2027 Best Human Development & Family Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Human Development & Family Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their human development & family studies programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 82 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for human development & family studies students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Human Development & Family Studies in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall human development & family studies education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in Human Development & Family Studies
Leading the list is Northwestern University, our #1 school for human development & family studies. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 24 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $78,551 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong human development & family studies program will find one at University Of Wisconsin Madison, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. About 135 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $34,149. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #3 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. About 85% of students finish within six years. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $19,600.
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Purdue University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in human development & family studies, ranking #4. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 73 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $35,436 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,304 to complete this degree.
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Ohio State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in human development & family studies, ranking #5. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 103 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data 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.
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University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #6 among the best human development & family studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Chicago. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 50 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from University Of Illinois At Chicago earn around $46,199 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans.
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Harper College came in at #7 for human development & family studies this year. Set in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public institution. About 155 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Harper College in the most recent year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from Harper College earn around $44,523 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,963.
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College Of Lake County ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best human development & family studies schools. College Of Lake County is a very large public school located in the suburb of Grayslake. College Of Lake County awarded about 248 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $50,314 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,785 to complete this degree.
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University Of St Francis ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best human development & family studies schools. Set in the suburb of Joliet, University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of St Francis in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of St Francis earn a median of $70,918 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,695.
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Fox Valley Technical College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best human development & family studies schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Appleton. About 36 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Fox Valley Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Fox Valley Technical College generally make around $44,020. Students borrow a median of $13,319 to complete this degree.
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Olivet Nazarene University placed #11 among the best human development & family studies schools. Set in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. About 17 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Olivet Nazarene University in the most recent year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Olivet Nazarene University earn a median of $48,505 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,797.
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Illinois State University came in at #12 for human development & family studies this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 36 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $33,682 early in their careers. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans.
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Edgewood College earned the #13 position for human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Madison, Edgewood College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 60% of students finish within six years. Edgewood College awarded about 16 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from Edgewood College earn around $56,578 in the first couple years of their career. Edgewood College graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point placed #14 among the best human development & family studies schools. Set in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public institution. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point graduates 56% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point awarded about 18 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earn around $41,256 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,161 to complete this degree.
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Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College placed #15 among the best human development & family studies schools. Located in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College awarded about 48 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $20,863 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,457 to complete this degree.
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Ball State University landed the #16 spot for human development & family studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Muncie. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 40 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Ball State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $32,836 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Madison Area Technical College placed #17 among the best human development & family studies schools. Located in the city of Madison, Madison Area Technical College is a large public university. About 26 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Madison Area Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Madison Area Technical College generally make around $44,279. Students borrow a median of $16,812 to complete this degree.
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Chippewa Valley Technical College landed the #18 spot for human development & family studies this year. Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. Chippewa Valley Technical College awarded about 21 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from Chippewa Valley Technical College earn around $45,531 in the first couple years of their career. Chippewa Valley Technical College graduates carry a median of $14,234 in student loans.
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Oakton Community College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 81 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Oakton Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from Oakton Community College earn around $48,838 in the first couple years of their career. Oakton Community College graduates carry a median of $7,750 in student loans.
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Michigan State University placed #20 among the best human development & family studies schools. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. About 65 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $31,434. Typical student debt for the program is $29,750.
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Franciscan University Of Steubenville ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best human development & family studies schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Steubenville. Franciscan University Of Steubenville graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Franciscan University Of Steubenville in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Franciscan University Of Steubenville earn a median of $43,020 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,029.
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Milwaukee Area Technical College came in at #22 for human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public university. Milwaukee Area Technical College awarded about 50 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $38,325 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,296 to complete this degree.
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Ohio University Main Campus earned the #23 position for human development & family studies this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. About 65% of students finish within six years. Ohio University Main Campus awarded about 32 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from Ohio University Main Campus earn around $30,748 in the first couple years of their career. Ohio University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,343 in student loans.
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Lewis And Clark Community College placed #24 among the best human development & family studies schools. Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Godfrey. Lewis And Clark Community College awarded about 117 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Lewis And Clark Community College earn a median of $41,313 early in their careers. Lewis And Clark Community College graduates carry a median of $9,602 in student loans.
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Central Michigan University earned the #25 position for human development & family studies this year. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 57 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Central Michigan University in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $35,318 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,209 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Human Development & Family Studies Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s human development & family studies ranking:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 82 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.