2026 Best Value General Human Development & Family Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[General Human Development & Family Studies](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/human-development-and-family-studies-general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 33 schools to find the best return on investment for general human development & family studies students.
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2026 Best Value General Human Development & Family Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general human development & family studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Human Development & Family Studies Schools
Our analysis ranked City Colleges Of Chicago Harry S Truman College the best value for a degree in general human development & family studies in the Great Lakes Region. City Colleges Of Chicago Harry S Truman College is a large public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Students borrow a median of $11,458 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Harry S Truman College earn a median of $37,381 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Michigan Dearborn one of the best values for general human development & family studies. University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dearborn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,640, compared with $32,896 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $26,516. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of Michigan Dearborn earn a median of $62,536 early in their careers. Set against $26,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,600 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $29,762. That is a strong return on a $19,600 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Purdue University Main Campus earned it the #4 place for general human development & family studies. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $15,304 in student loans. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $35,436. Set against $15,304 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value general human development & family studies schools. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $34,149 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,250 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value general human development & family studies schools. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,060. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $31,000. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $38,538. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #7 position for value in general human development & family studies this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $34,610. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Stout earned the #8 position for value in general human development & family studies this year. Set in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,701, compared with $19,265 for out-of-state students. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stout earn a median of $37,050 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Stout admits about 88% of applicants.
Illinois State University came in at #9 for value in general human development & family studies this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,410, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $23,125 in student loans. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $33,682. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #10 spot for general human development & family studies value this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $19,343 in student loans. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $30,748 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Kent State University At Kent came in at #11 for value in general human development & family studies this year. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,220 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $26,913. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $33,643. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Michigan State University earned the #12 position for value in general human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $29,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $31,434. That is a strong return on a $29,750 median debt. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus landed the #13 spot for general human development & family studies value this year. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. In-state tuition and fees average $13,912, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $32,175. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
Franciscan University Of Steubenville placed #14 among the best values for general human development & family studies. Set in the city of Steubenville, Franciscan University Of Steubenville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,100. Students borrow a median of $25,029 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Franciscan University Of Steubenville earn a median of $43,020 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,029 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 33 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.
