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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in Kentucky

5 Colleges in the United States
$13,884 Avg Student Debt
$36,884 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Badge [Human Development & Family Studies](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 21 schools to find the best return on investment for human development & family studies students.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in Kentucky

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

1

Leading the list is Hazard Community And Technical College, our #1 best value for human development & family studies in Kentucky. Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hazard. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $12,212 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Hazard Community And Technical College generally make around $15,134. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

2
Berea College crest
Berea College
Berea, KY

Berea College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Berea College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Berea. Students from in state pay about $51,658 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $5,801 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $31,428. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 19%.

3

Students looking for strong value in human development & family studies will find it at Somerset Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Somerset, Somerset Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $10,826. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $15,238. That is a strong return on a $10,826 median debt.

4

A rank of #4 makes Hopkinsville Community College one of the best values for human development & family studies. Set in the town of Hopkinsville, Hopkinsville Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $13,269 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Hopkinsville Community College earn a median of $43,678 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

5

Owensboro Community And Technical College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the rural area of Owensboro, Owensboro Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $9,098 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Owensboro Community And Technical College earn a median of $40,462 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

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6

West Kentucky Community And Technical College landed the #6 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Located in the city of Paducah, West Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $7,928 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of West Kentucky Community And Technical College earn a median of $17,784 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,928 median debt.

7

Ashland Community And Technical College came in at #7 for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the city of Ashland, Ashland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $13,485. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $37,826. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

8

Henderson Community College landed the #8 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Set in the rural area of Henderson, Henderson Community College is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $13,528. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $40,259. Set against $13,528 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

9

Maysville Community And Technical College placed #9 among the best values for human development & family studies. Maysville Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Maysville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,031 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $37,769. That is a strong return on a $13,031 median debt.

10

Elizabethtown Community And Technical College landed the #10 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Elizabethtown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $12,245 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $45,486. Set against $12,245 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

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11

Gateway Community And Technical College landed the #11 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Gateway Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Florence. 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 $11,071. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $46,993. Set against $11,071 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

12

Madisonville Community College placed #12 among the best values for human development & family studies. Madisonville Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Madisonville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $10,985. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Madisonville Community College generally make around $41,084. That is a strong return on a $10,985 median debt.

13

Bluegrass Community And Technical College earned the #13 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Lexington, Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,808, compared with $6,512 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $13,366 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $44,431. Set against $13,366 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

14

Jefferson Community And Technical College earned the #14 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Louisville, Jefferson Community And Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,808, while out-of-state students pay about $6,512. Students borrow a median of $14,903 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Jefferson Community And Technical College earn a median of $26,682 early in their careers. Set against $14,903 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

15

Eastern Kentucky University earned the #15 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,320 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,230. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $28,964. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Eastern Kentucky University generally make around $27,514. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.

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16
Western Kentucky University crest
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY

Western Kentucky University landed the #16 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,652, while out-of-state students pay about $27,000. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Western Kentucky University earn a median of $44,778 early in their careers. Set against $24,499 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.

17
Campbellsville University crest
Campbellsville University
Campbellsville, KY

Campbellsville University placed #17 among the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the town of Campbellsville, Campbellsville University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $27,998. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $20,820 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Campbellsville University generally make around $37,685. Set against $20,820 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Campbellsville University admits about 80% of applicants.

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 21 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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