2023 Best Value Consumer Science Schools
57
Ranked Colleges
2,906
Degrees Awarded
$14,400
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Consumer Science Schools” ranking is part of that endeavor.
General Family & Consumer Sciences is the 168th most popular major in the country with 2,906 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, general family and consumer sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $30,445 and had an average of $27,314 in loans still to pay off.
This year’s “Best Value Consumer Science Schools” ranking looked at 57 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general family and consumer sciences. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general family and consumer sciences programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the general family and consumer sciences program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
One Size Does Not Fit All
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Consumer Science Schools” list to help you make the college decision.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Consumer Science Schools
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Consumer Science Schools.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Family & Consumer Sciences
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brigham Young University - Provo. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Consumer Science Schools. Brigham Young University - Provo is a private not-for-profit institution located in Provo, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
BYU also took the #16 spot in our “Best General Family & Consumer Sciences Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend BYU is $13,474 for Consumer Science students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full BYU General Family & Consumer Sciences Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Illinois State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Consumer Science Schools. Illinois State University is located in Normal, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 57 ’s consumer science degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our consumer science students list, Illinois State has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best General Family & Consumer Sciences Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois State University is $20,830 for consumer science students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on General Family & Consumer Sciences at Illinois State University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Consumer Science Schools. Iowa State University is a large public school situated in Ames, Iowa. It awarded 30 ’s consumer science degrees in 2020-2021.
Iowa State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best General Family & Consumer Sciences Schools” list. It costs about $16,002 for consumer science students per year to attend Iowa State University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
Full Iowa State University General Family & Consumer Sciences Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Long Beach. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Consumer Science Schools list. California State University - Long Beach is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 445 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
CSULB also took the #4 spot in our “Best General Family & Consumer Sciences Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Long Beach is $10,054 for Consumer Science students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about General Family & Consumer Sciences at CSULB
Out of the 57 schools in the Best Value Consumer Science Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #5 spot on the list. UW - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 32 ’s consumer science degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best General Family & Consumer Sciences Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend UW - Madison is $17,234 for consumer science students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.
Read full report on General Family & Consumer Sciences at University of Wisconsin - Madison
California State University - Northridge did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Consumer Science Schools ranking, coming in at #6. CSUN is a large school located in Northridge, California that handed out 192 ’s consumer science degrees in 2020-2021.
CSUN also made our “Best General Family & Consumer Sciences Schools” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for CSUN is $8,523 for Consumer Science students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on General Family & Consumer Sciences at CSUN
With a ranking of #7, University of Wyoming did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Consumer Science Schools list. Laramie, Wyoming is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s consumer science degrees to 28 students in 2020-2021.
UW not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best General Family & Consumer Sciences Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend UW is $11,085 for consumer science students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Family & Consumer Sciences at UW
Kansas State University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Consumer Science Schools ranking. Kansas State University is a public institution located in Manhattan, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 25 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at K -State, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best General Family & Consumer Sciences Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Kansas State University is $18,433 for consumer science students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about General Family & Consumer Sciences at K -State
Oklahoma State University - Main Campus came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Consumer Science Schools ranking. This large school is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and it awarded 4 ’s consumer science degrees in 2020-2021.
OSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best General Family & Consumer Sciences Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is $14,237 for Consumer Science students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on General Family & Consumer Sciences at Oklahoma State University - Main Campus
With a ranking of #10, Eastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Consumer Science Schools list. Eastern Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Charleston, Illinois that handed out 71 ’s consumer science degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our consumer science students list, EIU has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best General Family & Consumer Sciences Schools” ranking. It costs about $13,098 for Consumer Science students per year to attend EIU.
Read more about General Family & Consumer Sciences at EIU
With a ranking of #11, Texas Tech University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Consumer Science Schools list. Located in Lubbock, Texas, this large public school awarded 252 diplomas to qualified ’s consumer science students in 2020-2021.
Texas Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best General Family & Consumer Sciences Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Texas Tech is $16,194 for consumer science students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Texas Tech General Family & Consumer Sciences Report
University of Central Arkansas did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Consumer Science Schools ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Conway, Arkansas, this fairly large public school awarded 44 degrees to qualified ’s consumer science students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Central Arkansas is $16,554 for Consumer Science students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Family & Consumer Sciences at University of Central Arkansas
Stephen F Austin State University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Consumer Science Schools ranking. Nacogdoches, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s consumer science degrees to 142 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our consumer science students list, SFASU has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best General Family & Consumer Sciences Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Stephen F Austin State University is $13,393 for consumer science students.
