by our College Data Analytics Team
[Human Development & Family Studies](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/) 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 171 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for human development & family studies students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in human development & family studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked Skyline College the best value for a degree in human development & family studies in the Far Western Region. Set in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $9,956. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,702 ten years after entry.
Cerritos College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. Students borrow a median of $11,306 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $29,495 early in their careers. Set against $11,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Moorpark College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in human development & family studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $17,075 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Moorpark College earn a median of $105,599 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,075 median debt.
Oxnard College came in at #4 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. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,393.
Fresno City College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in human development & family studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. 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.
San Diego Mesa College came in at #6 for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Students borrow a median of $6,999 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from San Diego Mesa College generally make around $29,852. That is a strong return on a $6,999 median debt.
Reedley College ranked #7 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Reedley College generally make around $30,520. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.
College Of The Sequoias earned the #8 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,394 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,038. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $10,288. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of College Of The Sequoias earn a median of $18,158 early in their careers. Set against $10,288 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Canyons placed #9 among the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,166, while out-of-state students pay about $10,958. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $51,913. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Diego Miramar College came in at #10 for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $8,098 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $41,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Canada College landed the #11 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Canada College is a large public school located in the suburb of Redwood City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, compared with $11,384 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Canada College earn a median of $106,691 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Irvine Valley College placed #12 among the best values for human development & family studies. Set in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,156, with out-of-state students paying around $11,860. Students borrow a median of $6,672 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,156 ten years after entry. Set against $6,672 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ventura College came in at #13 for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $99,778. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Diego City College landed the #14 spot for human development & family studies value this year. San Diego City College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Students borrow a median of $9,514 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $26,218. That is a strong return on a $9,514 median debt.
West Valley College came in at #15 for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $0, with out-of-state students paying around $9,320. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $14,308. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from West Valley College generally make around $25,378. That is a strong return on a $14,308 median debt.
Moreno Valley College came in at #16 for value in human development & family studies this year. Moreno Valley College is a large public school located in the suburb of Moreno Valley. In-state tuition and fees average $1,428, compared with $12,498 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $12,643. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $45,515. That is a strong return on a $12,643 median debt.
Saddleback College earned the #17 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Saddleback College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Mission Viejo. In-state tuition and fees average $1,432, with out-of-state students paying around $14,812. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $5,707 in student loans. 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.
Norco College landed the #18 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Norco, Norco College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,428, compared with $12,498 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,203 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Median earnings reach $51,206 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santiago Canyon College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of Orange, Santiago Canyon College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,164, compared with $9,612 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Santiago Canyon College earn a median of $34,100 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Imperial Valley College earned the #20 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Imperial Valley College is a large public school located in the rural area of Imperial. Students from in state pay about $1,126 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,830. Students borrow a median of $6,176 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Imperial Valley College earn a median of $42,617 early in their careers. Set against $6,176 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pasadena City College came in at #21 for value in human development & family studies this year. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, compared with $10,924 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $38,841. That is a strong return on a $9,191 median debt.
Grossmont College landed the #22 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Located in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,628. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,309 ten years after entry.
Santa Ana College earned the #23 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,756. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $6,630 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $23,863. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mt San Antonio College came in at #24 for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $44,391. Set against $9,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Monica College landed the #25 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Set in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,156, while out-of-state students pay about $10,708. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,193 ten years after entry.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s human development & family studies value ranking:
The ranking above is published 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 · 171 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 26 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.