2026 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in Texas

[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 64 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 Texas
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
South Texas College tops our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools in Texas. Set in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Students borrow a median of $6,868 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $19,971. That is a strong return on a $6,868 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at El Centro College earned it the #2 place for human development & family studies. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. In-state tuition and fees average $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $14,557. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $41,295. Set against $14,557 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in human development & family studies will find it at Del Mar College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,500, compared with $6,050 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $7,476 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Del Mar College earn a median of $40,661 early in their careers. Set against $7,476 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Western Texas College one of the best values for human development & family studies. Western Texas College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Snyder. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,300, while out-of-state students pay about $6,150. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $8,691. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Western Texas College earn a median of $68,077 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,691 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in human development & family studies will find it at Austin Community College District, which ranked #5. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. In-state tuition and fees average $2,550, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Students borrow a median of $14,519 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $44,895 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,519 median debt.
El Paso Community College landed the #6 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Located in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,274, while out-of-state students pay about $5,314. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $8,542 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $29,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Amarillo College earned the #7 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,136 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,704 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $15,720. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $41,053. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Midland College landed the #8 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Set in the city of Midland, Midland College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,180. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $9,000. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Midland College generally make around $43,454. Set against $9,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Antonio College came in at #9 for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, San Antonio College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $11,839. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of San Antonio College earn a median of $37,855 early in their careers. Set against $11,839 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tarrant County College District ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Tarrant County College District is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Worth. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,863, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $15,148 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $45,158. That is a strong return on a $15,148 median debt.
Laredo Community College came in at #11 for value in human development & family studies this year. Laredo Community College is a large public school located in the city of Laredo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,300, compared with $5,748 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Laredo Community College generally make around $41,354. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Texas Pan American ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,799 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $20,871 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $26,897. That is a strong return on a $20,871 median debt. The University Of Texas Pan American admits about 94% of applicants.
Central Texas College came in at #13 for value in human development & family studies this year. Central Texas College is a large public school located in the suburb of Killeen. Students from in state pay about $3,750 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,500. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $11,290. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $53,086. That is a strong return on a $11,290 median debt.
Houston Community College came in at #14 for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,040, with out-of-state students paying around $5,460. Students borrow a median of $19,223 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $40,365. Set against $19,223 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Plains College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Located in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,733, compared with $5,157 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $13,788. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $30,949. Set against $13,788 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lee College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Located in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,520 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,045. Students borrow a median of $10,941 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Lee College generally make around $53,448. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hill College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the town of Hillsboro, Hill College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,862 in tuition and fees. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $12,302 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Hill College generally make around $39,212. Set against $12,302 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Jacinto Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,490, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $11,376. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from San Jacinto Community College generally make around $38,107. That is a strong return on a $11,376 median debt.
Lamar Institute Of Technology ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of Beaumont, Lamar Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,844, compared with $12,924 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $14,278. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Lamar Institute Of Technology earn a median of $50,068 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of North Texas At Dallas came in at #20 for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the city of Dallas, University Of North Texas At Dallas is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,595 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,894. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Angelina College placed #21 among the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the town of Lufkin, Angelina College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,430 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,490 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $7,828. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $50,767. That is a strong return on a $7,828 median debt.
Cisco College came in at #22 for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the rural area of Cisco, Cisco College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,710, while out-of-state students pay about $7,140. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $10,875 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $17,820. That is a strong return on a $10,875 median debt.
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Odessa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,607, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $20,052 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin generally make around $60,503. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Texas Womans University landed the #24 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Texas Womans University is a large public school located in the city of Denton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,640, compared with $18,480 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $24,170 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $36,855. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Odessa College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Odessa College is a large public school located in the city of Odessa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,688, compared with $4,926 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $9,087 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Odessa College earn a median of $47,856 early in their careers. Set against $9,087 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 37 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s human development & family studies value ranking:
More Human Development & Family Studies Rankings
View All Human Development & Family Studies Rankings >
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 · 64 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.