2027 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in the New England Region

[Human Development & Family Studies](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 18 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 New England 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
Massachusetts Bay Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools in the New England Region. Massachusetts Bay Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Wellesley Hills. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,856, compared with $10,800 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,008 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $44,553. That is a strong return on a $11,008 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in human development & family studies will find it at Mount Wachusett Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Gardner, Mount Wachusett Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,160, with out-of-state students paying around $11,080. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $5,921 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $27,078. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northern Essex Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Located in the suburb of Haverhill, Northern Essex Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,732, with out-of-state students paying around $12,516. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $11,002 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Northern Essex Community College earn a median of $44,682 early in their careers. 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 Massasoit Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Brockton, Massasoit Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,376, while out-of-state students pay about $10,320. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $10,894 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Massasoit Community College earn a median of $42,938 early in their careers. Set against $10,894 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in human development & family studies will find it at North Shore Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Danvers, North Shore Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,352, compared with $10,920 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $9,622 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $34,978. Set against $9,622 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Holyoke Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Holyoke Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Holyoke. Students from in state pay about $5,988 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,932 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $9,763. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $43,423. Set against $9,763 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Charter Oak State College earned the #7 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the suburb of New Britain, Charter Oak State College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,506 in tuition and fees. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $23,584 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $62,864. That is a strong return on a $23,584 median debt.
Framingham State University came in at #8 for value in human development & family studies this year. Framingham State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Framingham. In-state tuition and fees average $11,920, while out-of-state students pay about $18,000. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $25,872. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Framingham State University earn a median of $49,006 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,872 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Community College Of Vermont placed #9 among the best values for human development & family studies. Community College Of Vermont is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Montpelier. In-state tuition and fees average $6,920, compared with $13,640 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,125 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Community College Of Vermont earn a median of $34,182 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,125 median debt.
University Of Vermont ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Located in the city of Burlington, University Of Vermont is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,058, while out-of-state students pay about $45,502. Students borrow a median of $19,250 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of Vermont earn a median of $25,249 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
University Of Rhode Island placed #11 among the best values for human development & family studies. University Of Rhode Island is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kingston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,942, compared with $37,146 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from University Of Rhode Island generally make around $41,062. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of Maine ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. University Of Maine is a large public school located in the suburb of Orono. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,326, while out-of-state students pay about $36,756. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of Maine earn a median of $30,983 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Boston University landed the #13 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,102 in tuition and fees. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Boston University earn a median of $49,851 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus earned the #14 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the town of Durham, University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $19,202, compared with $39,852 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $27,000. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of New Hampshire Main Campus earn a median of $32,146 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Connecticut earned the #15 position for value in human development & family studies this year. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,044, compared with $43,712 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $23,059. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from University Of Connecticut generally make around $31,642. That is a strong return on a $23,059 median debt. University Of Connecticut admits about 52% of applicants.
Post University earned the #16 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Waterbury, Post University is a very large private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $15,922 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $42,597 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Post University earn a median of $30,186 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $42,597 median debt.
Merrimack College placed #17 among the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the suburb of North Andover, Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $53,962. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $33,640. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Tufts University came in at #18 for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $70,704. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $16,170. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $44,725. That is a strong return on a $16,170 median debt. Tufts University admits about 12% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.