Human Development & Family Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their human development & family studies programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 171 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for human development & family studies students pursuing a degree.
Our analysis ranked University Of California Davis the best school in the country for a degree in human development & family studies. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. University Of California Davis awarded about 279 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $53,749. Students borrow a median of $14,404 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #2 makes Santa Clara University one of the top schools for human development & family studies. Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 17 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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Students looking for a strong human development & family studies program will find one at University Of California San Diego, which ranked #3. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 52 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of California San Diego in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $33,489. Typical student debt for the program is $19,342.
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A rank of #4 makes California State University East Bay one of the top schools for human development & family studies. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. There were roughly 236 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University East Bay in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from California State University East Bay generally make around $41,195. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong human development & family studies program will find one at California State University Long Beach, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 184 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $30,205 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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California State University San Bernardino came in at #6 for human development & family studies this year. Set in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. California State University San Bernardino awarded about 190 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from California State University San Bernardino earn around $42,421 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,149 to complete this degree.
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Sonoma State University earned the #7 position for human development & family studies this year. Set in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Sonoma State University graduates 58% of students within six years. Sonoma State University awarded about 19 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Sonoma State University generally make around $33,906. Typical student debt for the program is $18,250.
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University Of Oregon earned the #8 position for human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public university. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Oregon awarded about 16 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from University Of Oregon earn around $44,628 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,034.
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Washington State University earned the #9 position for human development & family studies this year. Located in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. There were roughly 143 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Washington State University in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Washington State University earn a median of $39,880 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,019 to complete this degree.
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Santa Rosa Junior College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best human development & family studies schools. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. Santa Rosa Junior College awarded about 117 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from Santa Rosa Junior College earn around $80,047 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete this degree.
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Diablo Valley College placed #11 among the best human development & family studies schools. Diablo Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. About 187 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Diablo Valley College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Diablo Valley College generally make around $27,813. Diablo Valley College graduates carry a median of $9,205 in student loans.
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University Of Hawaii At Manoa came in at #12 for human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public university. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 61 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Hawaii At Manoa in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from University Of Hawaii At Manoa generally make around $36,040. University Of Hawaii At Manoa graduates carry a median of $18,250 in student loans.
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Point Loma Nazarene University placed #13 among the best human development & family studies schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. There were roughly 64 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Point Loma Nazarene University in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Point Loma Nazarene University earn a median of $27,037 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,300 to complete this degree.
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California State University San Marcos came in at #14 for human development & family studies this year. California State University San Marcos is a large public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. About 55% of students finish within six years. California State University San Marcos awarded about 99 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from California State University San Marcos generally make around $31,184. Typical student debt for the program is $17,193.
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Cerritos College landed the #15 spot for human development & family studies this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Norwalk. About 1,067 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Cerritos College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Cerritos College generally make around $29,495. Typical student debt for the program is $11,306.
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Moorpark College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best human development & family studies schools. Set in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public institution. About 141 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Moorpark College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Moorpark College generally make around $105,599. Students borrow a median of $17,075 to complete this degree.
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Loma Linda University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best human development & family studies schools. Set in the suburb of Loma Linda, Loma Linda University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 14 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Loma Linda University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Loma Linda University generally make around $43,043. Students borrow a median of $25,094 to complete this degree.
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Cuesta College placed #18 among the best human development & family studies schools. Located in the rural area of San Luis Obispo, Cuesta College is a large public university. About 199 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Cuesta College in the most recent year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $64,492 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,958 to complete this degree.
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California State University Fresno came in at #19 for human development & family studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Fresno. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 78 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fresno in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $49,502 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,598 to complete this degree.
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California State University Monterey Bay ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best human development & family studies schools. Set in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public institution. About 59% of students finish within six years. California State University Monterey Bay awarded about 71 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of California State University Monterey Bay earn a median of $34,089 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,408 to complete this degree.
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Santa Ana College landed the #21 spot for human development & family studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Ana. About 266 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Santa Ana College in the most recent year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Santa Ana College earn a median of $23,863 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $6,630 to complete this degree.
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Foothill College came in at #22 for human development & family studies this year. Set in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 78 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Foothill College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Foothill College generally make around $94,152. Typical student debt for the program is $11,595.
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University Of La Verne placed #23 among the best human development & family studies schools. Located in the suburb of La Verne, University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of La Verne awarded about 64 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from University Of La Verne generally make around $35,364. University Of La Verne graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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De Anza College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best human development & family studies schools. De Anza College is a very large public school located in the city of Cupertino. There were roughly 63 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at De Anza College in the most recent data year. Typical student debt for the program is $7,271.
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University Of Nevada Reno earned the #25 position for human development & family studies this year. University Of Nevada Reno is a very large public school located in the city of Reno. About 61% of students finish within six years. University Of Nevada Reno awarded about 84 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of Nevada Reno earn a median of $35,322 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,875.
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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 ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 171 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).
