2026 Best Value Family & Consumer Economics Master’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 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 34 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for family & consumer economics students.
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2026 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
New Mexico State University Main Campus tops our 2026 list of the best value family & consumer economics schools in the United States. New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Las Cruces. Students from in state pay about $8,183 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,307. Students borrow a median of $19,026 to complete the family & consumer economics program here. Early-career family & consumer economics graduates make about $54,079. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New Mexico State University Main Campus admits about 89% of applicants.
Texas Tech University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value family & consumer economics schools. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,852, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Typical student debt for family & consumer economics graduates is $27,750. Soon after graduation, family & consumer economics degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $75,686. That is a strong return on a $27,750 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in family & consumer economics will find it at Arizona State University Skysong, which ranked #3. Arizona State University Skysong is a very large public school located in the city of Scottsdale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,627, compared with $13,925 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for family & consumer economics graduates is $24,752. Soon after graduation, family & consumer economics degree recipients from Arizona State University Skysong generally make around $47,736. That is a strong return on a $24,752 median debt. Arizona State University Skysong admits about 67% of applicants.
The University Of Alabama is a great value for students pursuing a degree in family & consumer economics, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,180, with out-of-state students paying around $34,172. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
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 list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 34 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
