2027 Best Value General Human Development & Family Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[General Human Development & Family Studies](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/human-development-and-family-studies-general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 15 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 Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general human development & family studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Human Development & Family Studies Schools
Leading the list is City Colleges Of Chicago Harry S Truman College, our #1 best value for general human development & family studies in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Harry S Truman College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,590 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $11,458 in student loans. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $37,381. Set against $11,458 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indiana State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general human development & family studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,258 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,322. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $35,941. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana State University admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value general human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $19,600. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $29,762 early in their careers. Set against $19,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northern Illinois University earned it the #4 place for general human development & family studies. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $38,538. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Purdue University Main Campus earned it the #5 place for general human development & family studies. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,304 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $35,436 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #6 among the best values for general human development & family studies. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $23,250. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $34,610 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #7 position for value in general human development & family studies this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $34,149. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
University Of Wisconsin Stout earned the #8 position for value in general human development & family studies this year. University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Menomonie. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,701, with out-of-state students paying around $19,265. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $27,000. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $37,050. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois State University placed #9 among the best values for general human development & family studies. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $23,125. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $33,682. Set against $23,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Michigan State University came in at #10 for value in general human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,750 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $31,434. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Kent State University At Kent placed #11 among the best values for general human development & family studies. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,220 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,575. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $26,913. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $33,643. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #12 position for value in general human development & family studies this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $19,343 in student loans. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $30,748 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Rockford College earned the #13 position for value in general human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Rockford, Rockford College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $37,780 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,094 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $56,020. Set against $28,094 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Franciscan University Of Steubenville earned the #14 position for value in general human development & family studies this year. Set in the city of Steubenville, Franciscan University Of Steubenville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,100. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $25,029. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from Franciscan University Of Steubenville generally make around $43,020. That is a strong return on a $25,029 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus earned the #15 position for value in general human development & family studies this year. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,912, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $32,175. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
