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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Human Development & Family Studies Schools in Tennessee

2 Colleges in the United States
526 Human Development & Family Studies Degrees Awarded
$42,521 Avg Early-Career Salary

Human Development & Family Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 25 schools to find the best for human development & family studies students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Human Development & Family Studies in Tennessee

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall human development & family studies education in Tennessee.

Top Schools in Human Development & Family Studies

1
Vanderbilt University crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

Our analysis ranked Vanderbilt University the best school in the country for a degree in human development & family studies. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. Vanderbilt University awarded about 62 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree. See the full human development & family studies program report for Vanderbilt University

2

Tennessee Technological University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in human development & family studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Tennessee Technological University is a large public school located in the town of Cookeville. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 25 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Tennessee Technological University in the most recent year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Tennessee Technological University earn a median of $46,981 early in their careers. Tennessee Technological University graduates carry a median of $17,580 in student loans. See the full human development & family studies program report for Tennessee Technological University

3

Students looking for a strong human development & family studies program will find one at The University Of Tennessee, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. The University Of Tennessee awarded about 107 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $39,911. The University Of Tennessee graduates carry a median of $22,790 in student loans. Read more about the human development & family studies program at The University Of Tennessee

4
Lee University crest
Lee University
Cleveland, TN

Lee University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best human development & family studies schools. Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. Lee University awarded about 37 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their human development & family studies degree from Lee University earn around $38,249 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,422. Read more about the human development & family studies program at Lee University

5

Students looking for a strong human development & family studies program will find one at Dyersburg State Community College, which ranked #5. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Dyersburg. Dyersburg State Community College awarded about 47 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Dyersburg State Community College earn a median of $41,177 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,611 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in human development & family studies from Dyersburg State Community College

6

East Tennessee State University placed #6 among the best human development & family studies schools. This large public university is located in the city of Johnson City. East Tennessee State University graduates 53% of students within six years. About 25 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at East Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $33,301 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,032 to complete this degree. See the full human development & family studies program report for East Tennessee State University

7

Roane State Community College came in at #7 for human development & family studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Harriman. There were roughly 40 human development & family studies students who graduated with this degree at Roane State Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, human development & family studies degree recipients from Roane State Community College generally make around $36,933. Roane State Community College graduates carry a median of $9,408 in student loans. See the full human development & family studies program report for Roane State Community College

8

Nashville State Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best human development & family studies schools. Nashville State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Nashville. About 38 human development & family studies degrees were awarded at Nashville State Community College in the most recent year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Nashville State Community College earn a median of $41,456 early in their careers. Nashville State Community College graduates carry a median of $16,745 in student loans. Get the full human development & family studies details for Nashville State Community College

9

Northeast State Community College landed the #9 spot for human development & family studies this year. Located in the rural area of Blountville, Northeast State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Northeast State Community College awarded about 27 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the human development & family studies program make about $39,673 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $6,404. More information about a degree in human development & family studies from Northeast State Community College

10

Miller Motte Technical College Chattanooga placed #10 among the best human development & family studies schools. Located in the city of Chattanooga, Miller Motte Technical College Chattanooga is a moderately-sized private for-profit university. Miller Motte Technical College Chattanooga awarded about 118 human development & family studies degrees in the most recent data year. Human Development & Family Studies graduates of Miller Motte Technical College Chattanooga earn a median of $29,532 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,598 to complete this degree. Read more about the human development & family studies program at Miller Motte Technical College Chattanooga

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 25 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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