College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2027 Best Human Development & Family Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

82 Colleges in the United States
4,177 Human Development & Family Studies Degrees Awarded
$40,404 Avg Early-Career Salary

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.

What’s on this page:

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

1

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. Read more about the human development & family studies program at Northwestern University

2

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. Get the full human development & family studies details for University Of Wisconsin Madison

3

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. Read more about the human development & family studies program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

4
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

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. More information about a degree in human development & family studies from Purdue University Main Campus

5

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. See the full human development & family studies program report for Ohio State University Main Campus

6

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. See the full human development & family studies program report for University Of Illinois At Chicago

7
Harper College crest
Harper College
Palatine, IL

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. See the full human development & family studies program report for Harper College

8

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. Read more about the human development & family studies program at College Of Lake County

9

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. More information about a degree in human development & family studies from University Of St Francis

10

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. Read more about the human development & family studies program at Fox Valley Technical College

11

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. Get the full human development & family studies details for Olivet Nazarene University

12

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. Read more about the human development & family studies program at Illinois State University

13
Edgewood College crest
Edgewood College
Madison, WI

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. See the full human development & family studies program report for Edgewood College

14

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. More information about a degree in human development & family studies from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point

15

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. More information about a degree in human development & family studies from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College

16

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. More information about a degree in human development & family studies from Ball State University

17

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. See the full human development & family studies program report for Madison Area Technical College

18

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. Get the full human development & family studies details for Chippewa Valley Technical College

19
Oakton Community College crest
Oakton Community College
Des Plaines, IL

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. Get the full human development & family studies details for Oakton Community College

20
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

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. See the full human development & family studies program report for Michigan State University

21

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. More information about a degree in human development & family studies from Franciscan University Of Steubenville

22

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. Read more about the human development & family studies program at Milwaukee Area Technical College

23

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. See the full human development & family studies program report for Ohio University Main Campus

24

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. Get the full human development & family studies details for Lewis And Clark Community College

25
Central Michigan University crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI

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. See the full human development & family studies program report for Central Michigan University

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:

26
27
Ferris State University crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
Kellogg Community College crest
Kellogg Community College
Battle Creek, MI
37
Lake Land College crest
Lake Land College
Mattoon, IL
38
39
Erikson Institute crest
Erikson Institute
Chicago, IL
40
41
42
43
Mchenry County College crest
Mchenry County College
Crystal Lake, IL
44
Rockford College crest
Rockford College
Rockford, IL
45
Antioch University Midwest crest
Antioch University Midwest
Yellow Springs, OH
46
47
Kaskaskia College crest
Kaskaskia College
Centralia, IL
48
49
50

Narrow Human Development & Family Studies Schools by State

View All Human Development & Family Studies Rankings >

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.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options