Human Development & Family Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 614 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best human development & family studies schools.
Choosing a Great Human Development & Family Studies School
The human development & family studies program you select can have a big impact on your future. To help, we created our Best Human Development & Family Studies Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Human Development & Family Studies Rankings by Degree Level
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Human Development & Family Studies Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for Human Development & Family Studies in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the human development & family studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked University Of California Davis the best school in the country for a degree in human development & family studies. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Davis. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Davis awarded about 364 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $53,749 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,404.
See the full human development & family studies program report for University Of California Davis
Northwestern University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in human development & family studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 24 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $78,551 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
See the full human development & family studies program report for Northwestern University
University Of Wisconsin Madison is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in human development & family studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 135 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $34,149 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,250.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of Virginia Main Campus one of the top schools for human development & family studies. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 33 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $34,533 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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Santa Clara University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in human development & family studies, landing the #5 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Santa Clara. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 12 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Santa Clara University in the most recent year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of $79,380 early in their careers. Santa Clara University graduates carry a median of $20,144 in student loans.
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University Of California San Diego placed #6 among the best human development & family studies schools. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. About 86% of students finish within six years. University Of California San Diego awarded about 61 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $33,489 in their early career. University Of California San Diego graduates carry a median of $19,342 in student loans.
More information about a degree in human development & family studies from University Of California San Diego
Boston University earned the #7 position for human development & family studies this year. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 26 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $49,851 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,232.
More information about a degree in human development & family studies from Boston University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #8 among the best human development & family studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Blacksburg. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 142 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $33,654 in the first couple years of their career. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 60 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $29,762 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $19,600 in student loans.
More information about a degree in human development & family studies from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Florida State University placed #10 among the best human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 216 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Florida State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $29,690. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000.
Read more about the human development & family studies program at Florida State University
Suny At Binghamton earned the #11 position for human development & family studies this year. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public institution. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. Suny At Binghamton awarded about 88 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Suny At Binghamton earn a median of $36,213 early in their careers. Suny At Binghamton graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
See the full human development & family studies program report for Suny At Binghamton
University Of Maryland College Park earned the #12 position for human development & family studies this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 69 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $41,157 early in their careers. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $19,533 in student loans.
Read more about the human development & family studies program at University Of Maryland College Park
George Mason University landed the #13 spot for human development & family studies this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. George Mason University awarded about 16 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $45,140 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,300 to complete this degree.
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California State University East Bay came in at #14 for human development & family studies this year. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public institution. About 48% of students finish within six years. California State University East Bay awarded about 259 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from California State University East Bay earn around $41,195 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,000.
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Purdue University Main Campus landed the #15 spot for human development & family studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 73 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $35,436. Students borrow a median of $15,304 to complete this degree.
See the full human development & family studies program report for Purdue University Main Campus
College Of Southern Nevada came in at #16 for human development & family studies this year. College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public school located in the city of Las Vegas. College Of Southern Nevada awarded about 51 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from College Of Southern Nevada earn around $35,850 in the first couple years of their career. College Of Southern Nevada graduates carry a median of $9,980 in student loans.
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University Of Connecticut placed #17 among the best human development & family studies schools. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 128 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Connecticut in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from University Of Connecticut earn around $31,642 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,059 to complete this degree.
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Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #18 for human development & family studies this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 103 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $34,610. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
See the full human development & family studies program report for Ohio State University Main Campus
California State University Fresno placed #19 among the best human development & family studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Fresno. California State University Fresno graduates 57% of students within six years. About 102 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at California State University Fresno in the most recent year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from California State University Fresno earn around $49,502 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,598.
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Vanderbilt University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best human development & family studies schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 31 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $77,997 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,975.
More information about a degree in human development & family studies from Vanderbilt University
Elizabethtown College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best human development & family studies schools. Elizabethtown College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elizabethtown. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Elizabethtown College in the most recent year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Elizabethtown College earn a median of $57,397 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,599 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in human development & family studies from Elizabethtown College
Texas Tech University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. Texas Tech University awarded about 150 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from Texas Tech University earn around $39,096 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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California State University San Bernardino landed the #23 spot for human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public university. California State University San Bernardino graduates 55% of students within six years. California State University San Bernardino awarded about 193 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $42,421 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,149 to complete this degree.
See the full human development & family studies program report for California State University San Bernardino
University Of Florida ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 84 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $42,853 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,296.
See the full human development & family studies program report for University Of Florida
University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. About 50 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $46,199 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,500.
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Rest of the Top 50 Human Development & Family Studies Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong human development & family studies education:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 614 schools evaluated.
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).
