2026 Best Value Family, Consumer & Human Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

[Family, Consumer & Human Sciences](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 30 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value family, consumer & human sciences schools.
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2026 Best Value Family, Consumer & Human Sciences Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the family, consumer & human sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Family, Consumer & Human Sciences Schools
For return on investment in family, consumer & human sciences, no school beat Brigham Young University Idaho this year. Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Rexburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,800. Typical student debt for family, consumer & human sciences graduates is $12,250. Family, Consumer & Human Sciences graduates of Brigham Young University Idaho earn a median of $21,619 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Brigham Young University Idaho admits about 96% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in family, consumer & human sciences will find it at College Of Southern Idaho, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Twin Falls, College Of Southern Idaho is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,360, compared with $6,840 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,175 to complete the family, consumer & human sciences program here. Family, Consumer & Human Sciences graduates of College Of Southern Idaho earn a median of $39,099 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,175 median debt.
Utah Valley University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in family, consumer & human sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,507, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Typical student debt for family, consumer & human sciences graduates is $13,500. Early-career family, consumer & human sciences graduates make about $20,971. That is a strong return on a $13,500 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in family, consumer & human sciences will find it at Community College Of Denver, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Denver, Community College Of Denver is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,058, while out-of-state students pay about $17,658. Typical student debt for family, consumer & human sciences graduates is $18,830. Family, Consumer & Human Sciences graduates of Community College Of Denver earn a median of $45,202 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Weber State University earned it the #5 place for family, consumer & human sciences. Located in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,557, with out-of-state students paying around $17,545. Typical student debt for family, consumer & human sciences graduates is $18,792. Early-career family, consumer & human sciences graduates make about $35,216. That is a strong return on a $18,792 median debt.
Southern Utah University placed #6 among the best values for family, consumer & human sciences. Set in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,962, compared with $21,192 for out-of-state students. Family, Consumer & Human Sciences graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans. Family, Consumer & Human Sciences graduates of Southern Utah University earn a median of $20,693 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southern Utah University admits about 82% of applicants.
North Idaho College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value family, consumer & human sciences schools. Located in the city of Coeur d'Alene, North Idaho College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,396 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,736. Typical student debt for family, consumer & human sciences graduates is $14,688. Early-career family, consumer & human sciences graduates make about $49,489. That is a strong return on a $14,688 median debt.
Utah State University came in at #8 for value in family, consumer & human sciences this year. Utah State University is a very large public school located in the city of Logan. Students from in state pay about $8,560 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,993 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for family, consumer & human sciences graduates is $15,846. Soon after graduation, family, consumer & human sciences degree recipients from Utah State University generally make around $28,790. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Utah landed the #9 spot for family, consumer & human sciences value this year. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. Students borrow a median of $15,560 to complete the family, consumer & human sciences program here. Early-career family, consumer & human sciences graduates make about $35,448. That is a strong return on a $15,560 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Brigham Young University Provo landed the #10 spot for family, consumer & human sciences value this year. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,688. Family, Consumer & Human Sciences graduates carry a median of $11,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, family, consumer & human sciences degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $25,596. That is a strong return on a $11,250 median debt. Brigham Young University Provo admits about 68% of applicants.
University Of Idaho earned the #11 position for value in family, consumer & human sciences this year. Set in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,084 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,320. Students borrow a median of $27,919 to complete the family, consumer & human sciences program here. Family, Consumer & Human Sciences graduates of University Of Idaho earn a median of $34,387 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,919 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Mesa State College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value family, consumer & human sciences schools. Located in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,927 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,124. Students borrow a median of $22,310 to complete the family, consumer & human sciences program here. Soon after graduation, family, consumer & human sciences degree recipients from Mesa State College generally make around $43,617. That is a strong return on a $22,310 median debt. Mesa State College admits about 82% of applicants.
Idaho State University earned the #13 position for value in family, consumer & human sciences this year. Idaho State University is a large public school located in the city of Pocatello. In-state tuition and fees average $8,610, while out-of-state students pay about $27,720. Family, Consumer & Human Sciences graduates carry a median of $24,640 in student loans. Soon after graduation, family, consumer & human sciences degree recipients from Idaho State University generally make around $51,446. That is a strong return on a $24,640 median debt.
University Of Colorado Denver earned the #14 position for value in family, consumer & human sciences this year. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,383, with out-of-state students paying around $29,391. Typical student debt for family, consumer & human sciences graduates is $25,000. Family, Consumer & Human Sciences graduates of University Of Colorado Denver earn a median of $43,574 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado State University Fort Collins earned the #15 position for value in family, consumer & human sciences this year. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,373 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. Typical student debt for family, consumer & human sciences graduates is $22,599. Early-career family, consumer & human sciences graduates make about $34,996. Set against $22,599 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Colorado State University Fort Collins admits about 88% of applicants.
Montana State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value family, consumer & human sciences schools. Located in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,460, while out-of-state students pay about $33,287. Typical student debt for family, consumer & human sciences graduates is $25,000. Family, Consumer & Human Sciences graduates of Montana State University earn a median of $31,910 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.