2027 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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general human development & family studies schools.
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2027 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
Central New Mexico Community College earned the #1 spot for value among general human development & family studies schools 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, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $9,258 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $31,256. That is a strong return on a $9,258 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Shasta College one of the best values for general human development & family studies. Shasta College is a large public school located in the suburb of Redding. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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 came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value general human development & family studies schools. Saddleback College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Mission Viejo. Students from in state pay about $1,432 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,812. Students borrow a median of $5,707 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Saddleback College earn a median of $15,890 early in their careers. Set against $5,707 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in general human development & family studies will find it at Orange Coast College, which ranked #4. 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. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $46,306. Set against $8,978 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Miracosta College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value general human development & family studies schools. Miracosta College is a large public school located in the suburb of Oceanside. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,158, compared with $9,750 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,845.
City Colleges Of Chicago Harry S Truman College earned the #6 position for value in general human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Harry S Truman College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $11,458. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Brigham Young University Idaho came in at #7 for value in general human development & family studies this year. Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Rexburg. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800. Students borrow a median of $12,250 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Brigham Young University Idaho earn a median of $21,619 early in their careers. Set against $12,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Clackamas Community College landed the #8 spot for general human development & family studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Oregon City, Clackamas Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,345, compared with $14,265 for out-of-state students. 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.
Salt Lake Community College earned the #9 position for value in general human development & family studies this year. Salt Lake Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. In-state tuition and fees average $4,426, while out-of-state students pay about $14,244. Students borrow a median of $10,855 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Salt Lake Community College earn a median of $42,031 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Antonio College placed #10 among the best values for general human development & family studies. Set in the city of San Antonio, San Antonio College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $11,839 in student loans. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of San Antonio College earn a median of $37,855 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Plains College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value general human development & family studies schools. Located in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,733, compared with $5,157 for out-of-state students. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $13,788 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from South Plains College generally make around $30,949. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuesta College placed #12 among the best values for general human development & family studies. Set in the rural area of San Luis Obispo, Cuesta College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,350 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,010 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,958 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from Cuesta College generally make around $64,492. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Suny Empire State College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value general human development & family studies schools. Located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,648 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,558 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $23,693. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $58,140. That is a strong return on a $23,693 median debt.
American Public University System placed #14 among the best values for general human development & family studies. 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. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $21,782. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of American Public University System earn a median of $57,404 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Jacinto Community College came in at #15 for value in general human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,490, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,376 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of San Jacinto Community College earn a median of $38,107 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,376 median debt.
Southwestern College Chula Vista came in at #16 for value in general human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Chula Vista, Southwestern College Chula Vista is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,344, with out-of-state students paying around $10,640. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Los Angeles Mission College earned the #17 position for value in general human development & family studies this year. Los Angeles Mission College is a large public school located in the city of Sylmar. Students from in state pay about $1,238 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,572. Median earnings reach $39,834 ten years out.
Other General Human Development & Family Studies Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value General Human Development & Family Studies rankings across degree levels:
View All General 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 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
