2027 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Human Development & Family Studies](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 168 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value human development & family studies schools.
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2027 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in human development & family studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools
California State University San Bernardino tops our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools in the United States. Set in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,088 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,688. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $15,149. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from California State University San Bernardino generally make around $42,421. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in human development & family studies will find it at The University Of Texas Pan American, which ranked #2. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. Students from in state pay about $9,799 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,645. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $20,871 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $26,897 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,871 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Students looking for strong value in human development & family studies will find it at University Of Florida, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Students borrow a median of $17,296 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $35,759. Set against $17,296 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Fresno earned it the #4 place for human development & family studies. California State University Fresno is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,341, compared with $19,941 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $15,598. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $49,502. Set against $15,598 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Berea College earned it the #5 place for human development & family studies. Located in the town of Berea, Berea College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,658. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $5,801 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $31,428. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Texas At Dallas landed the #6 spot for human development & family studies value this year. University Of North Texas At Dallas is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Dallas. In-state tuition and fees average $9,595, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
College Of The Ozarks placed #7 among the best values for human development & family studies. Set in the town of Point Lookout, College Of The Ozarks is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $22,360 in tuition and fees. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from College Of The Ozarks generally make around $37,944. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Utah Valley University landed the #8 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,507, compared with $18,489 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,500 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $20,971. That is a strong return on a $13,500 median debt.
California State University East Bay landed the #9 spot for human development & family studies value this year. California State University East Bay is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,583, while out-of-state students pay about $20,183. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $18,000. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of California State University East Bay earn a median of $41,195 early in their careers. Set against $18,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University landed the #10 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Located in the town of Durant, Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,200, while out-of-state students pay about $16,410. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $32,997. That is a strong return on a $18,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Brigham Young University Idaho placed #11 among the best values for human development & family studies. Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Rexburg. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $12,250. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Brigham Young University Idaho earn a median of $21,619 early in their careers. Set against $12,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Ferris State University earned the #12 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,778. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $25,769 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $35,216. That is a strong return on a $25,769 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
California State University Long Beach earned the #13 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,374, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $30,205 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
California State University San Marcos came in at #14 for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,082, compared with $20,682 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,193 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from California State University San Marcos generally make around $31,184. Set against $17,193 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University San Marcos admits about 95% of applicants.
Portland State University earned the #15 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,118, compared with $29,136 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $23,334 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Portland State University generally make around $32,481. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #16 for value in human development & family studies this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $36,743 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Lamar University earned the #17 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,905, with out-of-state students paying around $18,745. Students borrow a median of $26,988 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $52,678. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Florida State University landed the #18 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $29,690 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
New Mexico State University Main Campus landed the #19 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,183, with out-of-state students paying around $25,307. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $20,938 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from New Mexico State University Main Campus generally make around $25,965. That is a strong return on a $20,938 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Southern Utah University placed #20 among the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,962 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,192 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $12,886 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Southern Utah University earn a median of $44,998 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Weber State University placed #21 among the best values for human development & family studies. Weber State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ogden. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,557, with out-of-state students paying around $17,545. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $18,792. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Weber State University earn a median of $35,861 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of California San Diego ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,788 in tuition and fees, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $19,342. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $33,489. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 27%.
American Public University System earned the #23 position for value in human development & family studies this year. American Public University System is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $36,275 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from American Public University System generally make around $34,347. That is a strong return on a $36,275 median debt.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro placed #24 among the best values for human development & family studies. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public school located in the city of Greensboro. Students from in state pay about $7,661 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,012 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro generally make around $33,878. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro admits about 88% of applicants.
Texas A And M University San Antonio ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Located in the city of San Antonio, Texas A And M University San Antonio is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,654, compared with $23,255 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $22,771 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Texas A And M University San Antonio generally make around $45,681. That is a strong return on a $22,771 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for human development & family studies this year:
Other Human Development & Family Studies Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Human Development & Family Studies rankings across degree levels:
View All Human Development & Family Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 168 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 168 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.
