2026 Best Human Development Family Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Human Development Family Studies graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 1057 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor evaluated schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Human Development Family Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
Leading the list is Clemson University, our #1 Human Development Family Studies school in the United States. This public school is set in Clemson, SC. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,554, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. The median Human Development Family Studies program debt is $23,783. More on Clemson University
Erikson Institute came in at #2 on this year's Human Development Family Studies ranking in the United States. Erikson Institute is a private not-for-profit school based in Chicago, IL. Get the full Erikson Institute report
Michigan State University came in at #3 on this year's Human Development Family Studies ranking in the United States. Set in East Lansing, MI, Michigan State University is a public institution. Michigan State University graduates 81% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $29,750 in student loans. Get the full Michigan State University report
A rank of #4 makes Oklahoma State University Main Campus one of the top choices in the United States. Located in Stillwater, OK, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Students from in state pay about $10,110 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,630. Students borrow a median of $23,858 to complete their Human Development Family Studies program here. See the full Oklahoma State University Main Campus profile
Out of the 1057 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Iowa State University landed the #5 spot. Based in Ames, IA, Iowa State University is a public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,787, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. The median Human Development Family Studies program debt is $24,958. See the full Iowa State University profile
University Of Georgia came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Set in Athens, GA, University Of Georgia is a public institution. University Of Georgia graduates 90% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,466 to complete their Human Development Family Studies program here. See the full University Of Georgia profile
University Of Florida ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Human Development Family Studies schools. Based in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida is a public institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $17,296 in student loans. Read more about University Of Florida
Eastern Washington University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Cheney, WA. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,586, while out-of-state students pay about $26,583. Students borrow a median of $19,936 to complete their Human Development Family Studies program here. Get the full Eastern Washington University report
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #9 in this year's ranking. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public school based in Raleigh, NC. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $22,113 in student loans. More on North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Texas Tech University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Human Development Family Studies schools. Set in Lubbock, TX, Texas Tech University is a public institution. Texas Tech University graduates 69% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,852, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete their Human Development Family Studies program here. Read the full report on Texas Tech University
Kansas State University landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. Located in Manhattan, KS, Kansas State University is a public institution. Kansas State University graduates 71% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,221, compared with $28,568 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Read the full report on Kansas State University
The University Of Tennessee landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. Located in Knoxville, TN, The University Of Tennessee is a public institution. The University Of Tennessee graduates 74% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,812, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. The median Human Development Family Studies program debt is $22,790. Read the full report on The University Of Tennessee
Towson University placed #13 among Human Development Family Studies schools in the United States. Towson University is a public school based in Towson, MD. About 70% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,728, while out-of-state students pay about $29,820. Towson University Human Development Family Studies students take on a median of $20,500 in debt. Read the full report on Towson University
Portland State University landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. Located in Portland, OR, Portland State University is a public institution. Portland State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 53%. Students from in state pay about $11,118 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,136 for out-of-state students. Portland State University Human Development Family Studies students take on a median of $23,334 in debt. Read the full report on Portland State University
Auburn University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Human Development Family Studies schools. Auburn University is a public school based in Auburn, AL. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,890, compared with $34,922 for out-of-state students. Auburn University Human Development Family Studies students take on a median of $25,000 in debt. Get the full Auburn University report
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Human Development Family Studies schools. Based in Greensboro, NC, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a public institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,661, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete their Human Development Family Studies program here. Read more about University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
Nova Southeastern University landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. Based in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Nova Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,700. Students borrow a median of $25,021 to complete their Human Development Family Studies program here. More on Nova Southeastern University
University Of North Alabama did well this year, earning the #18 position. Located in Florence, AL, University Of North Alabama is a public institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,120, compared with $22,320 for out-of-state students. University Of North Alabama Human Development Family Studies students take on a median of $24,291 in debt. Get the full University Of North Alabama report
Capella University placed #19 among Human Development Family Studies schools in the United States. Based in Minneapolis, MN, Capella University is a private for-profit institution. Capella University graduates 20% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $14,400 in tuition and fees. Typical Human Development Family Studies student debt is $35,998. Read more about Capella University
Citrus College
Citrus College placed #20 among Human Development Family Studies schools in the United States. See the full Citrus College profile
Craven Community College did well this year, earning the #21 position. Read more about Craven Community College
Hopkinsville Community College did well this year, earning the #22 position. Read the full report on Hopkinsville Community College
Suny At Binghamton landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. More on Suny At Binghamton
University Of Delaware placed #24 among Human Development Family Studies schools in the United States. More on University Of Delaware
Washington State Community College landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Washington State Community College report
Rest of the Top 50 Best Human Development Family Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Bladen Community College came in at #26 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Bladen Community College
Brigham Young University Idaho came in at #27 in this year's ranking. Get the full Brigham Young University Idaho report
Vanderbilt University came in at #28 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Vanderbilt University
Black Hawk College came in at #29 in this year's ranking. More on Black Hawk College
East Central College landed the #30 spot in the United States this year. More on East Central College
El Paso Community College landed the #31 spot in the United States this year. See the full El Paso Community College profile
Framingham State University did well this year, earning the #32 position. More on Framingham State University
Lake Land College placed #33 among Human Development Family Studies schools in the United States. More on Lake Land College
Mchenry County College landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Mchenry County College
Pacific Oaks College placed #35 among Human Development Family Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Pacific Oaks College
Rivier College
Rivier College placed #36 among Human Development Family Studies schools in the United States. More on Rivier College
Western Piedmont Community College ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Human Development Family Studies schools. See the full Western Piedmont Community College profile
Baton Rouge Community College landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Baton Rouge Community College
Cerritos College
Cerritos College placed #39 among Human Development Family Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Cerritos College
Fresno City College placed #40 among Human Development Family Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Fresno City College
South Plains College landed the #41 spot in the United States this year. More on South Plains College
Southern Union State Community College did well this year, earning the #42 position. See the full Southern Union State Community College profile
Rio Salado College landed the #43 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Rio Salado College
Santa Rosa Junior College came in at #44 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Santa Rosa Junior College
Thomas Nelson Community College did well this year, earning the #45 position. More on Thomas Nelson Community College
Dewey University Manati did well this year, earning the #46 position. Get the full Dewey University Manati report
Itawamba Community College came in at #47 in this year's ranking. See the full Itawamba Community College profile
Montclair State University placed #48 among Human Development Family Studies schools in the United States. More on Montclair State University
Pioneer Technology Center did well this year, earning the #49 position. See the full Pioneer Technology Center profile
Southeast Missouri State University landed the #50 spot in the United States this year. More on Southeast Missouri State University
Related Human Development Family Studies Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Human Development Family Studies Schools (All Levels)
- Best Human Development Family Studies Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Human Development Family Studies Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Human Development Family Studies Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Human Development Family Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Human Development Family Studies Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Human Development Family Studies Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 1057 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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