2027 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in North Carolina
[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for human development & family studies students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in North Carolina
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 Cleveland Community College the best value for a degree in human development & family studies in North Carolina. Located in the town of Shelby, Cleveland Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,602, while out-of-state students pay about $8,746. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $7,131 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Cleveland Community College generally make around $39,891. Set against $7,131 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Durham Technical Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Durham. Students from in state pay about $2,240 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,531 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $24,617 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Durham Technical Community College generally make around $46,293. Set against $24,617 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wayne Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,566 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,710 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Wayne Community College generally make around $33,116. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Piedmont Community College earned it the #4 place for human development & family studies. Piedmont Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Roxboro. Students from in state pay about $2,556 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,700 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Piedmont Community College generally make around $68,517. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
James Sprunt Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in human development & family studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Kenansville, James Sprunt Community College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,592, with out-of-state students paying around $8,736. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $11,278 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from James Sprunt Community College generally make around $35,264. That is a strong return on a $11,278 median debt.
Fayetteville Technical Community College placed #6 among the best values for human development & family studies. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,628, while out-of-state students pay about $8,772. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $16,909 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Fayetteville Technical Community College earn a median of $40,584 early in their careers. Set against $16,909 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Stanly Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Located in the town of Albemarle, Stanly Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,672, with out-of-state students paying around $8,816. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Stanly Community College earn a median of $41,920 early in their careers.
Richmond Community College earned the #8 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the town of Hamlet, Richmond Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $1,956 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,564. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $8,407. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Richmond Community College generally make around $46,757. Set against $8,407 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Alamance Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Located in the suburb of Graham, Alamance Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,592, while out-of-state students pay about $8,736. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $6,625 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $37,585. Set against $6,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Located in the suburb of Flat Rock, Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,660 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,804. Students borrow a median of $16,252 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock earn a median of $42,443 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gaston College came in at #11 for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Gaston College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,186, compared with $9,330 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $10,915. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $39,937. That is a strong return on a $10,915 median debt.
Haywood Community College came in at #12 for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the rural area of Clyde, Haywood Community College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,580, with out-of-state students paying around $8,724. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $35,767.
Randolph Community College landed the #13 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Located in the town of Asheboro, Randolph Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,416, while out-of-state students pay about $8,176. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Randolph Community College earn a median of $32,198 early in their careers.
Rowan Cabarrus Community College came in at #14 for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the suburb of Salisbury, Rowan Cabarrus Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,064, with out-of-state students paying around $6,672. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $10,867 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $34,351. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wake Technical Community College earned the #15 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Wake Technical Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Raleigh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,254, compared with $6,862 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,783 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Wake Technical Community College earn a median of $38,673 early in their careers. Set against $20,783 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Davidson County Community College came in at #16 for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the rural area of Thomasville, Davidson County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,980, while out-of-state students pay about $6,588. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $18,168. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Davidson County Community College earn a median of $22,448 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Carolina A And T State University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Located in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,813, with out-of-state students paying around $20,673. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $31,000. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from North Carolina A And T State University generally make around $37,458. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Carolina A And T State University admits about 50% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro landed the #18 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,661 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,012 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro generally make around $33,878. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College placed #19 among the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the city of Asheville, Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,882, compared with $9,026 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $18,883 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College generally make around $37,459. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
East Carolina University placed #20 among the best values for human development & family studies. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. Students from in state pay about $7,361 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $23,638. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $29,607. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. East Carolina University admits about 89% of applicants.
Appalachian State University came in at #21 for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,579, while out-of-state students pay about $25,212. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $18,935 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $30,062. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Appalachian State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Meredith College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Meredith College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Raleigh. In-state tuition and fees average $45,630. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Meredith College generally make around $40,331. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
More Human Development & Family Studies Rankings
View All Human Development & Family Studies Rankings >
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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 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.
