2027 Best Value Family & Consumer Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Family & Consumer Economics](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/family-consumer-economics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for family & consumer economics students.
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2027 Best Value Family & Consumer Economics Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the family & consumer economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Family & Consumer Economics Schools
Leading the list is California State University Northridge, our #1 best value for family & consumer economics in the United States. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. Students from in state pay about $7,458 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,058. Family & Consumer Economics graduates carry a median of $16,202 in student loans. Family & Consumer Economics graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $48,437 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Georgia one of the best values for family & consumer economics. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Family & Consumer Economics graduates carry a median of $22,652 in student loans. Family & Consumer Economics graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $48,620 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Middle Tennessee State University earned it the #3 place for family & consumer economics. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,266 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the family & consumer economics program here. Early-career family & consumer economics graduates make about $31,988. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value family & consumer economics schools. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Typical student debt for family & consumer economics graduates is $24,752. Early-career family & consumer economics graduates make about $36,280. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a great value for students pursuing a degree in family & consumer economics, landing the #5 spot this year. 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. Typical student debt for family & consumer economics graduates is $19,750. Early-career family & consumer economics graduates make about $39,081. Set against $19,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
University Of Nebraska At Kearney placed #6 among the best values for family & consumer economics. Set in the town of Kearney, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,564, compared with $16,484 for out-of-state students. Family & Consumer Economics graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans. Early-career family & consumer economics graduates make about $38,009. Set against $19,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value family & consumer economics schools. Set in the suburb of Petersburg, Virginia State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,043, with out-of-state students paying around $22,650. Typical student debt for family & consumer economics graduates is $29,500. Soon after graduation, family & consumer economics degree recipients from Virginia State University generally make around $40,620. Set against $29,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia State University admits about 89% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value family & consumer economics schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the family & consumer economics program here. Family & Consumer Economics graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $46,474 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Texas State University San Marcos placed #9 among the best values for family & consumer economics. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $22,930. Students borrow a median of $19,822 to complete the family & consumer economics program here. Family & Consumer Economics graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $45,666 early in their careers. Set against $19,822 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas State University San Marcos admits about 89% of applicants.
Tennessee State University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value family & consumer economics schools. Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Nashville. In-state tuition and fees average $8,616, with out-of-state students paying around $22,416. Students borrow a median of $30,099 to complete the family & consumer economics program here. Soon after graduation, family & consumer economics degree recipients from Tennessee State University generally make around $32,793. That is a strong return on a $30,099 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #11 for value in family & consumer economics this year. 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, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the family & consumer economics program here. Family & Consumer Economics graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $35,242 early in their careers. Set against $22,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Iowa State University landed the #12 spot for family & consumer economics value this year. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. In-state tuition and fees average $10,787, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Typical student debt for family & consumer economics graduates is $18,062. Soon after graduation, family & consumer economics degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $54,204. Set against $18,062 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee placed #13 among the best values for family & consumer economics. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,812, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Students borrow a median of $17,844 to complete the family & consumer economics program here. Soon after graduation, family & consumer economics degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $43,014. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
Texas Tech University came in at #14 for value in family & consumer economics this year. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. Students from in state pay about $11,852 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Students borrow a median of $27,750 to complete the family & consumer economics program here. Family & Consumer Economics graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $53,997 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,750 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
South Dakota State University earned the #15 position for value in family & consumer economics this year. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,299, with out-of-state students paying around $12,809. Students borrow a median of $23,789 to complete the family & consumer economics program here. Early-career family & consumer economics graduates make about $44,891. Set against $23,789 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. South Dakota State University admits about 98% of applicants.
The University Of Alabama came in at #16 for value in family & consumer economics this year. The University Of Alabama is a very large public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. In-state tuition and fees average $12,180, compared with $34,172 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for family & consumer economics graduates is $23,750. Family & Consumer Economics graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $41,201 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,750 median debt. The University Of Alabama admits about 77% of applicants.
Other Family & Consumer Economics Degree Levels
Explore the best-value family & consumer economics schools at other degree levels:
View All Family & Consumer Economics Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
