2026 Best Value Adult Development & Aging Associate’s Degree Schools
[Adult Development & Aging](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/adult-development-and-aging/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong adult development & aging education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 73 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value adult development & aging schools.
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2026 Best Value Adult Development & Aging Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the adult development & aging degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Adult Development & Aging Schools
For return on investment in adult development & aging, no school beat Fresno City College this year. Located in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,378, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Students borrow a median of $8,000 to complete the adult development & aging program here. Adult Development & Aging graduates of Fresno City College earn a median of $30,519 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saddleback College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value adult development & aging schools. Located in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,432, with out-of-state students paying around $14,812. Adult Development & Aging graduates carry a median of $5,707 in student loans. Early-career adult development & aging graduates make about $15,890. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pasadena City College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in adult development & aging, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,924. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the adult development & aging program here. Soon after graduation, adult development & aging degree recipients from Pasadena City College generally make around $38,841. That is a strong return on a $9,191 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in adult development & aging will find it at San Diego City College, which ranked #4. San Diego City College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Typical student debt for adult development & aging graduates is $9,514. Soon after graduation, adult development & aging degree recipients from San Diego City College generally make around $26,218. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Folsom Lake College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value adult development & aging schools. Folsom Lake College is a large public school located in the city of Folsom. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,288, compared with $12,616 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $42,568 ten years out.
Sacramento City College earned the #6 position for value in adult development & aging this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, Sacramento City College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,288, compared with $12,616 for out-of-state students. Adult Development & Aging graduates carry a median of $13,180 in student loans. Early-career adult development & aging graduates make about $46,522. Set against $13,180 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
American River College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value adult development & aging schools. Located in the suburb of Sacramento, American River College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,288, with out-of-state students paying around $12,616. Adult Development & Aging graduates carry a median of $14,105 in student loans. Early-career adult development & aging graduates make about $76,077. Set against $14,105 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Shore Community College landed the #8 spot for adult development & aging value this year. Located in the suburb of Danvers, North Shore Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,352 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,920. Typical student debt for adult development & aging graduates is $9,622. Adult Development & Aging graduates of North Shore Community College earn a median of $34,978 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,622 median debt.
Miracosta College placed #9 among the best values for adult development & aging. Set in the suburb of Oceanside, Miracosta College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,158, with out-of-state students paying around $9,750. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,845 ten years after entry.
Chaffey College landed the #10 spot for adult development & aging value this year. Set in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga, Chaffey College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,184, compared with $11,120 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,952 to complete the adult development & aging program here. Early-career adult development & aging graduates make about $23,532. Set against $6,952 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Antonio College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value adult development & aging schools. San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,412, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Adult Development & Aging graduates carry a median of $11,839 in student loans. Early-career adult development & aging graduates make about $37,855. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Joaquin Delta College landed the #12 spot for adult development & aging value this year. San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public school located in the city of Stockton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $9,772. Typical student debt for adult development & aging graduates is $6,382. Early-career adult development & aging graduates make about $65,168. That is a strong return on a $6,382 median debt.
Modesto Junior College landed the #13 spot for adult development & aging value this year. Set in the city of Modesto, Modesto Junior College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,282, with out-of-state students paying around $9,264. Adult Development & Aging graduates carry a median of $9,136 in student loans. Soon after graduation, adult development & aging degree recipients from Modesto Junior College generally make around $21,794. That is a strong return on a $9,136 median debt.
East Los Angeles College came in at #14 for value in adult development & aging this year. Located in the suburb of Monterey Park, East Los Angeles College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,238 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,572. Typical student debt for adult development & aging graduates is $8,180. Early-career adult development & aging graduates make about $10,032. That is a strong return on a $8,180 median debt.
Grand Rapids Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value adult development & aging schools. Grand Rapids Community College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Rapids. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,179, compared with $12,219 for out-of-state students. Adult Development & Aging graduates carry a median of $12,863 in student loans. Adult Development & Aging graduates of Grand Rapids Community College earn a median of $25,539 early in their careers. Set against $12,863 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Los Angeles Mission College came in at #16 for value in adult development & aging this year. Los Angeles Mission College is a large public school located in the city of Sylmar. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,238, while out-of-state students pay about $10,572. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,834 ten years after entry.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value adult development & aging schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,356 in tuition and fees. Median earnings reach $63,435 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Other Adult Development & Aging Degree Levels
Explore the best-value adult development & aging schools at other degree levels:
View All Adult Development & Aging 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 · 73 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
