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Most Popular Child Development & Family Studies Schools

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2023 Most Popular Child Development & Family Studies Schools

1,055 Colleges
$28,862 Avg Salary
$22,387 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Human Development & Family Studies School for You

Human Development & Family Studies is the #46 most popular major in the country with 42,112 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.

There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Most Popular Child Development & Family Studies Schools ranking. This report analyzed 1,055 schools in the United States to see which ones were the most popular programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Human Development & Family Studies program at each school on the list.

The following schools top our list of the Most Popular Human Development & Family Studies Colleges.

#1

City College of San Francisco

San Francisco, CA

Our analysis found City College of San Francisco to be the most popular school for human development and family studies students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. Located in the large city of San Francisco, City College of San Francisco is a public school with a large student population.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brigham Young University - Idaho. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Child Development & Family Studies Schools list. BYU - I is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the distant town of Rexburg.

Human Development majors at BYU - I take out an average of $13,506 in student loans while working on their egree.

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#3

Santa Monica College

Santa Monica, CA

The excellent programs at Santa Monica College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best human development and family studies schools in the United States. Located in the small city of Santa Monica, SMC is a public college with a very large student population.

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The excellent programs at Atlanta Technical College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best human development and family studies schools in the United States. Atlanta Area Tech is a small public school located in the large city of Atlanta.

Read full report on Human Development & Family Studies at Atlanta Technical College

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means University of California - Davis is a great place for human development and family studies students. UC Davis is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Davis.

Full Human Development & Family Studies at University of California - Davis Report

#6

College of the Sequoias

Visalia, CA

College of the Sequoias came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Child Development & Family Studies Schools ranking. Located in the city of Visalia, College of the Sequoias is a public school with a fairly large student population.

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#7

Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for human development and family studies students. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of Tallahassee, Florida State is a public college with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, human development graduates from Florida State carry an average student debt load of $20,465. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $138.

Full Human Development & Family Studies at Florida State University Report

Brigham Young University - Provo landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular human development and family studies programs. BYU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Provo.

While working on their degree, human development majors at BYU accumulate an average of around $12,002 in student debt.

Full Human Development & Family Studies at Brigham Young University - Provo Report

#9

Cuesta College

San Luis Obispo, CA

Cuesta College ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Child Development & Family Studies Schools list. Located in the small suburb of San Luis Obispo, Cuesta College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

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#10

Bakersfield College

Bakersfield, CA

Bakersfield College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular human development and family studies programs. Bakersfield College is a fairly large public school located in the city of Bakersfield.

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#11

East Los Angeles College

Monterey Park, CA

With a ranking of #11, East Los Angeles College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for human development and family studies students. Located in the large suburb of Monterey Park, East Los Angeles College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

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#11

Rio Hondo College

Whittier, CA

Rio Hondo College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Child Development & Family Studies Schools ranking. RHCCD is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Whittier.

Full Human Development & Family Studies at Rio Hondo College Report

California State University - East Bay did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for human development and family studies students. It came in at #13 on the list. Located in the suburb of Hayward, Cal State East Bay is a public college with a large student population.

The average amount in student loans that human development majors at Cal State East Bay take out is $14,500.

Full Human Development & Family Studies at California State University - East Bay Report

#14

Fresno City College

Fresno, CA

Fresno City College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for human development and family studies students. It came in at #14 on the list. Located in the large city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, human development graduates from Fresno City College carry an average student debt load of $5,199.

Read full report on Human Development & Family Studies at Fresno City College

#15

Merritt College

Oakland, CA

Merritt College ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Child Development & Family Studies Schools list. Located in the city of Oakland, Merritt College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

Read full report on Human Development & Family Studies at Merritt College

With a ranking of #16, American Public University System did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for human development and family studies students. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Military University is a private for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, human development majors at American Military University accumulate an average of around $27,568 in student debt.

Full Human Development & Family Studies at American Public University System Report

Washington State University landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular human development and family studies programs. Wazzu is a fairly large public school located in the distant town of Pullman.

Human Development majors at Wazzu take out an average of $23,800 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $353, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Human Development & Family Studies at Washington State University

#18

Montclair State University

Montclair, NJ

With a ranking of #18, Montclair State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for human development and family studies students. Montclair State is a very large public school located in the suburb of Montclair.

After completing their degree, human development graduates from Montclair State carry an average student debt load of $25,000. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $265.

Read full report on Human Development & Family Studies at Montclair State University

#19

Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR

With a ranking of #19, Oregon State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for human development and family studies students. Oregon State is a very large public school located in the city of Corvallis.

Human Development majors at Oregon State take out an average of $26,000 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $336.

