[Family & Community Services](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/family-and-community-services/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for family & community services students.
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Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in family & community services, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in family & community services, no school beat Sinclair Community College this year. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,675 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Students borrow a median of $12,525 to complete the family & community services program here. Early-career family & community services graduates make about $35,348. Set against $12,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Michigan Dearborn one of the best values for family & community services. Located in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,640, compared with $32,896 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,516 to complete the family & community services program here. Family & Community Services graduates of University Of Michigan Dearborn earn a median of $62,536 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,516 median debt. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
University Of St Francis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in family & community services, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Joliet. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,110. Students borrow a median of $25,695 to complete the family & community services program here. Family & Community Services graduates of University Of St Francis earn a median of $70,918 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,695 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Baker College Of Flint earned it the #4 place for family & community services. Located in the town of Owosso, Baker College Of Flint is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $13,000 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $33,250 to complete the family & community services program here. Early-career family & community services graduates make about $29,526. That is a strong return on a $33,250 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in family & community services will find it at University Of Wisconsin Madison, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for family & community services graduates is $21,250. Soon after graduation, family & community services degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $34,149. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Western Michigan University placed #6 among the best values for family & community services. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Students from in state pay about $15,987 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,539 to complete the family & community services program here. Family & Community Services graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $35,209 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Michigan State University came in at #7 for value in family & community services this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,750 to complete the family & community services program here. Soon after graduation, family & community services degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $31,434. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Michigan State University admits about 85% 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 · 16 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.
