by our College Data Analytics Team
[Human Development Family Studies](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a human development family studies degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find where human development family studies graduates earn the most.
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If you want to know which schools send human development family studies graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
George Mason University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying human development family studies schools in Virginia. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a public institution. Human Development Family Studies graduates of George Mason University earn a median of about $45,140 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #2 makes Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University one of the highest-paying schools for human development family studies. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public school located in the city of Blacksburg. After graduating, human development family studies degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University typically earn about $56,451 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earned it the #3 place for human development family studies. J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Richmond. After graduating, human development family studies degree recipients from J Sargeant Reynolds Community College typically earn about $29,133 annually.
Northern Virginia Community College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in human development family studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a public institution. Human Development Family Studies graduates of Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of about $31,603 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in human development family studies will find them at Tidewater Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a public institution. Early-career human development family studies graduates from Tidewater Community College make a median of around $28,479 per year.
Virginia Western Community College came in at #6 for human development family studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the human development family studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $21,057.
Southwest Virginia Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying human development family studies schools. Located in the rural area of Cedar Bluff, Southwest Virginia Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the human development family studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $19,582.
University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for human development family studies. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career human development family studies graduates from University Of Virginia Main Campus make a median of around $34,533 per year.
Liberty University came in at #9 for human development family studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career human development family studies graduates from Liberty University make a median of around $37,389 per year.
Patrick Henry Community College came in at #10 for human development family studies graduate earnings this year. Patrick Henry Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Martinsville. Early-career human development family studies graduates from Patrick Henry Community College make a median of around $16,790 per year.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their human development family studies graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 10 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.