Human Development & Family Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 136 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for human development & family studies students pursuing a degree.
Best Schools for Human Development & Family Studies in California
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.
Leading the list is University Of California Davis, our #1 school for human development & family studies. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. University Of California Davis awarded about 279 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from University Of California Davis earn around $53,749 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,404 to complete this degree.
See the full human development & family studies program report for University Of California Davis
Students looking for a strong human development & family studies program will find one at Santa Clara University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 17 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Santa Clara University in the most recent year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from Santa Clara University earn around $79,380 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,144 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in human development & family studies from Santa Clara University
A rank of #3 makes University Of California San Diego one of the top schools for human development & family studies. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. University Of California San Diego awarded about 52 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from University Of California San Diego earn around $33,489 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,342 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #4 makes California State University East Bay one of the top schools for human development & family studies. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. California State University East Bay awarded about 236 human development & family studies degrees 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. California State University East Bay graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans.
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California State University Long Beach is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in human development & family studies, ranking #5. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. 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. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $30,205. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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California State University San Bernardino earned the #6 position 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. California State University San Bernardino graduates carry a median of $15,149 in student loans.
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Sonoma State University earned the #7 position for human development & family studies this year. Located in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Sonoma State University awarded about 19 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Sonoma State University earn a median of $33,906 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,250.
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Santa Rosa Junior College earned the #8 position for human development & family studies this year. 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. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $80,047 early in their careers. Santa Rosa Junior College graduates carry a median of $14,692 in student loans.
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Diablo Valley College landed the #9 spot for human development & family studies this year. Set in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Diablo Valley College is a very large public institution. Diablo Valley College awarded about 187 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from Diablo Valley College earn around $27,813 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,205 to complete this degree.
See the full human development & family studies program report for Diablo Valley College
Point Loma Nazarene University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of San Diego, Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Point Loma Nazarene University graduates 77% of students within six years. Point Loma Nazarene University awarded about 64 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $27,037 in their early career. Point Loma Nazarene University graduates carry a median of $16,300 in student loans.
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California State University San Marcos placed #11 among the best human development & family studies schools. California State University San Marcos is a large public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. California State University San Marcos graduates 55% of students 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. Students borrow a median of $17,193 to complete this degree.
See the full human development & family studies program report for California State University San Marcos
Cerritos College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best human development & family studies schools. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. Cerritos College awarded about 1,067 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Cerritos College generally make around $29,495. Cerritos College graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans.
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Moorpark College landed the #13 spot for human development & family studies this year. Moorpark College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Moorpark. Moorpark College awarded about 141 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Moorpark College earn a median of $105,599 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,075 to complete this degree.
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Loma Linda University earned the #14 position for human development & family studies this year. Located in the suburb of Loma Linda, Loma Linda University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 14 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Loma Linda University in the most recent year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from Loma Linda University earn around $43,043 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,094.
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Cuesta College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best human development & family studies schools. Cuesta College is a large public school located in the rural area of San Luis Obispo. Cuesta College awarded about 199 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from Cuesta College earn around $64,492 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,958.
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California State University Fresno placed #16 among the best human development & family studies schools. California State University Fresno is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. About 57% of students finish within six years. California State University Fresno awarded about 78 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $49,502. Typical student debt for the program is $15,598.
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California State University Monterey Bay came in at #17 for human development & family studies this year. California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Seaside. California State University Monterey Bay graduates 59% of students within six years. California State University Monterey Bay awarded about 71 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from California State University Monterey Bay earn around $34,089 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,408 to complete this degree.
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Santa Ana College came in at #18 for human development & family studies this year. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. Santa Ana College awarded about 266 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $23,863. Students borrow a median of $6,630 to complete this degree.
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Foothill College came in at #19 for human development & family studies this year. Located in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a very large public university. About 78 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Foothill College in the most recent year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $94,152 in their early career. Foothill College graduates carry a median of $11,595 in student loans.
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University Of La Verne earned the #20 position for human development & family studies this year. Set in the suburb of La Verne, University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. University Of La Verne awarded about 64 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from University Of La Verne earn around $35,364 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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De Anza College came in at #21 for human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Cupertino, De Anza College is a very large public university. De Anza College awarded about 63 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Typical student debt for the program is $7,271.
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Fielding Graduate University placed #22 among the best human development & family studies schools. Fielding Graduate University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Barbara. There were roughly 21 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Fielding Graduate University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from Fielding Graduate University earn around $70,531 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a degree in human development & family studies from Fielding Graduate University
Orange Coast College landed the #23 spot for human development & family studies this year. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 153 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Orange Coast College in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Orange Coast College earn a median of $46,306 early in their careers. Orange Coast College graduates carry a median of $8,978 in student loans.
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Humboldt State University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best human development & family studies schools. Humboldt State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Arcata. Humboldt State University graduates 49% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Humboldt State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from Humboldt State University earn around $34,928 in the first couple years of their career. Humboldt State University graduates carry a median of $19,129 in student loans.
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Fresno City College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best human development & family studies schools. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. About 250 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Fresno City College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Fresno City College generally make around $30,519. Typical student debt for the program is $8,000.
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Rest of the Top 50 Human Development & Family Studies Schools
These schools also placed among the best for human development & family studies this year:
The ranking above is published 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 · 136 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).
