2026 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in the The Plains States Region
[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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong human development & family studies education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 104 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 the The Plains States 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
Leading the list is Saint Louis Community College, our #1 best value for human development & family studies in the The Plains States Region. Located in the suburb of Bridgeton, Saint Louis Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,660, compared with $6,990 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $11,424. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Saint Louis Community College earn a median of $26,593 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,424 median debt.
Central Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in human development & family studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Central Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Grand Island. Students from in state pay about $3,360 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,800. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $10,277. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Central Community College earn a median of $43,218 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,277 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Salina Area Technical College earned it the #3 place for human development & family studies. Located in the town of Salina, Salina Area Technical College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,128. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $17,124. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $38,440. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Allen County Community College one of the best values for human development & family studies. Allen County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Iola. Students from in state pay about $4,260 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,860. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $10,032. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Allen County Community College earn a median of $25,323 early in their careers. Set against $10,032 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
State Fair Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. State Fair Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Sedalia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,176, with out-of-state students paying around $7,416. Students borrow a median of $15,328 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $39,168. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cowley County Community College earned the #6 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the town of Arkansas City, Cowley County Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800, with out-of-state students paying around $6,600. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $9,312. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Cowley County Community College earn a median of $34,099 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Iowa Tech Community College placed #7 among the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,186, compared with $5,330 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $8,837 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Western Iowa Tech Community College earn a median of $35,742 early in their careers. Set against $8,837 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Metropolitan Community College Kansas City placed #8 among the best values for human development & family studies. Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. In-state tuition and fees average $3,630, while out-of-state students pay about $9,600. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $12,281 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $46,660. That is a strong return on a $12,281 median debt.
Ozarks Technical Community College earned the #9 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Springfield. Students from in state pay about $4,256 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,040 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Ozarks Technical Community College earn a median of $27,003 early in their careers. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southeast Community College Area landed the #10 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Set in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,444, compared with $4,032 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $16,165. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Southeast Community College Area generally make around $29,534. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kirkwood Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,176, with out-of-state students paying around $8,220. Students borrow a median of $15,779 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Kirkwood Community College generally make around $41,681. Set against $15,779 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar came in at #12 for value in human development & family studies this year. Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Calmar. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,780, while out-of-state students pay about $7,770. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $14,348 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $39,833. Set against $14,348 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Eastern Iowa Community College District landed the #13 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Located in the city of Davenport, Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,848, compared with $6,456 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,995 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Eastern Iowa Community College District earn a median of $41,510 early in their careers. Set against $15,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Central College landed the #14 spot for human development & family studies value this year. South Central College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of North Mankato. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,146. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $13,139. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of South Central College earn a median of $46,447 early in their careers. Set against $13,139 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hawkeye Community College landed the #15 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Located in the rural area of Waterloo, Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,525, compared with $6,612 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $17,001. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Hawkeye Community College generally make around $41,902. Set against $17,001 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pine Technical College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Pine Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Pine City. In-state tuition and fees average $4,738. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $22,454 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $44,905. That is a strong return on a $22,454 median debt.
Des Moines Area Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,790, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,500 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $22,623 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Central Missouri College came in at #18 for value in human development & family studies this year. Set in the town of Trenton, North Central Missouri College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,370, while out-of-state students pay about $8,820. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $16,685. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $26,867. That is a strong return on a $16,685 median debt.
Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff landed the #19 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Set in the town of Poplar Bluff, Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,830, compared with $6,060 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $11,350 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $37,259. Set against $11,350 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Iowa Western Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. Set in the suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,930 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,080. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $15,153. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $43,444. That is a strong return on a $15,153 median debt.
Mineral Area College landed the #21 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Set in the town of Park Hills, Mineral Area College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,660, compared with $8,570 for out-of-state students. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $11,175 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Mineral Area College earn a median of $46,535 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,175 median debt.
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College placed #22 among the best values for human development & family studies. Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,326. Students borrow a median of $17,650 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College earn a median of $32,055 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Washburn Institute Of Technology placed #23 among the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the city of Topeka, Washburn Institute Of Technology is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,880. Students borrow a median of $11,362 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $39,749. That is a strong return on a $11,362 median debt.
Mayville State University earned the #24 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the rural area of Mayville, Mayville State University is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,979, compared with $11,237 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $27,464. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Mayville State University earn a median of $49,971 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,464 median debt.
Southeast Missouri State University earned the #25 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Southeast Missouri State University is a large public school located in the city of Cape Girardeau. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,903. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $23,289. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Southeast Missouri State University earn a median of $43,255 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,289 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 42 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for human development & family studies this year:
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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 · 104 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
