[Other Family & Consumer Economics & Related Services](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/family-consumer-economics/family-and-consumer-economics-and-related-services-other/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for other family & consumer economics & related services students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in other family & consumer economics & related services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Virginia State University tops our 2026 list of the best value other family & consumer economics & related services schools in the United States. Virginia State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Petersburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,043, while out-of-state students pay about $22,650. Students borrow a median of $29,500 to complete the other family & consumer economics & related services program here. Soon after graduation, other family & consumer economics & related services degree recipients from Virginia State University generally make around $40,620. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Virginia State University admits about 89% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Nebraska At Kearney earned it the #2 place for other family & consumer economics & related services. University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kearney. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,564, compared with $16,484 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete the other family & consumer economics & related services program here. Early-career other family & consumer economics & related services graduates make about $38,009. Set against $19,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned it the #3 place for other family & consumer economics & related services. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Students from in state pay about $17,214 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Other Family & Consumer Economics & Related Services graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans. Other Family & Consumer Economics & Related Services graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $39,081 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Students looking for strong value in other family & consumer economics & related services will find it at University Of Nebraska Lincoln, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, while out-of-state students pay about $28,584. Other Family & Consumer Economics & Related Services graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other family & consumer economics & related services degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln generally make around $35,242. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. University Of Nebraska Lincoln admits about 88% of applicants.
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Other Family & Consumer Economics & Related Services rankings across degree levels:
View All Other Family & Consumer Economics & Related Services Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
