2025 Best Human Development & Family Studies Schools
186Colleges in the United States
41,177Human Development Degrees Awarded
$32,451Avg Early-Career Salary
A degree in human development & family studies is more popular than many other degrees. In fact, it ranks #44 out of 395 on popularity of all such degrees in the nation. This means you won't have too much trouble finding schools that offer the degree.
In 2025, College Factual analyzed 186 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Human Development & Family Studies Schools ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 41,177 degrees in human development & family studies annually.
Choosing a Great Human Development & Family Studies School
Your choice of human development & family studies school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision. For our Best Overall Human Development & Family Studies School rankings, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Human Development & Family Studies Rankings by Degree Level
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Human Development & Family Studies Schools list, to help you choose the best school for you.
You can also filter this list by location to find schools closer to you.
In addition to College Factual's rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you.
When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don't forget it.
Best Schools for Human Development & Family Studies in the United States
Although we recommend filtering by degree level first, you can view the list below to see which schools give the educational experience for the human development degree levels they offer. Only those schools that rank in the top 20% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.
University of Wisconsin - Madison is one of the best schools in the United States for getting a degree in human development & family studies. UW - Madison is a very large public university located in the city of Madison. A Best Colleges rank of #40 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UW - Madison is a great university overall.
There were roughly 136 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at UW - Madison in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the human development program state that they receive average early career income of $34,149.
It's difficult to beat Cornell University if you want to pursue a degree in human development & family studies. Located in the small city of Ithaca, Cornell is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #9 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Cornell is a great university overall.
There were about 67 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Cornell in the most recent year we have data available. Those human development & family studies students who get their degree from Cornell University earn $5,950 more than the typical human development graduate.
University of Connecticut is a wonderful option for students pursuing a degree in human development & family studies. UCONN is a very large public university located in the town of Storrs. A Best Colleges rank of #57 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UCONN is a great university overall.
There were approximately 177 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at UCONN in the most recent year we have data available. Soon after graduating, human development degree recipients typically earn about $31,642 in their early careers.
Virginia Tech is a good decision for students pursuing a degree in human development & family studies. Virginia Tech is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. A Best Colleges rank of #58 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Virginia Tech is a great school overall.
There were roughly 230 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Tech in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the human development program make about $33,654 in their early career salary.
Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 8th out of 115 schools for overall quality in the state of Texas.
There were about 201 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Texas Tech in the most recent year we have data available. Human Development & Family Studies degree recipients from Texas Tech University get an earnings boost of around $6,645 over the typical earnings of human development & family studies graduates.
Iowa State is a very large public university located in the city of Ames. This university ranks 2nd out of 37 schools for overall quality in the state of Iowa.
There were about 102 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Iowa State in the most recent data year. Those human development & family studies students who get their degree from Iowa State University earn $3,913 more than the typical human development grad.
Michigan State is a very large public university located in the small city of East Lansing. A Best Colleges rank of #54 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Michigan State is a great university overall.
There were roughly 127 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State in the most recent data year. After graduating, human development degree recipients usually earn an average of $31,434 in the first five years of their career.
University of Arizona is a very large public university located in the city of Tucson. This university ranks 3rd out of 26 colleges for overall quality in the state of Arizona.
There were about 111 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at University of Arizona in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the human development & family studies program at University of Arizona make $3,994 more than the average college graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.
Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #70 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Ohio State is a great university overall.
There were roughly 134 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the human development & family studies program at Ohio State University - Main Campus make $2,159 above the average college graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.
Wazzu is a fairly large public university located in the distant town of Pullman. This university ranks 3rd out of 50 colleges for overall quality in the state of Washington.
There were about 199 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Wazzu in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the human development & family studies major at Washington State University get $7,429 above the average college grad with the same degree shortly after graduation.
UT Austin is a fairly large public university located in the city of Austin. A Best Colleges rank of #46 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UT Austin is a great university overall.
