by our College Data Analytics Team
[Value](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/early-childhood-and-family-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 1 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
American Public University System earned the #1 spot for value among value schools in West Virginia. American Public University System is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town. In-state tuition and fees average $8,400. Value graduates carry a median of $26,340 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $27,587. Set against $26,340 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The ranking above is published 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 · 1 school evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.