May 2007, GetEducated.com, Essex Junction, VT (PR Web)

GetEducated.com, LLC, has released its national rankings of online colleges that offer degree majors in psychology, human services and social services. The college rankings are based on a survey of 26 regionally accredited universities that offer distance master's degrees.

West Virginia University ranks number one on GetEducated.com’s Best Buy list for its distance master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling management. State residents will pay a remarkably low rate of about $2,500 for the entire master’s, while non-residents can expect to pay significantly more—yet well below the national average of $7,200.

East Carolina University’s master's in general psychology degree ranked number two at $4,200 (North Carolina residents; non-residents pay $19,300). Winston Salem State University of North Carolina takes the number three spot.

By comparison, the average cost for a distance master’s degree in the human services career area came in at about $19,000.

The most expensive distance degrees for human service professionals: Seton Hall University of New Jersey ($34,000) and the Union Institute of Ohio ($34,500).

See GetEducated.com’s Top 10 Ranked Best Buys in Online Masters in Psychology, Social Science, Human Services for more details.

“Students seeking a quality brand-name distance degree program in the area of human services won’t be disappointed,” says GetEducated.com site founder and Chief Education Analyst Vicky Phillips.

At just over $14,000. Kansas State University, for example, ranks sixth with three distance master's degrees: counseling and student development, youth development, and family studies/gerontology.

Other solid options include the University of North Texas, which offers a growing number of e-degrees, including GetEducated.com’s fifth-ranked best buy, a master’s in long-term care and aging services.

Consumers can compare all their accredited online degree options by cost, admission standards, and major areas by viewing GetEducated.com’s Best Distance Learning Graduate Schools.

ABOUT: Founded in 1989, GetEducated.com, LLC is the safest place in cyberspace to shop for an online degree ™. Owned by higher education professionals, the clearinghouse’s mission is to help consumers get educated about quality online degrees. Education analysts employed by the site analyze, evaluate, rank, rate and compare distance degree options nationwide, including the online MBA, and distance master's degrees in education, justice and law, engineering and computer science.