There were roughly 168 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at UT Austin in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the human development program report average early career earnings of $33,118.
Florida State is a fairly large public university located in the midsize city of Tallahassee. This university ranks 2nd out of 70 colleges for overall quality in the state of Florida.
There were about 282 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Florida State in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the human development program state that they receive average early career wages of $29,690.
UGA is a very large public university located in the midsize city of Athens. A Best Colleges rank of #69 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UGA is a great university overall.
There were about 188 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at UGA in the most recent data year. After graduation, human development degree recipients typically make around $31,392 in the first five years of their career.
Located in the medium-sized city of Modesto, MJC is a public college with a large student population. This college ranks 32nd out of 161 schools for overall quality in the state of California.
There were approximately 281 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at MJC in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the human development program state that they receive average early career income of $16,815.
Located in the midsize city of Fargo, North Dakota State University is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 4th out of 12 colleges for overall quality in the state of North Dakota.
There were roughly 148 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at North Dakota State University in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies degree recipients from North Dakota State University - Main Campus get an earnings boost of approximately $9,266 above the average earnings of human development & family studies graduates.
UF is a very large public university located in the city of Gainesville. A Best Colleges rank of #56 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UF is a great university overall.
There were roughly 133 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at UF in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the human development & family studies program at University of Florida get $5,615 more than the standard college graduate in this field shortly after graduation.
Located in the large suburb of College Park, UMCP is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #37 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UMCP is a great university overall.
There were approximately 106 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at UMCP in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the human development & family studies major at University of Maryland - College Park make $8,706 more than the average graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.
Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #39 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Tufts is a great university overall.
There were roughly 77 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Tufts in the most recent data year. Those human development & family studies students who get their degree from Tufts University earn $12,324 more than the standard human development student.
Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, UA is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 3rd out of 42 colleges for overall quality in the state of Alabama.
There were approximately 163 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at UA in the most recent data year. Graduates who receive their degree from the human development program earn about $30,264 in the first couple years of their career.
Located in the small city of Auburn, Auburn is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 2nd out of 42 schools for overall quality in the state of Alabama.
There were about 102 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Auburn in the most recent data year. Graduates who receive their degree from the human development program make an average of $30,502 for their early career.
Located in the small city of Manhattan, K -State is a public university with a large student population. This university ranks 2nd out of 44 colleges for overall quality in the state of Kansas.
There were approximately 151 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at K -State in the most recent year we have data available. Those human development & family studies students who get their degree from Kansas State University receive $5,489 more than the standard human development grad.
Located in the distant town of Stillwater, OSU is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 2nd out of 31 colleges for overall quality in the state of Oklahoma.
There were roughly 120 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at OSU in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies degree recipients from Oklahoma State University - Main Campus receive an earnings boost of approximately $9,472 above the average earnings of human development & family studies graduates.
Located in the city of La Jolla, UCSD is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #49 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UCSD is a great university overall.
There were about 99 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at UCSD in the most recent year we have data available. After graduation, human development degree recipients generally earn around $33,489 in the first five years of their career.
URI is a large public university located in the suburb of Kingston. This university ranks 5th out of 9 colleges for overall quality in the state of Rhode Island.
There were roughly 102 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at URI in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the human development & family studies program at University of Rhode Island get $3,968 above the average graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.
Located in the fringe town of Durham, UNH is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 2nd out of 17 schools for overall quality in the state of New Hampshire.
There were about 71 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at UNH in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the human development program state that they receive average early career earnings of $32,146.
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Human Development & Family Studies Schools award.
Human Development & Family Studies Related Rankings by Major
One of 8 majors within the Family, Consumer & Human Sciences area of study, Human Development & Family Studies has other similar majors worth exploring.
The bars on the spread charts above show the distribution of the schools on this list +/- one standard deviation from the mean.
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 the rest 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).
Your choice of human development & family studies school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision. For our Best Overall Human Development & Family Studies School rankings, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
