2026 Best Value General Human Development & Family Studies Schools in the Far Western Region
[General Human Development & Family Studies](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/human-development-and-family-studies-general/) 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.
College Factual analyzed 32 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value general human development & family studies schools.
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2026 Best Value General Human Development & Family Studies Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general human development & family studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Human Development & Family Studies Schools
For return on investment in general human development & family studies, no school beat California State University San Bernardino this year. California State University San Bernardino is a very large public school located in the city of San Bernardino. In-state tuition and fees average $8,088, while out-of-state students pay about $20,688. Students borrow a median of $15,149 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of California State University San Bernardino earn a median of $42,421 early in their careers. Set against $15,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Saddleback College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general human development & family studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Saddleback College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Mission Viejo. In-state tuition and fees average $1,432, compared with $14,812 for out-of-state students. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $5,707 in student loans. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Saddleback College earn a median of $15,890 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general human development & family studies will find it at Shasta College, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Redding, Shasta College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,197, with out-of-state students paying around $8,853. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $12,275. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $50,330. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Orange Coast College earned it the #4 place for general human development & family studies. Orange Coast College is a very large public school located in the city of Costa Mesa. Students from in state pay about $1,392 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,640. Students borrow a median of $8,978 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from Orange Coast College generally make around $46,306. That is a strong return on a $8,978 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Long Beach earned it the #5 place for general human development & family studies. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,374, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $15,000. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $30,205 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
California State University San Marcos earned the #6 position for value in general human development & family studies this year. California State University San Marcos is a large public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,082, compared with $20,682 for out-of-state students. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $17,193 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from California State University San Marcos generally make around $31,184. Set against $17,193 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Clackamas Community College came in at #7 for value in general human development & family studies this year. Clackamas Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Oregon City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,345, compared with $14,265 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $13,915. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $31,280. Set against $13,915 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University East Bay landed the #8 spot for general human development & family studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,583, while out-of-state students pay about $20,183. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of California State University East Bay earn a median of $41,195 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of California San Diego landed the #9 spot for general human development & family studies value this year. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. Students from in state pay about $15,788 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $19,342 in student loans. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $33,489. That is a strong return on a $19,342 median debt. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.
Southwestern College Chula Vista came in at #10 for value in general human development & family studies this year. Set in the city of Chula Vista, Southwestern College Chula Vista is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,344, while out-of-state students pay about $10,640. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $11,205. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from Southwestern College Chula Vista generally make around $49,358. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Desert ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value general human development & family studies schools. Located in the city of Palm Desert, College Of The Desert is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,326, compared with $10,174 for out-of-state students. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $7,826 in student loans. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of College Of The Desert earn a median of $41,295 early in their careers. Set against $7,826 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuesta College landed the #12 spot for general human development & family studies value this year. Cuesta College is a large public school located in the rural area of San Luis Obispo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,350, while out-of-state students pay about $11,010. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $18,958. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Cuesta College earn a median of $64,492 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sonoma State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value general human development & family studies schools. Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,624, compared with $21,224 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $18,250. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Sonoma State University earn a median of $33,906 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Sonoma State University admits about 93% of applicants.
Los Angeles Mission College came in at #14 for value in general human development & family studies this year. Los Angeles Mission College is a large public school located in the city of Sylmar. Students from in state pay about $1,238 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,572. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $39,834.
Washington State University earned the #15 position for value in general human development & family studies this year. Washington State University is a very large public school located in the town of Pullman. In-state tuition and fees average $13,391, compared with $29,950 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $24,019. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from Washington State University generally make around $39,880. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Washington State University admits about 87% of applicants.
University Of California Davis came in at #16 for value in general human development & family studies this year. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,804 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Students borrow a median of $14,404 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $53,749. Set against $14,404 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Monterey Bay ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value general human development & family studies schools. Located in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,779, while out-of-state students pay about $20,379. Students borrow a median of $12,408 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $34,089. That is a strong return on a $12,408 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nevada Reno ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value general human development & family studies schools. University Of Nevada Reno is a very large public school located in the city of Reno. In-state tuition and fees average $9,578, compared with $27,720 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $21,875. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $35,322. Set against $21,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Nevada Reno admits about 74% of applicants.
Oregon State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value general human development & family studies schools. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400, compared with $38,190 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Oregon State University earn a median of $33,543 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 32 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
