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2027 Best Human Development & Family Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools

170 Colleges in the United States
10,968 Human Development & Family Studies Degrees Awarded
$37,182 Avg Early-Career Salary

Human Development & Family Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their human development & family studies programs.

For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 170 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for human development & family studies students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Human Development & Family Studies in the United States

Below are the best human development & family studies schools at the bachelor’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.

Top Schools in Human Development & Family Studies

1

No school ranked higher than University Of California Davis this year for human development & family studies. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 353 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $53,749. Typical student debt for the program is $14,404. See the full human development & family studies program report for University Of California Davis

2

A rank of #2 makes Northwestern University one of the top schools for human development & family studies. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $78,551 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in human development & family studies from Northwestern University

3

Students looking for a strong human development & family studies program will find one at University Of Wisconsin Madison, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 130 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $34,149 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans. See the full human development & family studies program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison

4

University Of Virginia Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in human development & family studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 33 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $34,533. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500. Get the full human development & family studies details for University Of Virginia Main Campus

5
Santa Clara University crest
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA

Students looking for a strong human development & family studies program will find one at Santa Clara University, which ranked #5. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Santa Clara. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Santa Clara University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Santa Clara University generally make around $79,380. Students borrow a median of $20,144 to complete this degree. See the full human development & family studies program report for Santa Clara University

6

University Of California San Diego landed the #6 spot for human development & family studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of La Jolla. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 61 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $33,489 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,342. Read more about the human development & family studies program at University Of California San Diego

7

Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned the #7 position for human development & family studies this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 135 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $33,654. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500. Get the full human development & family studies details for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University

8

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #8 among the best human development & family studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 60 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $29,762 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,600 to complete this degree. See the full human development & family studies program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

9
Florida State University crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University landed the #9 spot for human development & family studies this year. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 205 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Florida State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $29,690 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree. Get the full human development & family studies details for Florida State University

10

Suny At Binghamton earned the #10 position for human development & family studies this year. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public institution. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 88 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Binghamton in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Suny At Binghamton earn a median of $36,213 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree. See the full human development & family studies program report for Suny At Binghamton

11

University Of Maryland College Park placed #11 among the best human development & family studies schools. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 66 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from University Of Maryland College Park earn around $41,157 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,533 to complete this degree. Get the full human development & family studies details for University Of Maryland College Park

12

George Mason University landed the #12 spot for human development & family studies this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 16 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $45,140. Typical student debt for the program is $24,300. Read more about the human development & family studies program at George Mason University

13
Tufts University crest
Tufts University
Medford, MA

Tufts University earned the #13 position for human development & family studies this year. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. Tufts University awarded about 29 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $44,345 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,170. Get the full human development & family studies details for Tufts University

14

California State University East Bay landed the #14 spot for human development & family studies this year. California State University East Bay is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. California State University East Bay graduates 48% of students within six years. There were roughly 259 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University East Bay in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from California State University East Bay generally make around $41,195. California State University East Bay graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in human development & family studies from California State University East Bay

15
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Main Campus ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best human development & family studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 64 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $35,436 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,304. More information about a degree in human development & family studies from Purdue University Main Campus

16

University Of Connecticut placed #16 among the best human development & family studies schools. Located in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public university. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 117 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at University Of Connecticut in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from University Of Connecticut generally make around $31,642. University Of Connecticut graduates carry a median of $23,059 in student loans. See the full human development & family studies program report for University Of Connecticut

17
Vanderbilt University crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

Vanderbilt University landed the #17 spot for human development & family studies this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $77,997 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in human development & family studies from Vanderbilt University

18

Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 94 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $34,610 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in human development & family studies from Ohio State University Main Campus

19

California State University Fresno ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best human development & family studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Fresno. About 57% of students finish within six years. California State University Fresno awarded about 102 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $49,502 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,598 to complete this degree. Read more about the human development & family studies program at California State University Fresno

20
University Of Florida crest
University Of Florida
Gainesville, FL

University Of Florida landed the #20 spot for human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 57 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from University Of Florida earn around $35,759 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $17,296 in student loans. More information about a degree in human development & family studies from University Of Florida

21

Texas Tech University landed the #21 spot for human development & family studies this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. Texas Tech University graduates 69% of students within six years. About 139 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Texas Tech University in the most recent year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from Texas Tech University earn around $39,096 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree. Get the full human development & family studies details for Texas Tech University

22

California State University San Bernardino came in at #22 for human development & family studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Bernardino. California State University San Bernardino graduates 55% of students within six years. About 193 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from California State University San Bernardino earn around $42,421 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,149 to complete this degree. See the full human development & family studies program report for California State University San Bernardino

23

University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #23 among the best human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 50 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $36,743 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Read more about the human development & family studies program at University Of Illinois At Chicago

24

University Of Georgia placed #24 among the best human development & family studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Athens. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 140 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Georgia in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from University Of Georgia earn around $31,392 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,466. More information about a degree in human development & family studies from University Of Georgia

25
Samford University crest
Samford University
Birmingham, AL

Samford University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best human development & family studies schools. Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Birmingham. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. There were roughly 34 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Samford University in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Samford University earn a median of $64,132 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,039. Get the full human development & family studies details for Samford University

Rest of the Top 50 Human Development & Family Studies Schools

Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong human development & family studies education:

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27
28
29
30
31
Syracuse University crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY
32
33
Howard University crest
Howard University
Washington, DC
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
Sonoma State University crest
Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, CA
41
University Of Vermont crest
University Of Vermont
Burlington, VT
42
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44
Tarleton State University crest
Tarleton State University
Stephenville, TX
45
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50

Honorable Mentions

These schools earned honorable mentions for human development & family studies:

Other Human Development & Family Studies Degree Levels

Explore the best human development & family studies schools at other degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Human Development & Family Studies
Associate's Degrees in Human Development & Family Studies
Master's Degrees in Human Development & Family Studies

View All Human Development & Family Studies Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 170 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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