2026 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in Maryland

[Human Development & Family Studies](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value human development & family studies schools.
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2026 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in Maryland
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
For return on investment in human development & family studies, no school beat Frederick Community College this year. Frederick Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Frederick. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,849, while out-of-state students pay about $10,042. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $10,778. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Frederick Community College earn a median of $43,733 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,778 median debt.
Carroll Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the town of Westminster, Carroll Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,308, compared with $10,158 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,398 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Carroll Community College earn a median of $49,058 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Montgomery College one of the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the city of Rockville, Montgomery College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,394, while out-of-state students pay about $14,250. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $11,230 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Montgomery College earn a median of $24,833 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Baltimore City Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of Baltimore, Baltimore City Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,314, compared with $7,394 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $11,202 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $51,023. Set against $11,202 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. Students borrow a median of $19,533 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $41,157 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,533 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Towson University placed #6 among the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,820. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $20,500. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $50,370. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Bowie State University placed #7 among the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the suburb of Bowie, Bowie State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,218, with out-of-state students paying around $19,938. Students borrow a median of $26,125 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Bowie State University earn a median of $34,257 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,125 median debt. Bowie State University admits about 72% of applicants.
Mount St Marys University landed the #8 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Located in the rural area of Emmitsburg, Mount St Marys University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $48,630. Students borrow a median of $23,539 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Mount St Marys University generally make around $50,657. Set against $23,539 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mount St Marys University admits about 74% of applicants.
Stevenson University earned the #9 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Stevenson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Owings Mills. In-state tuition and fees average $40,560. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Stevenson University generally make around $34,273. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.