[Human Development & Family Studies](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/) 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 1057 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for human development & family studies students.
Finding the Best Value Human Development & Family Studies School for You
The right human development & family studies school can pay off for years to come. That is why we developed our Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Cerritos College tops our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools in the United States. Set in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Cerritos College generally make around $29,495. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.
Moorpark College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Moorpark College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Moorpark. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $17,075. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Moorpark College generally make around $105,599. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Skyline College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Skyline College is a large public school located in the suburb of San Bruno. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, compared with $9,956 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,702 ten years after entry.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida State College At Jacksonville earned it the #4 place for human development & family studies. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Students from in state pay about $2,657 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,631 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $13,272. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Florida State College At Jacksonville earn a median of $31,295 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,272 median debt.
Fresno City College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, compared with $8,638 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $8,000 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $30,519. Set against $8,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oxnard College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,393 ten years after entry.
Central New Mexico Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,060, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $9,258 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Central New Mexico Community College earn a median of $31,256 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,258 median debt.
College Of The Canyons came in at #8 for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,166 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,958 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,776 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College landed the #9 spot for human development & family studies value this year. City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $7,500. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College generally make around $34,294. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ventura College came in at #10 for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $20,250. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $99,778. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saddleback College came in at #11 for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,432 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,812. Students borrow a median of $5,707 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Saddleback College earn a median of $15,890 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,707 median debt.
Irvine Valley College came in at #12 for value in human development & family studies this year. Irvine Valley College is a large public school located in the city of Irvine. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, compared with $11,860 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,672 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,156. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Ana College came in at #13 for value in human development & family studies this year. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,756. Students borrow a median of $6,630 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $23,863. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Diego Mesa College earned the #14 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $6,999 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from San Diego Mesa College generally make around $29,852. Set against $6,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Reedley College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Reedley College is a large public school located in the town of Reedley. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,638 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Reedley College earn a median of $30,520 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X 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. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $12,272 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $30,292. That is a strong return on a $12,272 median debt.
Santiago Canyon College came in at #17 for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Orange, Santiago Canyon College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,164 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,612. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $34,100. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Moraine Valley Community College landed the #18 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,822, with out-of-state students paying around $9,846. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $11,149 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Moraine Valley Community College earn a median of $43,844 early in their careers. Set against $11,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Sequoias came in at #19 for value in human development & family studies this year. College Of The Sequoias is a large public school located in the city of Visalia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,394, while out-of-state students pay about $9,038. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $10,288 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $18,158. That is a strong return on a $10,288 median debt.
St Petersburg College placed #20 among the best values for human development & family studies. Set in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,682, with out-of-state students paying around $9,286. Students borrow a median of $24,385 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $48,218 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,385 median debt.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Located in the city of Rome, Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,300, compared with $5,868 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,492 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Georgia Northwestern Technical College earn a median of $41,229 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,492 median debt.
Norco College earned the #22 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the suburb of Norco, Norco College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,428, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $8,203. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $51,206. That is a strong return on a $8,203 median debt.
West Valley College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $0 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,320. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $14,308 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of West Valley College earn a median of $25,378 early in their careers. Set against $14,308 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Canada College placed #24 among the best values for human development & family studies. Canada College is a large public school located in the suburb of Redwood City. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,384. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Canada College generally make around $106,691. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pasadena City College placed #25 among the best values for human development & family studies. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,924. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $38,841. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in human development & family studies:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 1057 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 186 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).
[Human Development & Family Studies](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/) 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.
