Human Development & Family Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 1057 schools to find the best for human development & family studies students.
Leading the list is University Of California Davis, our #1 school for human development & family studies. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Davis. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 269 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. Typical student debt for the program is $14,404.
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Students looking for a strong human development & family studies program will find one at Northwestern University, which ranked #2. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 19 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $78,551. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in human development & family studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 125 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $34,149. Typical student debt for the program is $21,250.
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Santa Clara University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in human development & family studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Santa Clara University in the most recent year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of $79,380 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,144.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in human development & family studies, ranking #5. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 77 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent 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 placed #6 among the best human development & family studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 56 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
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University Of California San Diego landed the #7 spot for human development & family studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of La Jolla. About 86% of students finish within six years. University Of California San Diego awarded about 52 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $33,489. 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. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. 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. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #9 for human development & family studies this year. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 173 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $33,654 in the first couple years of their career. 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. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 199 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Florida State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $29,690. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Maryland College Park earned the #11 position for human development & family studies this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 55 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. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $19,533 in student loans.
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California State University East Bay landed the #12 spot for human development & family studies this year. California State University East Bay is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. About 48% of students finish within six years. California State University East Bay awarded about 236 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from California State University East Bay generally make around $41,195. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete this degree.
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Tufts University earned the #13 position for human development & family studies this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. Tufts University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 23 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from Tufts University earn around $44,345 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,170.
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George Mason University landed the #14 spot for human development & family studies this year. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. 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. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $45,140 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,300.
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University Of Florida ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best human development & family studies schools. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. About 91% of students finish within six years. University Of Florida awarded about 63 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from University Of Florida earn around $35,759 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $17,296 in student loans.
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Suny At Binghamton came in at #16 for human development & family studies this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Vestal. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 92 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Suny At Binghamton in the most recent 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 ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best human development & family studies schools. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. University Of Connecticut graduates 83% of students within six years. University Of Connecticut awarded about 120 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 placed #18 among the best human development & family studies schools. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 118 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. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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Vanderbilt University earned the #19 position for human development & family studies this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Vanderbilt University awarded about 32 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree.
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Purdue University Main Campus earned the #20 position for human development & family studies this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 72 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $35,436. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $15,304 in student loans.
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California State University Long Beach earned the #21 position for human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 184 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $30,205 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
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Texas Tech University earned the #22 position for human development & family studies this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 175 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Texas Tech University in the most recent year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $39,096 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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California State University San Bernardino ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best human development & family studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Bernardino. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. About 190 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $42,421 in their early career. California State University San Bernardino graduates carry a median of $15,149 in student loans.
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University Of Miami earned the #24 position for human development & family studies this year. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at University Of Miami in the most recent year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $57,234 in their early career. University Of Miami graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans.
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Suny College At Oneonta ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best human development & family studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Oneonta. Suny College At Oneonta graduates 69% of students within six years. About 31 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Suny College At Oneonta in the most recent year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from Suny College At Oneonta earn around $36,143 in the first couple years of their career. Suny College At Oneonta graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Human Development & Family Studies Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong human development & family studies education:
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).
