2026 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in North Carolina
[Human Development & Family Studies](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/human-development-family-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong human development & family studies education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 48 schools to find the best return on investment for human development & family studies students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in North Carolina
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
Leading the list is Fayetteville Technical Community College, our #1 best value for human development & family studies in North Carolina. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,628 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,772. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $16,909 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Fayetteville Technical Community College generally make around $40,584. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Johnston Community College earned it the #2 place for human development & family studies. Located in the town of Smithfield, Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,756, while out-of-state students pay about $8,900. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $9,490. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Johnston Community College earn a median of $37,472 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Haywood Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Located in the rural area of Clyde, Haywood Community College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $2,580 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,724. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $35,767.
Stanly Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in human development & family studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Stanly Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Albemarle. Students from in state pay about $2,672 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,816 for out-of-state students. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Stanly Community College generally make around $41,920.
Wayne Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Goldsboro. Students from in state pay about $2,566 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,710. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Wayne Community College generally make around $33,116. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
James Sprunt Community College landed the #6 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Set in the rural area of Kenansville, James Sprunt Community College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,592, with out-of-state students paying around $8,736. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $11,278 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of James Sprunt Community College earn a median of $35,264 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Craven Community College earned the #7 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Craven Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of New Bern. In-state tuition and fees average $2,022, with out-of-state students paying around $6,630. Students borrow a median of $8,924 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $30,235. Set against $8,924 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rowan Cabarrus Community College earned the #8 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the suburb of Salisbury, Rowan Cabarrus Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,064, while out-of-state students pay about $6,672. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $10,867 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Rowan Cabarrus Community College earn a median of $34,351 early in their careers. Set against $10,867 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Vance Granville Community College earned the #9 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the town of Henderson, Vance Granville Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,944, with out-of-state students paying around $6,552. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $14,833 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Vance Granville Community College generally make around $43,272. That is a strong return on a $14,833 median debt.
Robeson Community College landed the #10 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Located in the town of Lumberton, Robeson Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,604, compared with $8,748 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $9,949 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $52,951. Set against $9,949 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Richmond Community College came in at #11 for value in human development & family studies this year. Richmond Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hamlet. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,956, compared with $6,564 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $8,407 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Richmond Community College generally make around $46,757. That is a strong return on a $8,407 median debt.
Isothermal Community College earned the #12 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the town of Spindale, Isothermal Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,030 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,638. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $6,625. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Isothermal Community College generally make around $47,389. Set against $6,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wake Technical Community College landed the #13 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Wake Technical Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Raleigh. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,254, with out-of-state students paying around $6,862. Students borrow a median of $20,783 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $38,673. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Randolph Community College earned the #14 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Randolph Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Asheboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,416, with out-of-state students paying around $8,176. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $32,198.
Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock placed #15 among the best values for human development & family studies. Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Flat Rock. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,660, with out-of-state students paying around $8,804. Students borrow a median of $16,252 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $42,443. Set against $16,252 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro landed the #16 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,661 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro generally make around $33,878. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro admits about 88% of applicants.
North Carolina A And T State University earned the #17 position for value in human development & family studies this year. North Carolina A And T State University is a large public school located in the city of Greensboro. In-state tuition and fees average $6,813, with out-of-state students paying around $20,673. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from North Carolina A And T State University generally make around $37,458. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Alamance Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the suburb of Graham, Alamance Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,592, with out-of-state students paying around $8,736. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $6,625. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $37,585. Set against $6,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Appalachian State University came in at #19 for value in human development & family studies this year. Appalachian State University is a very large public school located in the town of Boone. Students from in state pay about $7,579 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,212. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $18,935 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of $30,062 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,935 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
East Carolina University placed #20 among the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,361 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $23,638. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $29,607 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. East Carolina University admits about 89% of applicants.
Meredith College placed #21 among the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the city of Raleigh, Meredith College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $45,630. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $26,000. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Meredith College earn a median of $40,537 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Meredith College admits about 74% of applicants.
More Human Development & Family Studies Rankings
View All Human Development & Family Studies Rankings >
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 · 48 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.
