Health Service Worker Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a health service worker. Health service workers usually study psychology, social work, or nursing. 46% of health service workers hold a bachelor's degree, and 21% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 461 real health service worker resumes to see exactly what health service worker education sections show.

The most common colleges for health service workers are the Marshall University and the Marshall University.

There are also many online health service worker courses to help get the education required to be a health service worker.

What education do you need to become a health service worker?

What degree do you need to be a health service worker?

The most common degree for health service workers is bachelor's degree, with 46% of health service workers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 21% and associate degree degree at 14%.
  • Bachelor's, 46%
  • Associate, 21%
  • High School Diploma, 14%
  • Master's, 9%
  • Other Degrees, 10%

What should I major in to become a health service worker?

You should major in psychology to become a health service worker. 16% of health service workers major in psychology. Other common majors for a health service worker include social work and nursing.

Most common colleges for health service workers

Health service workers often get their degrees at Marshall University, Fairmont State University, and University of Phoenix. Here are the most common colleges for health service workers in the US based on their resumes.
Health Service Worker Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
Marshall University17.86%
Fairmont State University10.71%
University of Phoenix7.14%
West Virginia Wesleyan College7.14%
University of New Hampshire5.36%

Best majors for health service workers

Rank
ascdesc
Major
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
1Psychology16.0%
2Social Work12.7%
3Nursing12.2%
4Health Care Administration7.7%
5Business7.2%

Best colleges for health service workers

The best colleges for health service workers are University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, and New York University.

A health service worker with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for health service workers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become health service workers.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Nursing
Social Work
Health Care Administration
Counseling Psychology

2. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

Website

www.usc.edu/

Address

University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0012

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $61,400 per year

Net Price: $30,453 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 12.96%
SAT Average - 1445
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Social Work
Education
General Education, Specific Areas
Health Care Administration

3. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

Website

www.sdsu.edu

Address

5500 Campanile Dr, San Diego, CA 92182-8000

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $41,600 per year

Net Price: $15,287 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 34.58%
SAT Average - 1213
ACT Average - 25
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Liberal Arts
Criminal Justice
Social Work

4. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

Website

www.nyu.edu

Address

70 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012-1091

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $55,900 per year

Net Price: $42,397 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 19.99%
SAT Average - 1419
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Liberal Arts
Business
Nursing
Social Work
Psychology

5. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-State Tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

Website

https://twin-cities.umn.edu

Address

202 Morrill Hall, 100 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455-0213

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $46,000 per year

Net Price: $17,479 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 51.87%
SAT Average - 1336
ACT Average - 29
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Nursing
English
Social Work

20 best online courses for health service workers

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Top 10 most affordable universities for health service workers

The most affordable schools for health service workers are California State University - Bakersfield, california state university - long beach, and hunter college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for health service workers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for health service workers.

1. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,309

Cost of Attendance

16,714

Website

www.csub.edu

Address

9001 Stockdale Hwy, Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,100 per year

Net Price: $5,687 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 23.02%
Most Popular Majors
Liberal Arts
Business
Psychology
Criminal Justice
Sociology

2. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,798

Cost of Attendance

18,306

Website

www.csulb.edu

Address

1250 Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90840-0115

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $40,000 per year

Net Price: $8,982 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 31.21%
SAT Average - 1146
ACT Average - 23
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Liberal Arts
Social Work
Nursing

3. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,182

Cost of Attendance

13,998

Website

www.hunter.cuny.edu

Address

695 Park Ave, New York, NY 10021

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,300 per year

Net Price: $2,796 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 36.42%
SAT Average - 1240
Most Popular Majors
Education
Psychology
Social Work
Nursing
General Education, Specific Areas

4. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,306

Cost of Attendance

16,091

Website

www.farmingdale.edu/

Address

2350 Broadhollow Road, Farmingdale, NY 11735-1021

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $44,800 per year

Net Price: $9,268 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 46.07%
SAT Average - 1091
ACT Average - 22
Most Popular Majors
Business
Liberal Arts
Criminal Justice
Nursing
Psychology

5. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,942

Cost of Attendance

14,469

Website

https://www.csudh.edu

Address

1000 E Victoria St, Carson, CA 90747

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $38,300 per year

Net Price: $3,891 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 63.94%
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Psychology
Liberal Arts
Sociology

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for health service workers

The hardest universities for health service workers to get into are University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, and New York University.

Some great schools for health service workers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for health service workers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,492

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Nursing
Social Work
Health Care Administration
Counseling Psychology

2. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

13%

SAT Average

1,445

Website

www.usc.edu/

Address

University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0012

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $61,400 per year

Net Price: $30,453 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 12.96%
SAT Average - 1445
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Social Work
Education
General Education, Specific Areas
Health Care Administration

3. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

20%

SAT Average

1,419

Website

www.nyu.edu

Address

70 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012-1091

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $55,900 per year

Net Price: $42,397 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 19.99%
SAT Average - 1419
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Liberal Arts
Business
Nursing
Social Work
Psychology

4. Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

28%

SAT Average

1,429

Website

www.bc.edu

Address

140 Commonwealth Ave, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $64,900 per year

Net Price: $33,562 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 27.89%
SAT Average - 1429
ACT Average - 33
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Social Work
Psychology
Counseling Psychology

5. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

22%

SAT Average

1,420

Website

www.bu.edu

Address

One Silber Way, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02215

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $52,800 per year

Net Price: $30,729 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 22.09%
SAT Average - 1420
ACT Average - 32
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Social Work
General Education, Specific Areas
Psychology

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for health service workers

The easiest schools for health service workers to get into are Nyack College, mount saint mary's university, and barry university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a health service worker without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for health service workers.

1. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

98%

SAT Average

999

Website

www.nyack.edu/consumerinfo

Address

1 South Boulevard, Nyack, NY 10960-3698

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $38,500 per year

Net Price: $20,151 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 98.25%
SAT Average - 999
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Liberal Arts
Business
Education
Social Work
Nursing

2. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

84%

SAT Average

1,031

Website

https://www.msmu.edu

Address

12001 Chalon Road, Los Angeles, CA 90049

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $57,700 per year

Net Price: $29,267 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 83.82%
SAT Average - 1031
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Nursing
Counseling Psychology
Education
Liberal Arts
Business

3. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions Rate

91%

SAT Average

1,006

Website

www.barry.edu

Address

11300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami Shores, FL 33161-6695

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $43,700 per year

Net Price: $17,937 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 91.25%
SAT Average - 1006
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Business
Nursing
Social Work
Liberal Arts
Counseling Psychology

4. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions Rate

86%

SAT Average

991

Website

www.kean.edu

Address

1000 Morris Ave, Union, NJ 07083-0411

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $38,000 per year

Net Price: $18,547 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 85.98%
SAT Average - 991
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Psychology
Business
Criminal Justice
General Education, Specific Areas
English

5. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions Rate

68%

SAT Average

964

Website

www.okwu.edu

Address

2201 Silver Lake Rd, Bartlesville, OK 74006-6299

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $50,500 per year

Net Price: $26,279 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 67.73%
SAT Average - 964
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Nursing
Liberal Arts
Education
Criminology
Psychology

Average health service worker salary by education level

According to our data, health service workers with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $32,346 annually. Health service workers with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $27,919.
Health Service Worker education level
ascdesc
Health Service Worker salary
ascdesc
Master's Degree$32,346
Bachelor's Degree$27,919

Health Service Worker Education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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