2026 Best Value General Family & Consumer Sciences Schools in the The Plains States Region
[General Family & Consumer Sciences](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/general-family-consumer-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 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 The Plains States 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
For return on investment in general family & consumer sciences, no school beat Southeast Missouri State University this year. Southeast Missouri State University is a large public school located in the city of Cape Girardeau. Students from in state pay about $9,903 in tuition and fees. General Family & Consumer Sciences graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career general family & consumer sciences graduates make about $31,250. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Northern Iowa one of the best values for general family & consumer sciences. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,936 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,712 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,635 to complete the general family & consumer sciences program here. Early-career general family & consumer sciences graduates make about $46,054. That is a strong return on a $22,635 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general family & consumer sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. In-state tuition and fees average $11,221, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Typical student debt for general family & consumer sciences graduates is $23,546. Early-career general family & consumer sciences graduates make about $61,403. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Iowa State University one of the best values for general family & consumer sciences. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. 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 $51,109. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general family & consumer sciences will find it at Minnesota State University Mankato, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,572, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Typical student debt for general family & consumer sciences graduates is $25,125. Early-career general family & consumer sciences graduates make about $33,093. Set against $25,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Pittsburg State University came in at #6 for value in general family & consumer sciences this year. Set in the town of Pittsburg, Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,744 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general family & consumer sciences graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, general family & consumer sciences degree recipients from Pittsburg State University generally make around $28,782. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Pittsburg State University admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value general family & consumer sciences schools. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,818 to complete the general family & consumer sciences program here. Early-career general family & consumer sciences graduates make about $53,134. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
