2026 Best Value General Human Development & Family Studies Associate’s Degree Schools
[General Human Development & Family Studies](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/human-development-and-family-studies-general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general human development & family studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 208 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general human development & family studies students.
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2026 Best Value General Human Development & Family Studies Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general human development & family studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Human Development & Family Studies Schools
Our analysis ranked Central New Mexico Community College the best value for a degree in general human development & family studies in the United States. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,060, while out-of-state students pay about $8,684. Students borrow a median of $9,258 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $31,256. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at City Colleges Of Chicago Harry S Truman College earned it the #2 place for general human development & family studies. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Harry S Truman College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Students borrow a median of $11,458 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Harry S Truman College earn a median of $37,381 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,458 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in general human development & family studies will find it at Shasta College, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Redding, Shasta College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,197, compared with $8,853 for out-of-state students. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $12,275 in student loans. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Shasta College earn a median of $50,330 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,275 median debt.
Saddleback College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general human development & family studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Saddleback College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Mission Viejo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,432, with out-of-state students paying around $14,812. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $5,707. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Saddleback College earn a median of $15,890 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Orange Coast College earned it the #5 place for general human development & family studies. Orange Coast College is a very large public school located in the city of Costa Mesa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,392, with out-of-state students paying around $11,640. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $8,978. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Orange Coast College earn a median of $46,306 early in their careers. Set against $8,978 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Brigham Young University Idaho landed the #6 spot for general human development & family studies value this year. Set in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,800. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $12,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from Brigham Young University Idaho generally make around $21,619. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Brigham Young University Idaho admits about 96% of applicants.
San Jacinto Community College came in at #7 for value in general human development & family studies this year. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,490, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $11,376 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from San Jacinto Community College generally make around $38,107. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Plains College landed the #8 spot for general human development & family studies value this year. Set in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,733, while out-of-state students pay about $5,157. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $13,788. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of South Plains College earn a median of $30,949 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,788 median debt.
Clackamas Community College placed #9 among the best values for general human development & family studies. Set in the suburb of Oregon City, Clackamas Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,345, while out-of-state students pay about $14,265. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $13,915. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $31,280. Set against $13,915 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Suny Empire State College landed the #10 spot for general human development & family studies value this year. Suny Empire State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,648, while out-of-state students pay about $17,558. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $23,693 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from Suny Empire State College generally make around $58,140. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwestern College Chula Vista ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value general human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of Chula Vista, Southwestern College Chula Vista is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,344, compared with $10,640 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,205 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from Southwestern College Chula Vista generally make around $49,358. That is a strong return on a $11,205 median debt.
Cuesta College came in at #12 for value in general human development & family studies this year. Located in the rural area of San Luis Obispo, Cuesta College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,350 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,010. Students borrow a median of $18,958 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Cuesta College earn a median of $64,492 early in their careers. Set against $18,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
American Public University System earned the #13 position for value in general human development & family studies this year. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,782 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from American Public University System generally make around $57,404. That is a strong return on a $21,782 median debt.
College Of The Desert came in at #14 for value in general human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Palm Desert, College Of The Desert is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,326, with out-of-state students paying around $10,174. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $7,826 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from College Of The Desert generally make around $41,295. That is a strong return on a $7,826 median debt.
Los Angeles Mission College placed #15 among the best values for general human development & family studies. Located in the city of Sylmar, Los Angeles Mission College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,238, with out-of-state students paying around $10,572. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $39,834.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value general human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,356. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Other General Human Development & Family Studies Degree Levels
Explore the best-value general human development & family studies schools at other degree levels:
View All General Human Development & Family Studies 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 · 208 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