Full SFASU General Family & Consumer Sciences Report
With a ranking of #14, Queens College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Consumer Science Schools list. QC is a fairly large public school situated in Queens, New York. It awarded 40 ’s consumer science degrees in 2020-2021.
QC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best General Family & Consumer Sciences Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend QC is $3,469 for consumer science students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on General Family & Consumer Sciences at QC
SUNY Oneonta came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Consumer Science Schools ranking. SUNY Oneonta is a medium-sized school located in Oneonta, New York that handed out 13 ’s consumer science degrees in 2020-2021.
SUNY Oneonta also took the #14 spot in our “Best General Family & Consumer Sciences Schools” ranking. It costs about $18,223 for Consumer Science students per year to attend SUNY Oneonta.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Family & Consumer Sciences at SUNY Oneonta
University of Missouri - Columbia ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Consumer Science Schools list. University of Missouri - Columbia is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 11 ’s consumer science degrees in 2020-2021.
Mizzou not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best General Family & Consumer Sciences Schools” list. It costs about $16,559 for Consumer Science students per year to attend University of Missouri - Columbia.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
Read more about General Family & Consumer Sciences at Mizzou
Minnesota State University - Mankato ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Consumer Science Schools list. Minnesota State Mankato is a fairly large public school situated in Mankato, Minnesota. It awarded 48 ’s consumer science degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $17,159 for Consumer Science students per year to attend Minnesota State Mankato.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Family & Consumer Sciences at Minnesota State Mankato
Sam Houston State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Consumer Science Schools ranking. This large school is located in Huntsville, Texas, and it awarded 17 ’s consumer science degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend SHSU is $15,035 for consumer science students.
Full Sam Houston State University General Family & Consumer Sciences Report
The University of Tennessee - Martin did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Consumer Science Schools ranking, coming in at #19. UT Martin is a medium-sized public school situated in Martin, Tennessee. It awarded 34 ’s consumer science degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $11,320 for Consumer Science students per year to attend UT Martin.
Read full report on General Family & Consumer Sciences at The University of Tennessee - Martin
North Carolina Central University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Consumer Science Schools ranking, coming in at #20. Durham, North Carolina is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s consumer science degrees to 104 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $14,332 for Consumer Science students per year to attend North Carolina Central University.
Full North Carolina Central University General Family & Consumer Sciences Report
With a ranking of #21, California State University - Fresno did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Consumer Science Schools list. Located in Fresno, California, this large public school awarded 10 degrees to qualified ’s consumer science students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Fresno is $6,230 for consumer science students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Full Fresno State General Family & Consumer Sciences Report
With a ranking of #22, Southeast Missouri State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Consumer Science Schools list. Cape Girardeau, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s consumer science degrees to 61 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Southeast Missouri State University is $13,568 for consumer science students.
Read full report on General Family & Consumer Sciences at Southeast Missouri State University
Central Washington University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Consumer Science Schools ranking. Central Washington University is a fairly large school located in Ellensburg, Washington that handed out 15 ’s consumer science degrees in 2020-2021.
CWU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best General Family & Consumer Sciences Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for CWU is $16,514 for consumer science students.
Read more about General Family & Consumer Sciences at Central Washington University
University of Arkansas ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Consumer Science Schools list. University of Arkansas is a large public school situated in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It awarded 6 ’s consumer science degrees in 2020-2021.
UARK also made our “Best General Family & Consumer Sciences Schools” list, coming in at #17. The estimated yearly cost for University of Arkansas is $16,507 for consumer science students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Full UARK General Family & Consumer Sciences Report
The University of Alabama ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Consumer Science Schools list. UA is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 221 ’s consumer science degrees to qualified students.
UA also made our “Best General Family & Consumer Sciences Schools” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $20,917 for Consumer Science students per year to attend The University of Alabama.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full The University of Alabama General Family & Consumer Sciences Report
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