2026 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in Alabama
[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong human development & family studies education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 30 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value human development & family studies schools.
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2026 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 Northeast Alabama Community College the best value for a degree in human development & family studies in Alabama. Set in the rural area of Rainsville, Northeast Alabama Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $8,910. Students borrow a median of $7,459 to complete the human development & family studies program here. 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.
A rank of #2 makes George C Wallace State Community College Dothan one of the best values for human development & family studies. Set in the city of Dothan, George C Wallace State Community College Dothan is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,980, compared with $8,850 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $9,942 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from George C Wallace State Community College Dothan generally make around $34,762. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Gadsden State Community College earned it the #3 place for human development & family studies. Gadsden State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Gadsden. Students from in state pay about $4,272 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,368. Students borrow a median of $9,312 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Gadsden State Community College generally make around $34,710. That is a strong return on a $9,312 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Northwest Shoals Community College one of the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the city of Muscle Shoals, Northwest Shoals Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,131, while out-of-state students pay about $9,001. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $13,312 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Northwest Shoals Community College earn a median of $33,842 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bishop State Community College earned it the #5 place for human development & family studies. Bishop State Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Mobile. In-state tuition and fees average $5,340, while out-of-state students pay about $9,210. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $13,712. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Bishop State Community College earn a median of $35,475 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bevill State Community College landed the #6 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Set in the town of Jasper, Bevill State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,734, with out-of-state students paying around $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. That is a strong return on a $11,040 median debt.
H Councill Trenholm State Technical College placed #7 among the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the city of Montgomery, H Councill Trenholm State Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,190, while out-of-state students pay about $9,060. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $32,183.
John C Calhoun State Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of Tanner, John C Calhoun State Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,120, compared with $8,990 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $13,839. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $42,916. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Enterprise State Community College earned the #9 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Enterprise State Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Enterprise. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,100, with out-of-state students paying around $8,970. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $7,875 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $22,991. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jefferson State Community College earned the #10 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Jefferson State Community College is a large public school located in the city of Birmingham. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,100, while out-of-state students pay about $8,970. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $15,083. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Jefferson State Community College generally make around $42,861. Set against $15,083 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
James H Faulkner State Community College came in at #11 for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the town of Bay Minette, James H Faulkner State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, with out-of-state students paying around $8,910. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $14,326. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of James H Faulkner State Community College earn a median of $52,231 early in their careers. Set against $14,326 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Shelton State Community College landed the #12 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, Shelton State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,127, compared with $8,997 for out-of-state students. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville landed the #13 spot for human development & family studies value this year. George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Hanceville. In-state tuition and fees average $5,220, while out-of-state students pay about $9,090. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $13,146. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $40,017. That is a strong return on a $13,146 median debt.
Central Alabama Community College came in at #14 for value in human development & family studies this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $8,980. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $12,939 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Central Alabama Community College earn a median of $42,166 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,939 median debt.
The University Of Alabama placed #15 among the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,180 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,172. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $30,264 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Alabama admits about 77% of applicants.
Auburn University landed the #16 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,890, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $30,502. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Auburn University admits about 46% of applicants.
Samford University came in at #17 for value in human development & family studies this year. Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Birmingham. In-state tuition and fees average $40,150. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $21,039 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Samford University earn a median of $64,132 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,039 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
More Human Development & Family Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
