2026 Best Value Human Development & Family Studies Schools in Missouri
[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong human development & family studies education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 26 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 Missouri
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 Saint Louis Community College, our #1 best value for human development & family studies in Missouri. 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. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $26,593. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes State Fair Community College one of the best values for human development & family studies. State Fair Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Sedalia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,176, compared with $7,416 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $15,328. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $39,168. That is a strong return on a $15,328 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Ozarks Technical Community College one of the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,256, with out-of-state students paying around $7,040. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $27,003. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in human development & family studies will find it at Metropolitan Community College Kansas City, which ranked #4. Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. Students from in state pay about $3,630 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,600 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $12,281. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Metropolitan Community College Kansas City earn a median of $46,660 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,281 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in human development & family studies will find it at North Central Missouri College, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Trenton, North Central Missouri College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,370, compared with $8,820 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,685 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from North Central Missouri College generally make around $26,867. Set against $16,685 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff earned the #6 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Located in the town of Poplar Bluff, Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,830, with out-of-state students paying around $6,060. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $11,350 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff generally make around $37,259. Set against $11,350 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southeast Missouri State University landed the #7 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Southeast Missouri State University is a large public school located in the city of Cape Girardeau. Students from in state pay about $9,903 in tuition and fees. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $23,289 in student loans. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Southeast Missouri State University generally make around $43,255. Set against $23,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southeast Missouri State University admits about 74% of applicants.
Mineral Area College landed the #8 spot for human development & family studies value this year. Mineral Area College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Park Hills. Students from in state pay about $5,660 in tuition and fees, 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.
Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies placed #9 among the best values for human development & family studies. Located in the rural area of Fayette, Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,500. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $23,246. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $32,588. Set against $23,246 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Missouri ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value human development & family studies schools. University Of Central Missouri is a large public school located in the town of Warrensburg. In-state tuition and fees average $10,050, with out-of-state students paying around $18,600. Human Development & Family Studies graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of Central Missouri earn a median of $36,267 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri State University Springfield placed #11 among the best values for human development & family studies. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $32,769. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #12 spot for human development & family studies value this year. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Typical student debt for human development & family studies graduates is $26,000. Early-career human development & family studies graduates make about $40,221. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis earned the #13 position for value in human development & family studies this year. Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,166. Students borrow a median of $24,499 to complete the human development & family studies program here. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Maryville University Of Saint Louis generally make around $67,909. That is a strong return on a $24,499 median debt. Maryville University Of Saint Louis admits about 95% of applicants.
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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 · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
