2026 Best Value Family & Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General Schools in California
[Family & Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/general-family-consumer-sciences/family-and-consumer-sciences-human-sciences-general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for family & consumer sciences/human sciences, general students.
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2026 Best Value Family & Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in family & consumer sciences/human sciences, general, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Family & Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General Schools
Our analysis ranked Shasta College the best value for a degree in family & consumer sciences/human sciences, general in California. Set in the suburb of Redding, Shasta College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,197, compared with $8,853 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,275 to complete the family & consumer sciences/human sciences, general program here. Family & Consumer Sciences/human Sciences, General graduates of Shasta College earn a median of $50,330 early in their careers. Set against $12,275 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Northridge came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value family & consumer sciences/human sciences, general schools. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. In-state tuition and fees average $7,458, while out-of-state students pay about $20,058. Typical student debt for family & consumer sciences/human sciences, general graduates is $17,000. Early-career family & consumer sciences/human sciences, general graduates make about $33,721. That is a strong return on a $17,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
A rank of #3 makes California State University Long Beach one of the best values for family & consumer sciences/human sciences, general. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,374, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Family & Consumer Sciences/human Sciences, General graduates carry a median of $12,906 in student loans. Family & Consumer Sciences/human Sciences, General graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $32,008 early in their careers. Set against $12,906 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in family & consumer sciences/human sciences, general will find it at California State University Sacramento, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,018, compared with $20,618 for out-of-state students. Family & Consumer Sciences/human Sciences, General graduates carry a median of $14,108 in student loans. Early-career family & consumer sciences/human sciences, general graduates make about $33,869. That is a strong return on a $14,108 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
A rank of #5 makes San Francisco State University one of the best values for family & consumer sciences/human sciences, general. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,846, compared with $20,446 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,212 to complete the family & consumer sciences/human sciences, general program here. Early-career family & consumer sciences/human sciences, general graduates make about $35,977. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. San Francisco State University admits about 96% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- 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.
