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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best General Human Development & Family Studies Schools in the The Plains States Region

8 Colleges in the United States
512 General Human Development & Family Studies Degrees Awarded
$45,188 Avg Early-Career Salary

General Human Development & Family Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general human development & family studies students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for General Human Development & Family Studies in the The Plains States Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general human development & family studies education in the The Plains States Region.

Top Schools in General Human Development & Family Studies

1

No school ranked higher than Maryville University Of Saint Louis this year for general human development & family studies. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. Maryville University Of Saint Louis awarded about 16 general human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Maryville University Of Saint Louis earn a median of $67,909 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,499 to complete this degree. See the full general human development & family studies program report for Maryville University Of Saint Louis

2

Students looking for a strong general human development & family studies program will find one at Iowa State University, which ranked #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Ames. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 70 general human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Iowa State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $36,364. Students borrow a median of $24,958 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general human development & family studies from Iowa State University

3

University Of Missouri Columbia is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general human development & family studies, ranking #3. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 63 general human development & family studies degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $40,221 early in their careers. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Read more about the general human development & family studies program at University Of Missouri Columbia

4

Students looking for a strong general human development & family studies program will find one at University Of Nebraska Lincoln, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public university. University Of Nebraska Lincoln graduates 67% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 general human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nebraska Lincoln in the most recent data year. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $49,451 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,386. See the full general human development & family studies program report for University Of Nebraska Lincoln

5

South Dakota State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general human development & family studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. About 64 general human development & family studies degrees were awarded at South Dakota State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general human development & family studies degree from South Dakota State University earn around $37,123 in the first couple years of their career. South Dakota State University graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Get the full general human development & family studies details for South Dakota State University

6

Kansas State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best general human development & family studies schools. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. About 93 general human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Kansas State University in the most recent year. General Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $42,654 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general human development & family studies from Kansas State University

7

North Dakota State University Main Campus placed #7 among the best general human development & family studies schools. North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Fargo. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. There were roughly 113 general human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at North Dakota State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general human development & family studies program make about $41,717 in their early career. North Dakota State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $26,569 in student loans. Get the full general human development & family studies details for North Dakota State University Main Campus

8

Saint Marys University Of Minnesota placed #8 among the best general human development & family studies schools. Located in the town of Winona, Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. There were roughly 12 general human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Saint Marys University Of Minnesota in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general human development & family studies degree from Saint Marys University Of Minnesota earn around $69,785 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,081 to complete this degree. Read more about the general human development & family studies program at Saint Marys University Of Minnesota

9

Missouri State University Springfield came in at #9 for general human development & family studies this year. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. Missouri State University Springfield graduates 58% of students within six years. Missouri State University Springfield awarded about 27 general human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general human development & family studies degree from Missouri State University Springfield earn around $32,769 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the general human development & family studies program at Missouri State University Springfield

10

University Of Central Missouri placed #10 among the best general human development & family studies schools. Set in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 general human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Missouri in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general human development & family studies degree recipients from University Of Central Missouri generally make around $36,267. University Of Central Missouri graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. See the full general human development & family studies program report for University Of Central Missouri

11

Concordia University Saint Paul came in at #11 for general human development & family studies this year. Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Concordia University Saint Paul graduates 45% of students within six years. Concordia University Saint Paul awarded about 16 general human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general human development & family studies degree from Concordia University Saint Paul earn around $42,810 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $30,583. Get the full general human development & family studies details for Concordia University Saint Paul

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 16 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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