2026 Best Value General Human Development & Family Studies Schools in the Southwest 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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 28 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 Southwest 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
Central New Mexico Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value general human development & family studies schools in the Southwest Region. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. Students from in state pay about $2,060 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $9,258 in student loans. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $31,256. 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 San Jacinto Community College, which ranked #2. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,490, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Students borrow a median of $11,376 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $38,107. Set against $11,376 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Plains College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general human development & family studies schools. South Plains College is a large public school located in the town of Levelland. Students from in state pay about $2,733 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,157. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $13,788 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from South Plains College generally make around $30,949. Set against $13,788 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Western Texas College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general human development & family studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Western Texas College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Snyder. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,300, while out-of-state students pay about $6,150. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $8,691. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Western Texas College earn a median of $68,077 early in their careers. Set against $8,691 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
New Mexico State University Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value general human development & family studies schools. Set in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,183, with out-of-state students paying around $25,307. Students borrow a median of $20,938 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $25,965. That is a strong return on a $20,938 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Texas Womans University came in at #6 for value in general human development & family studies this year. Set in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,640, with out-of-state students paying around $18,480. Students borrow a median of $24,170 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $36,855. Set against $24,170 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas Womans University admits about 96% of applicants.
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin landed the #7 spot for general human development & family studies value this year. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Odessa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,607, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $20,052. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $60,503. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Arizona State University placed #8 among the best values for general human development & family studies. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $21,842. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $49,757. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Lamar University earned the #9 position for value in general human development & family studies this year. Lamar University is a very large public school located in the city of Beaumont. In-state tuition and fees average $8,905, compared with $18,745 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,988 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Lamar University earn a median of $52,678 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lamar University admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Houston landed the #10 spot for general human development & family studies value this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,717, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $22,450. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $37,964. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of North Texas earned the #11 position for value in general human development & family studies this year. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. In-state tuition and fees average $11,309, while out-of-state students pay about $21,149. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $19,500. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $34,499. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. University Of North Texas admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Arizona landed the #12 spot for general human development & family studies value this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Students borrow a median of $20,400 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $36,445. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus came in at #13 for value in general human development & family studies this year. Located in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,110, while out-of-state students pay about $25,630. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $23,858 in student loans. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $43,282. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Texas State University San Marcos placed #14 among the best values for general human development & family studies. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,930. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $22,295 in student loans. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $35,047. That is a strong return on a $22,295 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Southern Nazarene University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value general human development & family studies schools. Southern Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bethany. In-state tuition and fees average $31,190. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $38,563. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Southern Nazarene University earn a median of $41,062 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Central Oklahoma landed the #16 spot for general human development & family studies value this year. University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public school located in the suburb of Edmond. Students from in state pay about $8,818 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,704. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $27,500. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $40,531. That is a strong return on a $27,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Texas Tech University placed #17 among the best values for general human development & family studies. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,852, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $23,250. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $39,096 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Tarleton State University came in at #18 for value in general human development & family studies this year. Tarleton State University is a large public school located in the town of Stephenville. Students from in state pay about $8,302 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,142 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $23,222. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $50,532. That is a strong return on a $23,222 median debt. Tarleton State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Hardin Simmons University earned the #19 position for value in general human development & family studies this year. Set in the city of Abilene, Hardin Simmons University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,960. Students borrow a median of $26,674 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Hardin Simmons University earn a median of $50,478 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,674 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Oklahoma Christian University came in at #20 for value in general human development & family studies this year. Oklahoma Christian University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Edmond. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,180. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $24,721. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $49,615. Set against $24,721 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Abilene Christian University landed the #21 spot for general human development & family studies value this year. Abilene Christian University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Abilene. In-state tuition and fees average $44,200. Typical student debt for general human development & family studies graduates is $26,000. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $30,278. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Baylor University landed the #22 spot for general human development & family studies value this year. Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waco. Students from in state pay about $58,100 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,350 to complete the general human development & family studies program here. Early-career general human development & family studies graduates make about $32,137. Set against $21,350 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 51%.
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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 · 28 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
