2026 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in Michigan
[Human Development & Family Studies](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 34 schools to find the best return on investment for human development & family studies students.
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2026 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in Michigan
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the human development & family studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools
Washtenaw Community College earned the #1 spot for value among human development & family studies schools in Michigan. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,736, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $17,616. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Washtenaw Community College generally make around $45,332. That is a strong return on a $17,616 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in human development & family studies will find it at Oakland Community College, which ranked #2. Oakland Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Auburn Hills. In-state tuition and fees average $3,120, while out-of-state students pay about $5,560. Students borrow a median of $17,310 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $30,486. Set against $17,310 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Delta College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in human development & family studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,820, compared with $7,880 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $14,478. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Delta College generally make around $21,881. Set against $14,478 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kellogg Community College earned it the #4 place for human development & family studies. Kellogg Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Battle Creek. Students from in state pay about $4,118 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,282. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $20,432. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Kellogg Community College earn a median of $32,616 early in their careers. Set against $20,432 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Macomb Community College one of the best values for human development & family studies. Set in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Students borrow a median of $9,862 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $38,758. Set against $9,862 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northwestern Michigan College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of Traverse City, Northwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,860, compared with $13,476 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,694 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $49,210. That is a strong return on a $17,694 median debt.
Schoolcraft College came in at #7 for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,799, while out-of-state students pay about $6,501. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $15,677 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $46,283. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Michigan Dearborn came in at #8 for value in human development & family studies this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $32,896. Students borrow a median of $26,516 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from University Of Michigan Dearborn generally make around $62,536. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Mott Community College placed #9 among the best values for human development & family studies. Mott Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Flint. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,845, with out-of-state students paying around $11,460. Students borrow a median of $20,645 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Mott Community College generally make around $37,989. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Grand Rapids Community College came in at #10 for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,179 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,219 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,863 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Grand Rapids Community College generally make around $25,539. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wayne County Community College District placed #11 among the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne County Community College District is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,112, compared with $4,067 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,820 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Wayne County Community College District generally make around $48,892. That is a strong return on a $20,820 median debt.
Ferris State University came in at #12 for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,778 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $28,385. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $42,444. Set against $28,385 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Central Michigan University came in at #13 for value in human development & family studies this year. Central Michigan University is a large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. Students from in state pay about $15,480 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $27,209. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Central Michigan University generally make around $35,318. Set against $27,209 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Baker College Of Flint earned the #14 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the town of Owosso, Baker College Of Flint is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,000. Students borrow a median of $33,250 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Baker College Of Flint earn a median of $29,526 early in their careers. Set against $33,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Baker College Of Flint admits about 82% of applicants.
Eastern Michigan University landed the #15 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,990 in tuition and fees. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $33,885 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $33,911. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Western Michigan University came in at #16 for value in human development & family studies this year. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,987, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $29,539 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies 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 placed #17 among the best values for human development & family studies. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $29,750. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $31,434. Set against $29,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
More Human Development & Family Studies Rankings
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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 · 34 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
