2027 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in Alabama
[Human Development & Family Studies](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 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 Alabama
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
Our analysis ranked George C Wallace State Community College Dothan the best value for a degree in human development & family studies in Alabama. George C Wallace State Community College Dothan is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dothan. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,980, while out-of-state students pay about $8,850. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $9,942. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of George C Wallace State Community College Dothan earn a median of $34,762 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northeast Alabama Community College earned it the #2 place for human development & family studies. Set in the rural area of Rainsville, Northeast Alabama Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $8,910. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $7,459 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Northeast Alabama Community College generally make around $35,119. Set against $7,459 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in human development & family studies will find it at Gadsden State Community College, which ranked #3. Gadsden State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Gadsden. In-state tuition and fees average $4,272, while out-of-state students pay about $7,368. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $9,312 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Gadsden State Community College earn a median of $34,710 early in their careers. Set against $9,312 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in human development & family studies will find it at Bevill State Community College, which ranked #4. Bevill State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Jasper. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,734, while out-of-state students pay about $8,346. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $11,040. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Bevill State Community College generally make around $38,514. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Union State Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Southern Union State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Wadley. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,030, with out-of-state students paying around $8,874. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $11,555. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Southern Union State Community College generally make around $44,385. That is a strong return on a $11,555 median debt.
J F Drake State Community And Technical College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of Huntsville, J F Drake State Community And Technical College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,190 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,060. Median earnings reach $28,281 ten years out.
John C Calhoun State Community College placed #7 among the best values for human development & family studies. John C Calhoun State Community College is a large public school located in the city of Tanner. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,120, with out-of-state students paying around $8,990. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $13,839 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from John C Calhoun State Community College generally make around $42,916. Set against $13,839 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus placed #8 among the best values for human development & family studies. Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Birmingham. In-state tuition and fees average $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $8,910. Students borrow a median of $11,769 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus earn a median of $40,090 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of North Alabama landed the #9 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Set in the city of Florence, University Of North Alabama is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,120, while out-of-state students pay about $22,320. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $24,291. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of North Alabama earn a median of $41,357 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Jefferson State Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of Birmingham, Jefferson State Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,100, while out-of-state students pay about $8,970. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $15,083 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Jefferson State Community College earn a median of $42,861 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville placed #11 among the best values for human development & family studies. George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Hanceville. Students from in state pay about $5,220 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,090. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $13,146. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville generally make around $40,017. Set against $13,146 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
James H Faulkner State Community College earned the #12 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the town of Bay Minette, James H Faulkner State Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, compared with $8,910 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $14,326 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $52,231. That is a strong return on a $14,326 median debt.
Miles College placed #13 among the best values for human development & family studies. Set in the suburb of Fairfield, Miles College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $13,314 in tuition and fees. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $35,881 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $32,627 ten years after entry. Set against $35,881 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Shelton State Community College came in at #14 for value in human development & family studies this year. Shelton State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,127, with out-of-state students paying around $8,997. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $10,688. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Shelton State Community College earn a median of $49,403 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,688 median debt.
Central Alabama Community College placed #15 among the best values for human development & family studies. Central Alabama Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Alexander City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,110, compared with $8,980 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $12,939. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Central Alabama Community College generally make around $42,166. That is a strong return on a $12,939 median debt.
University Of Mobile landed the #16 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Set in the rural area of Mobile, University Of Mobile is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,910. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $30,127 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of Mobile earn a median of $50,507 early in their careers. Set against $30,127 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Mobile admits about 78% of applicants.
The University Of Alabama ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,180, with out-of-state students paying around $34,172. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from The University Of Alabama generally make around $30,264. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Auburn University placed #18 among the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,890, compared with $34,922 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 Auburn University generally make around $30,502. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Samford University landed the #19 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Birmingham, Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,150. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $21,039. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Samford University generally make around $64,132. Set against $21,039 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
