2026 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains 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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 26 schools to find the best return on investment for human development & family studies students.
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2026 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains 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
Leading the list is Brigham Young University Idaho, our #1 best value for human development & family studies in the Rocky Mountains Region. Located in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $12,250 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Brigham Young University Idaho earn a median of $21,619 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Brigham Young University Idaho admits about 96% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes College Of Southern Idaho one of the best values for human development & family studies. Set in the city of Twin Falls, College Of Southern Idaho is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,360 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,840. Students borrow a median of $11,175 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of College Of Southern Idaho earn a median of $39,099 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 Utah Valley University, which ranked #3. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,507, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $13,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $20,971. That is a strong return on a $13,500 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Weber State University one of the best values for human development & family studies. Weber State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ogden. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,557, while out-of-state students pay about $17,545. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $18,792. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $35,861. Set against $18,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southern Utah University earned it the #5 place for human development & family studies. Set in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,962 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,192. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $12,886. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $44,998. That is a strong return on a $12,886 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
North Idaho College came in at #6 for value in human development & family studies this year. North Idaho College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Coeur d'Alene. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,396, compared with $8,736 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,688 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from North Idaho College generally make around $49,489. Set against $14,688 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Utah State University landed the #7 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Utah State University is a very large public school located in the city of Logan. In-state tuition and fees average $8,560, with out-of-state students paying around $24,993. Students borrow a median of $16,573 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Utah State University generally make around $26,561. That is a strong return on a $16,573 median debt. Utah State University admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of Utah ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $15,500. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $35,467. That is a strong return on a $15,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Brigham Young University Provo landed the #9 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,688. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $11,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $25,342. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Idaho ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,084 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,320. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $27,701 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from University Of Idaho generally make around $34,340. Set against $27,701 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Mesa State College came in at #11 for value in human development & family studies this year. Mesa State College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Junction. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,927, compared with $25,124 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $22,310. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Mesa State College earn a median of $43,617 early in their careers. Set against $22,310 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Idaho State University earned the #12 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,610, with out-of-state students paying around $27,720. Students borrow a median of $24,640 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Idaho State University generally make around $51,446. Set against $24,640 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Colorado Denver placed #13 among the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,383, while out-of-state students pay about $29,391. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from University Of Colorado Denver generally make around $43,574. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
