabrillo College, AptosHuman services or social work (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$36,200
    Price if you pay yourself$3,175

    5 students trained with WIOA funding

    School website, Human Services - Human Services AS Degree at Cabrillo College
    More details about Human Services - Human Services AS Degree at Cabrillo College
    Finished
    100%
    Working at 6 months
    50%
    Earned in a quarter
    $9,045
    Length
    68 weeks, 17 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $2,655
    Students counted
    267
    Earned a year, estimated
    $36,200
    Price if you pay yourself
    $3,175
    students trained with WIOA funding
    5
    School website, Human Services - Human Services AS Degree at Cabrillo College

  • Case management and eligibility worker courseHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Case Management

    UCSD Division of Extended Studies

    La Jolla

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    UCSD Division of Extended Studies, La JollaCase management and eligibility worker course · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$32,800
    Price if you pay yourself$1,945

    10 students trained with WIOA funding

    Program website, Case Management at UCSD Division of Extended Studies
    More details about Case Management at UCSD Division of Extended Studies
    Finished
    100%
    Working at 6 months
    23%
    Earned in a quarter
    $8,197
    Length
    10 weeks, 18 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $545
    Students counted
    235
    Earned a year, estimated
    $32,800
    Price if you pay yourself
    $1,945
    students trained with WIOA funding
    10
    Program website, Case Management at UCSD Division of Extended Studies

  • Human services certificateOnlineHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Social Service Assistant (GES 173)

    Loyola Marymount University - LMU Extension

    Based in Los Angeles, CA

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Loyola Marymount University - LMU Extension, based in Los Angeles, CAHuman services certificate · Accredited schoolOnline · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$34,800
    Price if you pay yourself$1,145

    24 students trained with WIOA funding

    School website, Social Service Assistant (GES 173) at Loyola Marymount University - LMU Extension
    More details about Social Service Assistant (GES 173) at Loyola Marymount University - LMU Extension
    Finished
    65%
    Working at 6 months
    27%
    Earned in a quarter
    $8,697
    Length
    26 weeks, 3 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $200
    Students counted
    41
    Earned a year, estimated
    $34,800
    Price if you pay yourself
    $1,145
    students trained with WIOA funding
    24
    School website, Social Service Assistant (GES 173) at Loyola Marymount University - LMU Extension

  • Human services certificateHybridNo diploma needed

    Human Services - Human Services General Practice Certificate of Achievement

    Cabrillo College

    Aptos

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Cabrillo College, AptosHuman services certificate · Accredited schoolHybrid · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$994
    School website, Human Services - Human Services General Practice Certificate of Achievement at Cabrillo College
    More details about Human Services - Human Services General Practice Certificate of Achievement at Cabrillo College
    Finished
    80%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    34 weeks, 9 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,062
    Students counted
    14
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $994
    School website, Human Services - Human Services General Practice Certificate of Achievement at Cabrillo College

  • Human services certificateOnlineNo diploma needed

    Cert. of Accomplishment Health & Human Services: Peer Support Services

    Contra Costa College

    Based in San Pablo, CA

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Contra Costa College, based in San Pablo, CAHuman services certificate · Accredited schoolOnline · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$414
    School website, Cert. of Accomplishment Health & Human Services: Peer Support Services at Contra Costa College
    More details about Cert. of Accomplishment Health & Human Services: Peer Support Services at Contra Costa College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    16 weeks, 10 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $228
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $414
    School website, Cert. of Accomplishment Health & Human Services: Peer Support Services at Contra Costa College

  • Human services certificateHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Human Services, Certificate of Achievement

    Madera Community College

    Madera

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Madera Community College, MaderaHuman services certificate · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$828
    More details about Human Services, Certificate of Achievement at Madera Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    36 weeks, 27 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $997
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $828

  • Human services certificateHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Human Services

    Moreno Valley College CTE

    Moreno Valley

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Moreno Valley College CTE, Moreno ValleyHuman services certificate · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$1,058
    Program website, Human Services at Moreno Valley College CTE
    More details about Human Services at Moreno Valley College CTE
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    32 weeks, 12 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $960
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $1,058
    Program website, Human Services at Moreno Valley College CTE

  • Human services certificateOnlinePrerequisite courses

    Cert. of Achievement Health & Human Services: Human Services

    Contra Costa College

    Based in San Pablo, CA

    Accredited school

    Prerequisite courses

    Contra Costa College, based in San Pablo, CAHuman services certificate · Accredited schoolOnline · Prerequisite courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$1,104
    School website, Cert. of Achievement Health & Human Services: Human Services at Contra Costa College
    More details about Cert. of Achievement Health & Human Services: Human Services at Contra Costa College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    32 weeks, 13 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,000
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $1,104
    School website, Cert. of Achievement Health & Human Services: Human Services at Contra Costa College

  • Human services certificateIn personNo diploma needed

    Human Services Worker CC

    Kern Community College District

    Bakersfield

    No diploma needed

    Kern Community College District, BakersfieldHuman services certificateIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$1,242
    School website, Human Services Worker CC at Kern Community College District
    More details about Human Services Worker CC at Kern Community College District
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    60 weeks, 10 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,620
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $1,242
    School website, Human Services Worker CC at Kern Community College District

  • Human services certificateIn personPrerequisite courses

    Human Services

    San Bernardino Valley College

    San Bernardino

    Accredited school

    Prerequisite courses

    San Bernardino Valley College, San BernardinoHuman services certificate · Accredited schoolIn person · Prerequisite courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$1,932
    Program website, Human Services at San Bernardino Valley College
    More details about Human Services at San Bernardino Valley College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    128 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,892
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $1,932
    Program website, Human Services at San Bernardino Valley College

  • Human services or social work (associate degree)HybridPrerequisite courses

    AA Degree Health & Human Services: Human Services

    Contra Costa College

    San Pablo

    Accredited school

    Prerequisite courses

    Contra Costa College, San PabloHuman services or social work (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · Prerequisite courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$2,760
    School website, AA Degree Health & Human Services: Human Services at Contra Costa College
    More details about AA Degree Health & Human Services: Human Services at Contra Costa College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    45 weeks, 45 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $983
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $2,760
    School website, AA Degree Health & Human Services: Human Services at Contra Costa College

  • Human services or social work (associate degree)HybridEducation and courses

    Human Development/Human Services A.A.

    Cuesta College

    San Luis Obispo

    Accredited school

    Education and courses

    Cuesta College, San Luis ObispoHuman services or social work (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · Education and courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$4,333
    Program website, Human Development/Human Services A.A. at Cuesta College
    More details about Human Development/Human Services A.A. at Cuesta College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    72 weeks, 7 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $6,180
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $4,333
    Program website, Human Development/Human Services A.A. at Cuesta College

How to pay for human services programs in California

WIOA funding can pay for human services programs in California

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for human services programs

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.67

GI Bill for human services programs

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.8

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Quick facts: Human services programs in California

programs with a price cost under $1,000
3 of 15
lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare
1st of 17
human services programs here, against the typical state's 4
15 vs 4

State comparisons use the same figures as the human services programs by state table: the middle program of each state, and only states with three or more schools for prices. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).

Human services programs in Fresno, Ukiah, Santa Cruz and other California cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 2 more programs are in 2 other areas and 3 online.

Other training in California

How human services programs compare with the rest of education and social services: Child care and social services training in California

Where the California human services program numbers come from

Which California human services programs are on this list?

These are the human services programs California approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).9 The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what California offers.

How the prices and results of California human services programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about human services programs in California

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Social and Human Service Assistants
  2. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  3. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  4. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  5. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  6. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  8. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  9. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List