2027 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Human Development & Family Studies](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong human development & family studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 80 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for human development & family studies students.
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2027 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
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
Joliet Junior College tops our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools in the Great Lakes Region. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,530, compared with $13,800 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $11,995. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $40,118. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in human development & family studies will find it at Lake Land College, which ranked #2. Located in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,415, while out-of-state students pay about $14,301. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $7,769 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $30,294. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in human development & family studies will find it at Lewis And Clark Community College, which ranked #3. Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Godfrey. Students from in state pay about $4,340 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,840. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $9,602. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $41,313. That is a strong return on a $9,602 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in human development & family studies will find it at Illinois Valley Community College, which ranked #4. Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Oglesby. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,200, compared with $16,385 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,099 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $33,224. That is a strong return on a $8,099 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Moraine Valley Community College earned it the #5 place for human development & family studies. Moraine Valley Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Palos Hills. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,822, with out-of-state students paying around $9,846. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $11,149. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Moraine Valley Community College earn a median of $43,844 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Macomb Community College earned the #6 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $9,862 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Macomb Community College generally make around $38,758. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oakton Community College came in at #7 for value in human development & family studies this year. Oakton Community College is a large public school located in the city of Des Plaines. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,985, while out-of-state students pay about $12,462. Students borrow a median of $7,750 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $48,838. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Triton College came in at #8 for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,070, with out-of-state students paying around $15,330. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $12,994 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Triton College earn a median of $43,278 early in their careers. Set against $12,994 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Schoolcraft College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,799, while out-of-state students pay about $6,501. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $15,677. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Schoolcraft College earn a median of $46,283 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kellogg Community College placed #10 among the best values for human development & family studies. Set in the city of Battle Creek, Kellogg Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,118 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,282. Students borrow a median of $20,432 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Kellogg Community College generally make around $32,616. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Richland Community College landed the #11 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Richland Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Decatur. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,680, while out-of-state students pay about $17,070. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $9,562 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $46,233. Set against $9,562 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lincoln Land Community College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Lincoln Land Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Springfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,744, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $11,272 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $43,834. Set against $11,272 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kankakee Community College earned the #13 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Kankakee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,220, compared with $25,830 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $13,289. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Kankakee Community College generally make around $60,509. Set against $13,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lansing Community College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Located in the city of Lansing, Lansing Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,100, with out-of-state students paying around $11,300. Students borrow a median of $16,700 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Lansing Community College generally make around $46,103. Set against $16,700 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rock Valley College placed #15 among the best values for human development & family studies. Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rockford. In-state tuition and fees average $4,334, with out-of-state students paying around $7,379. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $9,236. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Rock Valley College earn a median of $41,080 early in their careers. Set against $9,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Prairie State College came in at #16 for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the suburb of Chicago Heights, Prairie State College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,176 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,064. Students borrow a median of $15,663 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $37,500. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Highland Community College Freeport landed the #17 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Located in the rural area of Freeport, Highland Community College Freeport is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,936 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,360. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $13,783. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Highland Community College Freeport generally make around $46,384. Set against $13,783 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Delta College came in at #18 for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,820, with out-of-state students paying around $7,880. Students borrow a median of $14,478 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $21,881. Set against $14,478 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Morton College earned the #19 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Morton College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Cicero. Students from in state pay about $4,884 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,028. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $7,734. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Morton College earn a median of $23,252 early in their careers. Set against $7,734 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mott Community College placed #20 among the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the city of Flint, Mott Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,845, with out-of-state students paying around $11,460. Students borrow a median of $20,645 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Mott Community College earn a median of $37,989 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,645 median debt.
Sinclair Community College earned the #21 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,675, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $12,525. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $35,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Lake County came in at #22 for value in human development & family studies this year. College Of Lake County is a very large public school located in the suburb of Grayslake. In-state tuition and fees average $4,788, with out-of-state students paying around $14,400. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $9,785 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $50,314 early in their careers. Set against $9,785 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kaskaskia College earned the #23 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800, while out-of-state students pay about $12,570. Students borrow a median of $7,875 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $45,658. Set against $7,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oakland Community College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,120, while out-of-state students pay about $5,560. Students borrow a median of $17,310 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Oakland Community College generally make around $30,486. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Black Hawk College placed #25 among the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the city of Moline, Black Hawk College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,920, compared with $8,100 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,340 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $44,286. Set against $11,340 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:
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More Human Development & Family Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 80 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 80 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.
