2027 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in Tennessee
[Human Development & Family Studies](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong human development & family studies education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value human development & family studies schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in Tennessee
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
For return on investment in human development & family studies, no school beat Dyersburg State Community College this year. Located in the town of Dyersburg, Dyersburg State Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,758, with out-of-state students paying around $18,060. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $10,611 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Dyersburg State Community College earn a median of $41,177 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 Roane State Community College, which ranked #2. Roane State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Harriman. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,998, compared with $18,630 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $9,408. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Roane State Community College generally make around $36,933. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Chattanooga State Community College one of the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the city of Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,772 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,756. Students borrow a median of $12,079 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Chattanooga State Community College earn a median of $37,252 early in their careers. Set against $12,079 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Walters State Community College earned it the #4 place for human development & family studies. Set in the city of Morristown, Walters State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,752, while out-of-state students pay about $17,736. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $10,210. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Walters State Community College generally make around $35,866. That is a strong return on a $10,210 median debt.
Nashville State Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Nashville State Community College is a large public school located in the city of Nashville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,730, compared with $17,714 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,745 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $41,456. Set against $16,745 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tennessee Technological University earned the #6 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,376, compared with $15,576 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,580 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Tennessee Technological University generally make around $46,981. Set against $17,580 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Vanderbilt University placed #7 among the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $13,975. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $77,997. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. The acceptance rate is 6%.
East Tennessee State University came in at #8 for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,216 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,726. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $20,032. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from East Tennessee State University generally make around $33,301. Set against $20,032 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Lee University landed the #9 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. Students from in state pay about $23,790 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,422 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Lee University earn a median of $38,249 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,422 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee landed the #10 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,812 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $22,790. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $39,911. Set against $22,790 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Miller Motte Technical College Chattanooga placed #11 among the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the city of Chattanooga, Miller Motte Technical College Chattanooga is a moderately-sized private for-profit university. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $20,598 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $29,532. That is a strong return on a $20,598 median debt.
More Human Development & Family Studies Rankings
View All Human Development & Family Studies Rankings >
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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
