2026 Best Value Family & Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General Associate’s Degree Schools

[Family & Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/general-family-consumer-sciences/family-and-consumer-sciences-human-sciences-general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 116 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value family & consumer sciences/human sciences, general schools.
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2026 Best Value Family & Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the family & consumer sciences/human sciences, general degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Family & Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General Schools
Leading the list is Shasta College, our #1 best value for family & consumer sciences/human sciences, general in the United States. Located in the suburb of Redding, Shasta College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,197, while out-of-state students pay about $8,853. Typical student debt for family & consumer sciences/human sciences, general graduates is $12,275. Family & Consumer Sciences/human Sciences, General graduates of Shasta College earn a median of $50,330 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,275 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College earned it the #2 place for family & consumer sciences/human sciences, general. Set in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,250, while out-of-state students pay about $7,850. Typical student debt for family & consumer sciences/human sciences, general graduates is $11,653. Early-career family & consumer sciences/human sciences, general graduates make about $34,214. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lone Star College System is a great value for students pursuing a degree in family & consumer sciences/human sciences, general, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,664, while out-of-state students pay about $7,512. Students borrow a median of $10,425 to complete the family & consumer sciences/human sciences, general program here. Family & Consumer Sciences/human Sciences, General graduates of Lone Star College System earn a median of $39,954 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,425 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Arizona Western College earned it the #4 place for family & consumer sciences/human sciences, general. Set in the city of Yuma, Arizona Western College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,060 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,870. Early-career family & consumer sciences/human sciences, general graduates make about $44,895.
Other Family & Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General Degree Levels
Explore the best-value family & consumer sciences/human sciences, general schools at other degree levels:
View All Family & Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General 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 · 116 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.