Human Development & Family Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their human development & family studies programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 1057 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for human development & family studies students pursuing a degree.
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Choosing a Great Human Development & Family Studies School
The school you choose for human development & family studies can shape your career. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Human Development & Family Studies rankings. For our Best Overall Human Development & Family Studies School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Human Development & Family Studies Rankings by Degree Level
We offer several rankings, including this Best Human Development & Family Studies Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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Best Schools for Human Development & Family Studies in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the human development & family studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked University Of California Davis the best school in the country for a degree in human development & family studies. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Davis. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 279 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $53,749 early in their careers. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $14,404 in student loans.
More information about a degree in human development & family studies from University Of California Davis
Northwestern University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in human development & family studies, ranking #2. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 20 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from Northwestern University earn around $78,551 in the first couple years of their career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
Read more about the human development & family studies program at Northwestern University
A rank of #3 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the top schools for human development & family studies. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. About 126 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $34,149 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,250.
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A rank of #4 makes Santa Clara University one of the top schools for human development & family studies. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 88% of students finish within six years. Santa Clara University awarded about 17 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Santa Clara University generally make around $79,380. Students borrow a median of $20,144 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong human development & family studies program will find one at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 77 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $29,762 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,600.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #6 for human development & family studies this year. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 80 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full human development & family studies program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of California San Diego placed #7 among the best human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 52 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of California San Diego in the most recent data year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $33,489 in their early career. University Of California San Diego graduates carry a median of $19,342 in student loans.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #8 among the best human development & family studies schools. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 43 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $34,533 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned the #9 position for human development & family studies this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 180 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $33,654. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
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Florida State University came in at #10 for human development & family studies this year. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 203 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Florida State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from Florida State University earn around $29,690 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000.
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University Of Maryland College Park earned the #11 position for human development & family studies this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 57 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $41,157 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,533.
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California State University East Bay earned the #12 position for human development & family studies this year. California State University East Bay is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University East Bay awarded about 236 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $41,195 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete this degree.
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George Mason University placed #13 among the best human development & family studies schools. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. George Mason University awarded about 16 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from George Mason University earn around $45,140 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,300.
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University Of Florida came in at #14 for human development & family studies this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. University Of Florida awarded about 105 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $42,853 in their early career. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $17,296 in student loans.
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Vanderbilt University came in at #15 for human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 62 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $77,997 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,975.
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Suny At Binghamton ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best human development & family studies schools. Suny At Binghamton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Vestal. About 82% of students finish within six years. Suny At Binghamton awarded about 96 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Suny At Binghamton generally make around $36,213. Suny At Binghamton graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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University Of Connecticut came in at #17 for human development & family studies this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Storrs. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Connecticut awarded about 134 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of $31,642 early in their careers. University Of Connecticut graduates carry a median of $23,059 in student loans.
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Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best human development & family studies schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. About 131 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $34,610 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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Purdue University Main Campus earned the #19 position for human development & family studies this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 78 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $35,436 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,304 to complete this degree.
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California State University Long Beach placed #20 among the best human development & family studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Long Beach. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 184 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $30,205 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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Texas Tech University earned the #21 position for human development & family studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Lubbock. Texas Tech University graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 193 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Texas Tech University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from Texas Tech University earn around $39,096 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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University Of Rochester came in at #22 for human development & family studies this year. University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rochester. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Rochester awarded about 15 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of University Of Rochester earn a median of $60,865 early in their careers. University Of Rochester graduates carry a median of $21,517 in student loans.
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California State University San Bernardino placed #23 among the best human development & family studies schools. Set in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public institution. California State University San Bernardino graduates 55% of students within six years. There were roughly 190 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of California State University San Bernardino earn a median of $42,421 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,149.
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Tufts University placed #24 among the best human development & family studies schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. Tufts University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 62 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $44,725. Typical student debt for the program is $16,170.
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Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary placed #25 among the best human development & family studies schools. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary graduates 72% of students within six years. About 20 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary generally make around $48,472. Students borrow a median of $26,857 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Human Development & Family Studies Schools
These schools also placed among the best for human development & family studies this year:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 1057 schools evaluated.
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).