[Other Human Development, Family Studies, & Related Services](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/human-development-family-studies-and-related-services-other/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for other human development, family studies, & related services students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the other human development, family studies, & related services degrees they offer, see the list below.
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #1 spot for value among other human development, family studies, & related services schools in the United States. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Other Human Development, Family Studies, & Related Services graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other human development, family studies, & related services degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $36,743. Set against $17,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Portland State University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value other human development, family studies, & related services schools. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. In-state tuition and fees average $11,118, compared with $29,136 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,334 to complete the other human development, family studies, & related services program here. Other Human Development, Family Studies, & Related Services graduates of Portland State University earn a median of $32,481 early in their careers. Set against $23,334 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Students looking for strong value in other human development, family studies, & related services will find it at University Of Colorado Denver, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,383, while out-of-state students pay about $29,391. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the other human development, family studies, & related services program here. Other Human Development, Family Studies, & Related Services graduates of University Of Colorado Denver earn a median of $35,234 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Colorado Denver admits about 75% of applicants.
Washington State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other human development, family studies, & related services, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,391, compared with $29,950 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other human development, family studies, & related services graduates is $24,019. Soon after graduation, other human development, family studies, & related services degree recipients from Washington State University generally make around $39,880. That is a strong return on a $24,019 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Vanderbilt University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other human development, family studies, & related services, landing the #5 spot this year. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Other Human Development, Family Studies, & Related Services graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Other Human Development, Family Studies, & Related Services graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Western Michigan University placed #6 among the best values for other human development, family studies, & related services. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,987, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. Students borrow a median of $29,539 to complete the other human development, family studies, & related services program here. Other Human Development, Family Studies, & Related Services graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $48,966 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
Winthrop University earned the #7 position for value in other human development, family studies, & related services this year. Located in the city of Rock Hill, Winthrop University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,678, while out-of-state students pay about $28,676. Other Human Development, Family Studies, & Related Services graduates carry a median of $30,875 in student loans. Early-career other human development, family studies, & related services graduates make about $39,378. That is a strong return on a $30,875 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
University Of Maine came in at #8 for value in other human development, family studies, & related services this year. Located in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,326, compared with $36,756 for out-of-state students. Other Human Development, Family Studies, & Related Services graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other human development, family studies, & related services degree recipients from University Of Maine generally make around $30,983. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Maine admits about 97% of applicants.
University Of Central Oklahoma came in at #9 for value in other human development, family studies, & related services this year. Set in the suburb of Edmond, University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,818 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,704. Other Human Development, Family Studies, & Related Services graduates carry a median of $27,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other human development, family studies, & related services degree recipients from University Of Central Oklahoma generally make around $35,491. That is a strong return on a $27,500 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
South Dakota State University came in at #10 for value in other human development, family studies, & related services this year. South Dakota State University is a large public school located in the town of Brookings. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,299, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other human development, family studies, & related services graduates is $24,500. Soon after graduation, other human development, family studies, & related services degree recipients from South Dakota State University generally make around $37,123. Set against $24,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. South Dakota State University admits about 98% of applicants.
The University Of Alabama came in at #11 for value in other human development, family studies, & related services this year. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,180 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,172. Other Human Development, Family Studies, & Related Services graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Other Human Development, Family Studies, & Related Services graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $50,740 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Grambling State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value other human development, family studies, & related services schools. Located in the town of Grambling, Grambling State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,683, while out-of-state students pay about $16,706. Typical student debt for other human development, family studies, & related services graduates is $53,588. Other Human Development, Family Studies, & Related Services graduates of Grambling State University earn a median of $23,073 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Grambling State University admits about 45% of applicants.
Auburn University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value other human development, family studies, & related services schools. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,890, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the other human development, family studies, & related services program here. Early-career other human development, family studies, & related services graduates make about $30,502. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Atlanta Christian College placed #14 among the best values for other human development, family studies, & related services. Set in the town of West Point, Atlanta Christian College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $23,950 in tuition and fees. Other Human Development, Family Studies, & Related Services graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Other Human Development, Family Studies, & Related Services graduates of Atlanta Christian College earn a median of $25,578 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 44%.
Northwestern University placed #15 among the best values for other human development, family studies, & related services. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,322 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the other human development, family studies, & related services program here. Other Human Development, Family Studies, & Related Services graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $78,551 early in their careers. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Merrimack College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value other human development, family studies, & related services schools. Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of North Andover. In-state tuition and fees average $53,962. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the other human development, family studies, & related services program here. Early-career other human development, family studies, & related services graduates make about $33,640. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Explore the best-value other human development, family studies, & related services schools at other degree levels:
View All Other Human Development, Family Studies, & Related Services Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
