2026 Best General Human Development & Family Studies Schools in California
General Human Development & Family Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 22 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best general human development & family studies schools.
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Best Schools for General Human Development & Family Studies in California
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the general human development & family studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in General Human Development & Family Studies
Our analysis ranked University Of California Davis the best school in the country for a degree in general human development & family studies. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Davis. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 279 general human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $53,749. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $14,404 in student loans.
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University Of California San Diego came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best general human development & family studies schools. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 52 general human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of California San Diego in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general human development & family studies degree from University Of California San Diego earn around $33,489 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California San Diego graduates carry a median of $19,342 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong general human development & family studies program will find one at California State University East Bay, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. There were roughly 236 general human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University East Bay in the most recent data year. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of California State University East Bay earn a median of $41,195 early in their careers. California State University East Bay graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans.
See the full general human development & family studies program report for California State University East Bay
A rank of #4 makes California State University Long Beach one of the top schools for general human development & family studies. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 79 general human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general human development & family studies program make about $30,205 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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Sonoma State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general human development & family studies, ranking #5. Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. Sonoma State University graduates 58% of students within six years. About 19 general human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Sonoma State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general human development & family studies degree from Sonoma State University earn around $33,906 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,250 to complete this degree.
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California State University San Marcos came in at #6 for general human development & family studies this year. California State University San Marcos is a large public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 99 general human development & family studies degrees were awarded at California State University San Marcos in the most recent year. Graduates of the general human development & family studies program make about $31,184 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,193 to complete this degree.
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Loma Linda University earned the #7 position for general human development & family studies this year. Located in the suburb of Loma Linda, Loma Linda University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. There were roughly 14 general human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Loma Linda University in the most recent data year. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Loma Linda University earn a median of $43,043 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,094.
More information about a degree in general human development & family studies from Loma Linda University
Cuesta College earned the #8 position for general human development & family studies this year. Located in the rural area of San Luis Obispo, Cuesta College is a large public university. There were roughly 28 general human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Cuesta College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from Cuesta College generally make around $64,492. Typical student debt for the program is $18,958.
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California State University Monterey Bay landed the #9 spot for general human development & family studies this year. Located in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. California State University Monterey Bay awarded about 71 general human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from California State University Monterey Bay generally make around $34,089. Students borrow a median of $12,408 to complete this degree.
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Fielding Graduate University earned the #10 position for general human development & family studies this year. Fielding Graduate University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Barbara. There were roughly 21 general human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Fielding Graduate University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from Fielding Graduate University generally make around $70,531.
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Pacific Oaks College came in at #11 for general human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pacific Oaks College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 89 general human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Pacific Oaks College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general human development & family studies degree from Pacific Oaks College earn around $46,367 in the first couple years of their career. Pacific Oaks College graduates carry a median of $27,715 in student loans.
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Shasta College landed the #12 spot for general human development & family studies this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Redding. Shasta College awarded about 14 general human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from Shasta College generally make around $50,330. Shasta College graduates carry a median of $12,275 in student loans.
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Southwestern College Chula Vista ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best general human development & family studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Chula Vista. There were roughly 68 general human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Southwestern College Chula Vista in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from Southwestern College Chula Vista generally make around $49,358. Students borrow a median of $11,205 to complete this degree.
See the full general human development & family studies program report for Southwestern College Chula Vista
College Of The Desert placed #14 among the best general human development & family studies schools. This large public university is located in the city of Palm Desert. There were roughly 19 general human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at College Of The Desert in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general human development & family studies degree from College Of The Desert earn around $41,295 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,826.
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Los Angeles Mission College came in at #15 for general human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Sylmar, Los Angeles Mission College is a large public university. Los Angeles Mission College awarded about 12 general human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year.
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More General Human Development & Family Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 22 schools evaluated.
- 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.
