[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.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in family & community services, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in family & community services, no school beat University Of Florida this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,296 to complete the family & community services program here. Early-career family & community services graduates make about $49,947. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in family & community services will find it at Arizona State University, which ranked #2. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Students borrow a median of $21,842 to complete the family & community services program here. Early-career family & community services graduates make about $49,757. That is a strong return on a $21,842 median debt. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Washington State University earned it the #3 place for family & community services. Located in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,391, while out-of-state students pay about $29,950. Typical student debt for family & community services graduates is $24,019. Family & Community Services graduates of Washington State University earn a median of $39,880 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,019 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kansas State University earned it the #4 place for family & community services. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Family & Community Services graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, family & community services degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $51,067. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield is a great value for students pursuing a degree in family & community services, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the family & community services program here. Early-career family & community services graduates make about $32,769. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Texas Tech University landed the #6 spot for family & community services value this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,852 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Family & Community Services graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Early-career family & community services graduates make about $39,096. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.
Lee University landed the #7 spot for family & community services value this year. Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,790. Students borrow a median of $26,422 to complete the family & community services program here. Soon after graduation, family & community services degree recipients from Lee University generally make around $38,249. Set against $26,422 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Clemson University landed the #8 spot for family & community services value this year. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,554, with out-of-state students paying around $40,866. Family & Community Services graduates carry a median of $23,783 in student loans. Early-career family & community services graduates make about $48,168. That is a strong return on a $23,783 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
The University Of Alabama came in at #9 for value in family & community services this year. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,180, with out-of-state students paying around $34,172. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the family & community services program here. Early-career family & community services graduates make about $30,264. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Auburn University came in at #10 for value in family & community services this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,890, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the family & community services program here. Early-career family & community services graduates make about $30,502. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Amridge University earned the #11 position for value in family & community services this year. Located in the city of Montgomery, Amridge University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,470. Family & Community Services graduates of Amridge University earn a median of $46,125 early in their careers.
Explore the best-value family & community services schools at other degree levels:
View All Family & Community Services Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 89 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.
