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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Value General Family & Consumer Sciences Master’s Degree Schools

9 Colleges in the United States
$22,045 Avg Student Debt
$61,919 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value General Family & Consumer Sciences Master's Degree Badge [General Family & Consumer Sciences](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/general-family-consumer-sciences/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 116 schools to find the best return on investment for general family & consumer sciences students.

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2026 Best Value General Family & Consumer Sciences Schools in the United States

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general family & consumer sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value General Family & Consumer Sciences Schools

1

For return on investment in general family & consumer sciences, no school beat San Francisco State University this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,846, while out-of-state students pay about $20,446. Students borrow a median of $17,212 to complete the general family & consumer sciences program here. Soon after graduation, general family & consumer sciences degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $35,977. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.

2

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Brigham Young University Provo earned it the #2 place for general family & consumer sciences. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $6,688 in tuition and fees. General Family & Consumer Sciences graduates carry a median of $12,184 in student loans. Early-career general family & consumer sciences graduates make about $54,507. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.

3

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Eastern Illinois University earned it the #3 place for general family & consumer sciences. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. Students from in state pay about $13,377 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,859. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the general family & consumer sciences program here. Soon after graduation, general family & consumer sciences degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $49,757. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Illinois University admits about 65% of applicants.

4

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Madison earned it the #4 place for general family & consumer sciences. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete the general family & consumer sciences program here. Early-career general family & consumer sciences graduates make about $59,877. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.

5

Students looking for strong value in general family & consumer sciences will find it at Stephen F Austin State University, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Nacogdoches, Stephen F Austin State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,128, with out-of-state students paying around $20,968. Typical student debt for general family & consumer sciences graduates is $27,500. Early-career general family & consumer sciences graduates make about $48,705. Set against $27,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.

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6

Iowa State University placed #6 among the best values for general family & consumer sciences. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. General Family & Consumer Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general family & consumer sciences degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $58,434. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.

7

Illinois State University came in at #7 for value in general family & consumer sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Typical student debt for general family & consumer sciences graduates is $20,322. Soon after graduation, general family & consumer sciences degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $43,685. That is a strong return on a $20,322 median debt. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.

8

Montana State University came in at #8 for value in general family & consumer sciences this year. Located in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,460, compared with $33,287 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general family & consumer sciences graduates is $25,000. General Family & Consumer Sciences graduates of Montana State University earn a median of $31,910 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Montana State University admits about 82% of applicants.

9

The University Of Alabama came in at #9 for value in general family & consumer sciences this year. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,180, while out-of-state students pay about $34,172. General Family & Consumer Sciences graduates carry a median of $25,125 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general family & consumer sciences degree recipients from The University Of Alabama generally make around $52,717. Set against $25,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.

Other General Family & Consumer Sciences Degree Levels

Explore the best-value general family & consumer sciences schools at other degree levels:

All Degree Levels in General Family & Consumer Sciences
Associate's Degrees in General Family & Consumer Sciences
Bachelor's Degrees in General Family & Consumer Sciences
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View All General Family & Consumer Sciences Rankings >

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 116 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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