2026 Best Value General Family & Consumer Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region

[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.
College Factual analyzed 35 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value general family & consumer sciences schools.
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2026 Best Value General Family & Consumer Sciences Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general family & consumer sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Family & Consumer Sciences Schools
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College earned the #1 spot for value among general family & consumer sciences schools in the Southeast Region. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Perkinston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,250, with out-of-state students paying around $7,850. General Family & Consumer Sciences graduates carry a median of $11,653 in student loans. General Family & Consumer Sciences graduates of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College earn a median of $34,214 early in their careers. Set against $11,653 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The University Of Tennessee Martin came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value general family & consumer sciences schools. Located in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,560, while out-of-state students pay about $16,600. Typical student debt for general family & consumer sciences graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, general family & consumer sciences degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee Martin generally make around $29,288. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
North Carolina A And T State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general family & consumer sciences schools. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,813, while out-of-state students pay about $20,673. Typical student debt for general family & consumer sciences graduates is $27,791. General Family & Consumer Sciences graduates of North Carolina A And T State University earn a median of $26,888 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,791 median debt. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general family & consumer sciences will find it at Southeastern Louisiana University, which ranked #4. Southeastern Louisiana University is a large public school located in the city of Hammond. In-state tuition and fees average $8,373, while out-of-state students pay about $20,851. Students borrow a median of $25,401 to complete the general family & consumer sciences program here. Early-career general family & consumer sciences graduates make about $27,399. Set against $25,401 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value general family & consumer sciences schools. University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Pine Bluff. In-state tuition and fees average $9,375, compared with $17,955 for out-of-state students. General Family & Consumer Sciences graduates carry a median of $27,845 in student loans. Early-career general family & consumer sciences graduates make about $28,206. Set against $27,845 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 41% of applicants are accepted.
Fort Valley State University landed the #6 spot for general family & consumer sciences value this year. Fort Valley State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Fort Valley. Students from in state pay about $5,526 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,878 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general family & consumer sciences graduates is $44,653. General Family & Consumer Sciences graduates of Fort Valley State University earn a median of $28,794 early in their careers. Set against $44,653 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Fort Valley State University admits about 66% of applicants.
Delta State University placed #7 among the best values for general family & consumer sciences. Set in the town of Cleveland, Delta State University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,605. Typical student debt for general family & consumer sciences graduates is $26,979. General Family & Consumer Sciences graduates of Delta State University earn a median of $28,918 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Tennessee Technological University earned the #8 position for value in general family & consumer sciences this year. Located in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,376 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,576. General Family & Consumer Sciences graduates carry a median of $20,975 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general family & consumer sciences degree recipients from Tennessee Technological University generally make around $29,114. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Jacksonville State University came in at #9 for value in general family & consumer sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,894 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $23,334. Typical student debt for general family & consumer sciences graduates is $28,327. General Family & Consumer Sciences graduates of Jacksonville State University earn a median of $29,138 early in their careers. Set against $28,327 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Jacksonville State University admits about 78% of applicants.
Alabama A And M University landed the #10 spot for general family & consumer sciences value this year. Alabama A And M University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Normal. In-state tuition and fees average $10,024, while out-of-state students pay about $18,634. Students borrow a median of $41,531 to complete the general family & consumer sciences program here. Early-career general family & consumer sciences graduates make about $45,909. Set against $41,531 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Alabama A And M University admits about 58% of applicants.
University Of Central Arkansas ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value general family & consumer sciences schools. Set in the city of Conway, University Of Central Arkansas is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,523, while out-of-state students pay about $18,023. Typical student debt for general family & consumer sciences graduates is $31,000. General Family & Consumer Sciences graduates of University Of Central Arkansas earn a median of $38,508 early in their careers. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Kentucky earned the #12 position for value in general family & consumer sciences this year. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. Students from in state pay about $13,502 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Typical student debt for general family & consumer sciences graduates is $27,250. General Family & Consumer Sciences graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $31,464 early in their careers. Set against $27,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
South Carolina State University came in at #13 for value in general family & consumer sciences this year. South Carolina State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Orangeburg. Students from in state pay about $11,060 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,750. Students borrow a median of $34,625 to complete the general family & consumer sciences program here. General Family & Consumer Sciences graduates of South Carolina State University earn a median of $29,618 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. South Carolina State University admits about 83% of applicants.
Southern University And A And M College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value general family & consumer sciences schools. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Southern University And A And M College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,922 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,272. Typical student debt for general family & consumer sciences graduates is $39,100. Soon after graduation, general family & consumer sciences degree recipients from Southern University And A And M College generally make around $25,675. Set against $39,100 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 35% of applicants are accepted.
Bridgewater College came in at #15 for value in general family & consumer sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,090. General Family & Consumer Sciences graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. General Family & Consumer Sciences graduates of Bridgewater College earn a median of $34,466 early in their careers. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Alabama placed #16 among the best values for general family & consumer sciences. The University Of Alabama is a very large public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,180, while out-of-state students pay about $34,172. Typical student debt for general family & consumer sciences graduates is $25,125. Soon after graduation, general family & consumer sciences degree recipients from The University Of Alabama generally make around $43,888. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Alabama admits about 77% of applicants.
Liberty University placed #17 among the best values for general family & consumer sciences. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,173. General Family & Consumer Sciences graduates carry a median of $27,414 in student loans. Early-career general family & consumer sciences graduates make about $45,877. Set against $27,414 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 35 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.