[Family & Community Services](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/family-and-community-services/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 89 schools to find the best return on investment for family & community services students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the family & community services degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in family & community services, no school beat University Of Florida this year. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Typical student debt for family & community services graduates is $17,296. Early-career family & community services graduates make about $35,759. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Brigham Young University Idaho earned it the #2 place for family & community services. Located in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800. Typical student debt for family & community services graduates is $12,250. Soon after graduation, family & community services degree recipients from Brigham Young University Idaho generally make around $21,619. That is a strong return on a $12,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Michigan Dearborn one of the best values for family & community services. Set in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,640 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,896. Family & Community Services graduates carry a median of $26,516 in student loans. Soon after graduation, family & community services degree recipients from University Of Michigan Dearborn generally make around $62,536. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Utah Valley University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in family & community services, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,507, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Students borrow a median of $13,500 to complete the family & community services program here. Family & Community Services graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $20,971 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Hawaii At Manoa earned it the #5 place for family & community services. University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public school located in the city of Honolulu. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,186, while out-of-state students pay about $34,218. Students borrow a median of $18,250 to complete the family & community services program here. Early-career family & community services graduates make about $36,040. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Hawaii At Manoa admits about 87% of applicants.
University Of Utah came in at #6 for value in family & community services this year. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,620, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. Typical student debt for family & community services graduates is $15,500. Family & Community Services graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $35,467 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,500 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Washington State University earned the #7 position for value in family & community services this year. Washington State University is a very large public school located in the town of Pullman. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,391, compared with $29,950 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for family & community services graduates is $24,019. Early-career family & community services graduates make about $39,880. Set against $24,019 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of Maryland College Park placed #8 among the best values for family & community services. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. Family & Community Services graduates carry a median of $19,533 in student loans. Family & Community Services graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $41,157 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,533 median debt. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #9 among the best values for family & community services. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete the family & community services program here. Early-career family & community services graduates make about $34,149. That is a strong return on a $21,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.
University Of Northern Iowa placed #10 among the best values for family & community services. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,936, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. Family & Community Services graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Family & Community Services graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $32,614 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
East Carolina University placed #11 among the best values for family & community services. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. Students from in state pay about $7,361 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $23,638. Family & Community Services graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career family & community services graduates make about $29,607. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. East Carolina University admits about 89% of applicants.
Southern University At New Orleans ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value family & community services schools. Located in the city of New Orleans, Southern University At New Orleans is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,054, compared with $16,954 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $56,000 to complete the family & community services program here. Early-career family & community services graduates make about $33,687. Set against $56,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Baker College Of Flint ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value family & community services schools. Set in the town of Owosso, Baker College Of Flint is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,000. Family & Community Services graduates carry a median of $43,076 in student loans. Family & Community Services graduates of Baker College Of Flint earn a median of $36,494 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Iowa State University landed the #14 spot for family & community services value this year. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for family & community services graduates is $24,958. Early-career family & community services graduates make about $53,900. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #15 for value in family & community services this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Family & Community Services graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, family & community services degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $32,769. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Kansas State University earned the #16 position for value in family & community services this year. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Family & Community Services graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Family & Community Services graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $34,241 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
South Dakota State University came in at #17 for value in family & community services this year. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,299, while out-of-state students pay about $12,809. Typical student debt for family & community services graduates is $24,500. Soon after graduation, family & community services degree recipients from South Dakota State University generally make around $37,123. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Southern Nazarene University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value family & community services schools. Set in the suburb of Bethany, Southern Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,190. Typical student debt for family & community services graduates is $38,563. Early-career family & community services graduates make about $53,851. That is a strong return on a $38,563 median debt.
Texas Tech University came in at #19 for value in family & community services this year. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. Students from in state pay about $11,852 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Family & Community Services graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, family & community services degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $39,096. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Western Michigan University earned the #20 position for value in family & community services this year. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,987 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Students borrow a median of $29,539 to complete the family & community services program here. Family & Community Services graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $35,209 early in their careers. Set against $29,539 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Lee University landed the #21 spot for family & community services value this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,790. Typical student debt for family & community services graduates is $26,422. Soon after graduation, family & community services degree recipients from Lee University generally make around $38,249. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Michigan State University came in at #22 for value in family & community services this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Typical student debt for family & community services graduates is $29,750. Family & Community Services graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $31,434 early in their careers. Set against $29,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Harding University landed the #23 spot for family & community services value this year. Harding University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Searcy. Students from in state pay about $25,962 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,715 to complete the family & community services program here. Family & Community Services graduates of Harding University earn a median of $53,629 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
John Brown University earned the #24 position for value in family & community services this year. Located in the town of Siloam Springs, John Brown University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $31,756. Family & Community Services graduates carry a median of $23,625 in student loans. Family & Community Services graduates of John Brown University earn a median of $24,935 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Oklahoma Christian University came in at #25 for value in family & community services this year. Located in the city of Edmond, Oklahoma Christian University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,180. Family & Community Services graduates carry a median of $24,721 in student loans. Family & Community Services graduates of Oklahoma Christian University earn a median of $49,615 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s family & community services value ranking:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Family & Community Services rankings across degree levels:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 89 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
