2026 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in the Southeast Region
[Human Development & Family Studies](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 326 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for human development & family studies students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in human development & family studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools
Florida State College At Jacksonville earned the #1 spot for value among human development & family studies schools in the Southeast Region. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Students from in state pay about $2,657 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,631. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $13,272 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Florida State College At Jacksonville earn a median of $31,295 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,272 median debt.
St Petersburg College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,682, while out-of-state students pay about $9,286. Students borrow a median of $24,385 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $48,218. Set against $24,385 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Georgia Northwestern Technical College one of the best values for human development & family studies. Set in the city of Rome, Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,300, with out-of-state students paying around $5,868. Students borrow a median of $8,492 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Georgia Northwestern Technical College earn a median of $41,229 early in their careers. Set against $8,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Trident Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in human development & family studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Trident Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Charleston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,546, while out-of-state students pay about $8,620. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $18,116. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Trident Technical College generally make around $50,166. Set against $18,116 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Coastal Pines Technical College earned it the #5 place for human development & family studies. Coastal Pines Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Waycross. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,268, compared with $5,836 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $5,812. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Coastal Pines Technical College earn a median of $39,090 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,812 median debt.
Seminole State College Of Florida landed the #6 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Set in the city of Sanford, Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,122, with out-of-state students paying around $11,447. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $18,419. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Seminole State College Of Florida earn a median of $48,049 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,419 median debt.
Florida Gateway College earned the #7 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Florida Gateway College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Lake City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,100, while out-of-state students pay about $11,747. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $8,669 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Florida Gateway College generally make around $41,947. Set against $8,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northeast Alabama Community College placed #8 among the best values for human development & family studies. Northeast Alabama Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Rainsville. Students from in state pay about $5,040 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,910. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $7,459 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Northeast Alabama Community College generally make around $35,119. Set against $7,459 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southern Regional Technical College earned the #9 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the town of Thomasville, Southern Regional Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,007 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,575. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $9,086 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Southern Regional Technical College earn a median of $44,007 early in their careers. Set against $9,086 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Georgia Technical College came in at #10 for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the town of Americus, South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,992, while out-of-state students pay about $7,202. Students borrow a median of $10,423 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of South Georgia Technical College earn a median of $40,497 early in their careers. Set against $10,423 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pensacola State College came in at #11 for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Pensacola, Pensacola State College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,361, while out-of-state students pay about $9,463. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $9,191. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $45,811. That is a strong return on a $9,191 median debt.
Atlanta Technical College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Located in the city of Atlanta, Atlanta Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,382, while out-of-state students pay about $5,950. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $18,059. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Atlanta Technical College generally make around $35,441. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Florida Community College came in at #13 for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the rural area of Madison, North Florida Community College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,994, with out-of-state students paying around $11,460. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $7,902 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $46,266. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
George C Wallace State Community College Dothan ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of Dothan, George C Wallace State Community College Dothan is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,980, while out-of-state students pay about $8,850. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $9,942 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $34,762. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oconee Fall Line Technical College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Located in the rural area of Sandersville, Oconee Fall Line Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,380, with out-of-state students paying around $5,948. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $12,718 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Oconee Fall Line Technical College earn a median of $47,076 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College earned the #16 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the rural area of Valdosta, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,480, compared with $6,048 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $10,864. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Wiregrass Georgia Technical College generally make around $40,452. That is a strong return on a $10,864 median debt.
Hinds Community College earned the #17 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Hinds Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Raymond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,250, compared with $7,300 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $20,228. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Hinds Community College earn a median of $34,003 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,228 median debt.
Southern Crescent Technical College landed the #18 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Set in the town of Griffin, Southern Crescent Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,516, compared with $6,084 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $29,625 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Southern Crescent Technical College earn a median of $34,002 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fayetteville Technical Community College earned the #19 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,628, compared with $8,772 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $16,909. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $40,584. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
West Georgia Technical College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Located in the rural area of Waco, West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,978 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $12,651 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of West Georgia Technical College earn a median of $39,922 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,651 median debt.
Southwest Mississippi Community College placed #21 among the best values for human development & family studies. Southwest Mississippi Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Summit. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,080, compared with $6,780 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $21,057. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $50,292. That is a strong return on a $21,057 median debt.
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College landed the #22 spot for human development & family studies value this year. J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Richmond. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,280, with out-of-state students paying around $11,718. Students borrow a median of $16,131 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earn a median of $36,965 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Berea College landed the #23 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Located in the town of Berea, Berea College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,658. Students borrow a median of $5,801 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Berea College generally make around $31,428. Set against $5,801 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Berea College admits about 19% of applicants.
Dyersburg State Community College placed #24 among the best values for human development & family studies. Set in the town of Dyersburg, Dyersburg State Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,758, compared with $18,060 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $10,611. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $41,177. Set against $10,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hazard Community And Technical College placed #25 among the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the town of Hazard, Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $12,212. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $15,134. That is a strong return on a $12,212 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s human development & family studies value ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 326 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 53 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.
