Human services programs in Pennsylvania

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

4 schools offer these human services programs, and Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania, 1 of the 7 programs takes students without a high school diploma and 6 ask for a diploma or equivalent.

By kind, the 7 programs here are human services or social work (associate degree, 4 programs) and human services certificate (3 programs).

See the 7 programs

How much do human services programs cost in Pennsylvania?

Two-year degrees (4 programs): $12,810 to $39,824all 4 with a price
Other human services programs (3 programs): $400 to $3,990all 3 with a price

What you pay yourself for the whole program, as the schools report it.

In the typical program

Finished the program: Not enough data; 2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later: Not reported; None of the 7 programs report it
Earned a year, estimated: Not reported; None of the 7 programs report it
Length: 17 to 58 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 Pennsylvania may also offer human services programs. How these figures are made

Are there free human services programs in Pennsylvania?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.²³⁴For a degree, the job center first looks at grants such as a federal Pell Grant; WIOA pays toward what they don't cover.⁴In program year 2024 it paid toward the training of at least 3 people at 1 of the 7 programs here.
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁵ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.⁴
Or pay yourself. Two-year degrees here cost $12,810 to $39,824.Other human services programs here cost $400 to $3,990.

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

All 7 human services programs in Pennsylvania approved for WIOA funding

7 programs

Human services or social work (associate degree)OnlineHigh school diploma or equivalent
Human Services and Restorative Justice - HJ
Pennsylvania College Of Technology
Based in Williamsport, PA
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Pennsylvania College Of Technology, based in Williamsport, PAHuman services or social work (associate degree) · Accredited schoolOnline · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$39,824
3 students trained with WIOA funding
Program website, Human Services and Restorative Justice - HJ at Pennsylvania College Of Technology
More details about Human Services and Restorative Justice - HJ at Pennsylvania College Of Technology
Finished
58%
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
60 weeks, 16 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$4,335
Students counted
50
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$39,824
students trained with WIOA funding
3
Program website, Human Services and Restorative Justice - HJ at Pennsylvania College Of Technology
Human services certificateHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent
Foundations of Strengths-based Practice Virtual Course
Temple Univ Hbg Center
Harrisburg
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Temple Univ Hbg Center, HarrisburgHuman services certificate · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$400
Program website, Foundations of Strengths-based Practice Virtual Course at Temple Univ Hbg Center
More details about Foundations of Strengths-based Practice Virtual Course at Temple Univ Hbg Center
Finished
100%
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
5 weeks, 3 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
13
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$400
Program website, Foundations of Strengths-based Practice Virtual Course at Temple Univ Hbg Center
Human services certificateHybridNo diploma needed
Certificate In Working with Veterans and Families
Temple Univ Hbg Center
Harrisburg
Accredited school
No diploma needed
Temple Univ Hbg Center, HarrisburgHuman services certificate · Accredited schoolHybrid · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$475
School website, Certificate In Working with Veterans and Families at Temple Univ Hbg Center
More details about Certificate In Working with Veterans and Families at Temple Univ Hbg Center
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
10 weeks, 20 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$475
School website, Certificate In Working with Veterans and Families at Temple Univ Hbg Center
Human services certificateOnlineHigh school diploma or equivalent
Social Work Certificate
Westmoreland County
Based in Youngwood, PA
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Westmoreland County, based in Youngwood, PAHuman services certificate · Accredited schoolOnline · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$3,990
Program website, Social Work Certificate at Westmoreland County
More details about Social Work Certificate at Westmoreland County
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
24 weeks, 10 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$3,275
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$3,990
Program website, Social Work Certificate at Westmoreland County
Human services or social work (associate degree)HybridHigh school diploma or equivalent
Social Work AAS
Westmoreland County
Youngwood
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Westmoreland County, YoungwoodHuman services or social work (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$12,810
Program website, Social Work AAS at Westmoreland County
More details about Social Work AAS at Westmoreland County
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
76 weeks, 10 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$3,275
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$12,810
Program website, Social Work AAS at Westmoreland County
Human services or social work (associate degree)HybridHigh school diploma or equivalent
Human Services AAS
Harrisburg Area Community College
Harrisburg
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Harrisburg Area Community College, HarrisburgHuman services or social work (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$14,922
Program website, Human Services AAS at Harrisburg Area Community College
More details about Human Services AAS at Harrisburg Area Community College
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
56 weeks, 14 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$2,175
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$14,922
Program website, Human Services AAS at Harrisburg Area Community College
Human services or social work (associate degree)HybridHigh school diploma or equivalent
Human Services AAS
Harrisburg Area Community College
York
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Harrisburg Area Community College, YorkHuman services or social work (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$18,012
Program website, Human Services AAS at Harrisburg Area Community College
More details about Human Services AAS at Harrisburg Area Community College
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
56 weeks, 14 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$2,150
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$18,012
Program website, Human Services AAS at Harrisburg Area Community College

How to pay for human services programs in Pennsylvania

WIOA funding can pay for human services programs in Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania

lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare: 14th of 17
human services programs here, against the typical state's 4: 7 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 Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, York and other Pennsylvania cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 2 programs are online.

Other training in Pennsylvania

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

Where the Pennsylvania human services program numbers come from

Which Pennsylvania human services programs are on this list?

These are the human services programs Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania offers.

How the prices and results of Pennsylvania 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.

How reliable are the Pennsylvania figures?

We leave out the share working 6 months later for Pennsylvania: its rates sit far below every other state's, and the counts suggest jobs were traced only for students whose training was publicly paid.

Sources for the facts about human services programs in Pennsylvania

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources

Nursing and patient care

Medical office and lab

General healthcare

Skilled trades

Transportation and logistics

Computers and IT

Business and office

Beauty and personal care

Public safety

Food and hospitality

Education and social services