2027 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in Pennsylvania
[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools to find the best return on investment for human development & family studies students.
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2027 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in Pennsylvania
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
Our analysis ranked Luzerne County Community College the best value for a degree in human development & family studies in Pennsylvania. Luzerne County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Nanticoke. Students from in state pay about $6,600 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,260. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $14,614. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Luzerne County Community College generally make around $44,353. 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 Northampton County Area Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Bethlehem, Northampton County Area Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,550 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,270. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $18,900 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Northampton County Area Community College generally make around $35,960. 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 Reading Area Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Reading, Reading Area Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,480, compared with $12,510 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $13,979. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Reading Area Community College generally make around $49,248. 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 Community College Of Allegheny County, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Community College Of Allegheny County is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,956 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,583. Students borrow a median of $9,651 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Community College Of Allegheny County earn a median of $28,078 early in their careers. Set against $9,651 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in human development & family studies will find it at Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Indiana, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,380, with out-of-state students paying around $16,297. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $26,817. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $30,675. Set against $26,817 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Dubois landed the #6 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Dubois is a small public school located in the town of DuBois. Students from in state pay about $14,408 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,134. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $26,057 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Penn State Dubois generally make around $33,375. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus placed #7 among the best values for human development & family studies. Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public school located in the city of University Park. In-state tuition and fees average $15,356. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $26,057 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $33,375. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Pennsylvania State University World Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State York placed #8 among the best values for human development & family studies. Set in the suburb of York, Pennsylvania State University Penn State York is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,208, while out-of-state students pay about $25,392. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $26,057 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Penn State York generally make around $33,375. That is a strong return on a $26,057 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Lackawanna College landed the #9 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Set in the city of Scranton, Lackawanna College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $18,400 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Lackawanna College earn a median of $37,408 early in their careers. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Keystone College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the suburb of La Plume, Keystone College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $18,300 in tuition and fees. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $28,226 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Keystone College generally make around $33,517. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Keystone College admits about 85% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Altoona came in at #11 for value in human development & family studies this year. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Altoona is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Altoona. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,972, compared with $26,958 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $34,030. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Brandywine earned the #12 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the suburb of Media, Pennsylvania State University Brandywine is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,208, compared with $25,392 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $34,030. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College came in at #13 for value in human development & family studies this year. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Erie. In-state tuition and fees average $15,972, while out-of-state students pay about $26,958. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $25,296. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College generally make around $56,450. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg placed #14 among the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the suburb of Middletown, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,972, compared with $26,958 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $34,030. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg admits about 98% of applicants.
Harcum College placed #15 among the best values for human development & family studies. Set in the suburb of Bryn Mawr, Harcum College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $32,000. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $21,375. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Harcum College earn a median of $30,963 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,375 median debt.
Messiah College earned the #16 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg, Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $42,240. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Messiah College earn a median of $32,943 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Elizabethtown College came in at #17 for value in human development & family studies this year. Elizabethtown College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elizabethtown. Students from in state pay about $37,950 in tuition and fees. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $26,599 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Elizabethtown College generally make around $57,397. Set against $26,599 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Elizabethtown College admits about 78% of applicants.
Eastern University earned the #18 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Davids, Eastern University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $38,400. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $28,584. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Eastern University generally make around $50,474. That is a strong return on a $28,584 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Temple University landed the #19 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students from in state pay about $23,005 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,805. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $31,452. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #20 among the best values for human development & family studies. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,057 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earn a median of $33,375 early in their careers. Set against $26,057 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
