2027 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Master’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. 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 42 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for human development & family studies students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the human development & family studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools
For return on investment in human development & family studies, no school beat University Of Florida this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $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 $49,947. That is a strong return on a $17,296 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
A rank of #2 makes Southeastern Oklahoma State University one of the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the town of Durant, Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,200 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,410. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Southeastern Oklahoma State University generally make around $32,997. That is a strong return on a $18,000 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Florida State University one of the best values for human development & family studies. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $29,690. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Students looking for strong value in human development & family studies will find it at Saint Marys University Of Minnesota, which ranked #4. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Winona. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,080. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $27,081 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Saint Marys University Of Minnesota earn a median of $69,785 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,081 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Colorado Denver came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. In-state tuition and fees average $10,383, with out-of-state students paying around $29,391. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of Colorado Denver earn a median of $51,914 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
University Of North Alabama earned the #6 position for value in human development & family studies this year. University Of North Alabama is a large public school located in the city of Florence. Students from in state pay about $12,120 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,320 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,291 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from University Of North Alabama generally make around $41,357. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Womans University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Texas Womans University is a large public school located in the city of Denton. Students from in state pay about $8,640 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,480. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $24,170. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Texas Womans University earn a median of $43,090 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
National Louis University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Located in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,245. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $28,096. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $47,754. That is a strong return on a $28,096 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Arkansas State University Main Campus landed the #9 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Located in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,090, while out-of-state students pay about $14,522. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $23,399. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $45,656. That is a strong return on a $23,399 median debt. Arkansas State University Main Campus admits about 82% of applicants.
Northern Illinois University landed the #10 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,060. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $48,734. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earned the #11 position for value in human development & family studies this year. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Stevens Point. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,228, while out-of-state students pay about $18,248. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $24,161 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point generally make around $41,256. Set against $24,161 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point admits about 92% of applicants.
Arizona State University landed the #12 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,842 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $49,757. Set against $21,842 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Vanderbilt University landed the #13 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. The acceptance rate is 6%.
University Of Central Missouri landed the #14 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Located in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,050 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,600. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of Central Missouri earn a median of $39,959 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. University Of Central Missouri admits about 64% of applicants.
Utah State University earned the #15 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,560, while out-of-state students pay about $24,993. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $16,573 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $26,561. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Nevada Reno came in at #16 for value in human development & family studies this year. University Of Nevada Reno is a very large public school located in the city of Reno. In-state tuition and fees average $9,578, compared with $27,720 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $21,875. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of Nevada Reno earn a median of $35,322 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,875 median debt. University Of Nevada Reno admits about 74% of applicants.
Towson University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,728, while out-of-state students pay about $29,820. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Towson University earn a median of $50,370 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Bellevue University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Bellevue University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bellevue. Students from in state pay about $12,873 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $27,852. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Bellevue University generally make around $61,548. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Texas State University San Marcos placed #19 among the best values for human development & family studies. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, compared with $22,930 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $22,295. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $35,047. Set against $22,295 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln earned the #20 position for value in human development & family studies this year. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. Students from in state pay about $10,434 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $22,386. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $49,451 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,386 median debt. University Of Nebraska Lincoln admits about 88% of applicants.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,110, compared with $25,630 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $23,858 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Oklahoma State University Main Campus earn a median of $45,321 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Amberton University landed the #22 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Garland, Amberton University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,060.
Central Washington University placed #23 among the best values for human development & family studies. Central Washington University is a very large public school located in the town of Ellensburg. In-state tuition and fees average $9,417, with out-of-state students paying around $27,526. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $21,000. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Central Washington University earn a median of $27,006 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
The University Of Tennessee came in at #24 for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,812, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,790 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $47,522. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas State University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,221 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $25,000. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $51,067 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 42 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s human development & family studies value ranking:
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. 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 · 42 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 42 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.
