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Best Online Human Services Programs in Ruston, LA (2026)
Ruston, Louisiana is home to about 22,224 residents. Median household income is $32,765 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 42.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Louisiana, the top-earning human services-related role is Social and Community Service Manager at a median $82,090 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Human Services Schools to Ruston
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer human services programs near Ruston, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Ruston city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.
No school data available.
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Louisiana schools on the Louisiana human services page.
Human Services Wages Near Ruston
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage (Louisiana, statewide) |
|---|---|
| Social and Human Service Assistant | $35,780 |
| Social and Community Service Manager | $82,090 |
| Child, Family and School Social Worker | $56,800 |
| Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor | $37,910 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Ruston at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,224 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $32,765 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 42.9% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
Other Ruston-Area Cities With Human Services Programs
- Monroe, LA – 32.6 mi away (117,673 pop)
- Bossier City, LA – 60.0 mi away (68,485 pop)
- Shreveport, LA – 67.7 mi away (291,749 pop)
- Alexandria, LA – 86.3 mi away (82,995 pop)
- Marshall, TX – 99.9 mi away (22,014 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the highest-paying human services roles in Louisiana?
Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying human services-related roles in Louisiana are: Social and Community Service Manager ($82,090), Child, Family and School Social Worker ($56,800), Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor ($37,910). Wages for Ruston workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.
Should I look at programs in Monroe instead of Ruston?
Monroe, LA is 32.6 miles from Ruston and has its own set of local human services programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Ruston an affordable place to study human services?
Ruston’s median household income of $32,765 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Ruston while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Louisiana public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Learn More About Human Services Programs
- Human Services accreditation: what to look for
- Human Services concentrations and specializations
- Is a Human Services degree worth it?
- Main Human Services degree guide
- Online Human Services programs in Louisiana
- Human Services programs by state
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Data verified: July 30, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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