2026 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in the Southwest 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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 118 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value human development & family studies schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in the Southwest 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
Central New Mexico Community College earned the #1 spot for value among human development & family studies schools in the Southwest Region. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,060, while out-of-state students pay about $8,684. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $9,258. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Central New Mexico Community College generally make around $31,256. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Texas College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,920 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $6,868 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of South Texas College earn a median of $19,971 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,868 median debt.
El Centro College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in human development & family studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $14,557 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $41,295. Set against $14,557 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in human development & family studies will find it at San Juan College, which ranked #4. Located in the rural area of Farmington, San Juan College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,910, compared with $5,393 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $16,150. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $41,697. Set against $16,150 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Del Mar College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Del Mar College is a large public school located in the city of Corpus Christi. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,500, while out-of-state students pay about $6,050. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $7,476. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Del Mar College earn a median of $40,661 early in their careers. Set against $7,476 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oklahoma City Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,059 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,810. Students borrow a median of $13,919 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Oklahoma City Community College earn a median of $39,848 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Texas College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the town of Snyder, Western Texas College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,300 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,150. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $8,691 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Western Texas College earn a median of $68,077 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,691 median debt.
Tulsa Community College came in at #8 for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Tulsa, Tulsa Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,792, compared with $9,720 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,287 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $33,103. Set against $15,287 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Austin Community College District came in at #9 for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,550 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $14,519 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $44,895. Set against $14,519 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Paso Community College landed the #10 spot for human development & family studies value this year. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $8,542 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $29,086. Set against $8,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City landed the #11 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Set in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,779 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,564. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $20,230 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City earn a median of $32,967 early in their careers. Set against $20,230 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Midland College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Midland College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Midland. Students from in state pay about $3,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,180. Students borrow a median of $9,000 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Midland College generally make around $43,454. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt.
Amarillo College placed #13 among the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,136, compared with $4,704 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $15,720. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $41,053. Set against $15,720 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tarrant County College District ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Tarrant County College District is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Worth. In-state tuition and fees average $1,863, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $15,148 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $45,158 early in their careers. Set against $15,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Antonio College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,412, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $11,839. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $37,855. Set against $11,839 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The University Of Texas Pan American placed #16 among the best values for human development & family studies. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,799, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,871 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $26,897 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,871 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Laredo Community College came in at #17 for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Laredo, Laredo Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,300, with out-of-state students paying around $5,748. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $6,000. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Laredo Community College generally make around $41,354. Set against $6,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Texas College landed the #18 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Killeen, Central Texas College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,750, compared with $7,500 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $11,290. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $53,086. That is a strong return on a $11,290 median debt.
Redlands Community College placed #19 among the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the town of El Reno, Redlands Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,385 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,951. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $14,682. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Redlands Community College generally make around $45,166. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University came in at #20 for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the town of Durant, Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,200, while out-of-state students pay about $16,410. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $18,000. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $32,997. That is a strong return on a $18,000 median debt. Southeastern Oklahoma State University admits about 76% of applicants.
Carl Albert State College placed #21 among the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the town of Poteau, Carl Albert State College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,230, while out-of-state students pay about $8,708. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $9,125. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Carl Albert State College generally make around $23,071. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Houston Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,040, compared with $5,460 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,223 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Houston Community College generally make around $40,365. That is a strong return on a $19,223 median debt.
South Plains College landed the #23 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Located in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,733 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,157. Students borrow a median of $13,788 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $30,949. Set against $13,788 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lee College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Located in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,520, compared with $5,045 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $10,941. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Lee College earn a median of $53,448 early in their careers. Set against $10,941 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
New Mexico State University Main Campus ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,183, while out-of-state students pay about $25,307. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $20,938 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $25,965. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New Mexico State University Main Campus admits about 89% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in human development & family studies:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 118 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 24 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.
