by our College Data Analytics Team
[Human Development & Family Studies](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value human development & family studies schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in human development & family studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
College Of The Ozarks tops our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools in Missouri. Set in the town of Point Lookout, College Of The Ozarks is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $22,360 in tuition and fees. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of College Of The Ozarks earn a median of $37,944 early in their careers. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Moberly Area Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Located in the town of Moberly, Moberly Area Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,110, with out-of-state students paying around $8,640. Students borrow a median of $12,507 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $44,755. That is a strong return on a $12,507 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in human development & family studies will find it at Ozarks Technical Community College, which ranked #3. Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Springfield. Students from in state pay about $4,256 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,040. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $21,000. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $27,003. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Saint Louis Community College earned it the #4 place for human development & family studies. Saint Louis Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Bridgeton. Students from in state pay about $3,660 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,990. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $11,424. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $26,593. Set against $11,424 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Poplar Bluff. Students from in state pay about $4,830 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,060 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $11,350 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $37,259. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Central Missouri College came in at #6 for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the town of Trenton, North Central Missouri College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,370, with out-of-state students paying around $8,820. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $16,685. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $26,867. Set against $16,685 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Central Missouri landed the #7 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Set in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,050, while out-of-state students pay about $18,600. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from University Of Central Missouri generally make around $36,267. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Central Missouri admits about 64% of applicants.
Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies landed the #8 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Fayette. Students from in state pay about $7,500 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,246 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $32,588. That is a strong return on a $23,246 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Southeast Missouri State University came in at #9 for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,903. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $23,289. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Southeast Missouri State University generally make around $43,255. That is a strong return on a $23,289 median debt. Southeast Missouri State University admits about 74% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield earned the #10 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $25,000. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $32,769. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Missouri State University Springfield admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia earned the #11 position for value in human development & family studies this year. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $40,221. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis placed #12 among the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,166. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $24,499. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Maryville University Of Saint Louis earn a median of $67,909 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,499 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
The ranking above is published 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.