Full Human Development & Family Studies at Oregon State University Report

#20

Los Angeles Valley College

Valley Glen, CA

Los Angeles Valley College ranked #20 on this year’s Most Popular Child Development & Family Studies Schools list. Located in the city of Valley Glen, LAVC is a public school with a fairly large student population.

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#20

Modesto Junior College

Modesto, CA

Modesto Junior College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for human development and family studies students. It came in at #20 on the list. MJC is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized city of Modesto.

After completing their degree, human development graduates from MJC carry an average student debt load of $8,157.

Read full report on Human Development & Family Studies at Modesto Junior College

Central New Mexico Community College landed the #22 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular human development and family studies programs. Located in the city of Albuquerque, CNM is a public school with a fairly large student population.

On average, human development graduates from CNM take out $7,500 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Human Development & Family Studies at Central New Mexico Community College Report

#23

Post University

Waterbury, CT

Post University ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Child Development & Family Studies Schools list. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Waterbury, Post University is a private for-profit school with a large student population.

On average, human development graduates from Post University take out $40,548 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Human Development & Family Studies at Post University Report

#24

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, VA

With a ranking of #24, Virginia Tech did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for human development and family studies students. Located in the small city of Blacksburg, Virginia Tech is a public college with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, human development graduates from Virginia Tech carry an average student debt load of $21,500. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $331.

Full Human Development & Family Studies at Virginia Tech Report

#25

Santa Ana College

Santa Ana, CA

Santa Ana College landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular human development and family studies programs. SAC is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Santa Ana.

After completing their degree, human development graduates from SAC carry an average student debt load of $6,813.

Full Human Development & Family Studies at Santa Ana College Report

#26

Los Angeles City College

Los Angeles, CA
#27

Riverside City College

Riverside, CA
#28

Mt. San Antonio College

Walnut, CA
#30

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, TX
#32

El Camino College

Torrance, CA
#34

University of Georgia

Athens, GA
#35

MiraCosta College

Oceanside, CA
#38

Citrus College

Glendora, CA
#42

Cerritos College

Norwalk, CA
#43

Norco College

Norco, CA
#47

Binghamton University

Vestal, NY
#48

The University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, AL
#49

Moorpark College

Moorpark, CA

Additional Award Winners

This section shows the rest of the schools awarded a Most Popular Child Development & Family Studies Schools badge. Showing in this list means the college was ranked in the top 15% of the 1055 different United States human development and family studies schools we analyzed.

Rank College Location
51 Mt. San Jacinto College San Jacinto, CA
51 College of the Desert Palm Desert, CA
51 Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater Clearwater, FL
54 North Dakota State University - Main Campus Fargo, ND
54 Hinds Community College Raymond, MS
56 American River College Sacramento, CA
57 De Anza College Cupertino, CA
58 Long Beach City College Long Beach, CA
59 Diablo Valley College Pleasant Hill, CA
60 West Hills College-Coalinga Coalinga, CA
61 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Perkinston, MS
62 Butte College Oroville, CA
62 SUNY Empire State College Saratoga Springs, NY
64 Saddleback College Mission Viejo, CA
65 Hazard Community and Technical College Hazard, KY
66 California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CA
67 Broward College Fort Lauderdale, FL
68 Kansas State University Manhattan, KS
69 Pasadena City College Pasadena, CA
69 Utah Valley University Orem, UT
69 Columbus Technical College Columbus, GA
72 Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa, CA
72 Los Angeles Trade Technical College Los Angeles, CA
74 Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI
74 University of Florida Gainesville, FL
76 Tidewater Community College Norfolk, VA
77 University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI
77 Pacific Oaks College Pasadena, CA
79 Chabot College Hayward, CA
79 Palomar College San Marcos, CA
81 Georgia Piedmont Technical College Clarkston, GA
81 Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Stillwater, OK
83 Utah State University Logan, UT
84 Michigan State University East Lansing, MI
85 Columbus State Community College Columbus, OH
85 University of Nevada - Reno Reno, NV
87 University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS
87 Polk State College Winter Haven, FL
89 Victor Valley College Victorville, CA
90 Somerset Community College Somerset, KY
91 Texas State University San Marcos, TX
92 Stanly Community College Albemarle, NC
92 University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC
92 Cabrillo College Aptos, CA
95 University of Houston Houston, TX
95 Los Angeles Pierce College Woodland Hills, CA
97 West Georgia Technical College Waco, GA
97 Tallahassee Community College Tallahassee, FL
99 California State University - San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA
99 The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Knoxville, TN
101 West Hills College-Lemoore Lemoore, CA
102 Porterville College Porterville, CA
102 Auburn University Auburn, AL
102 Merrimack College North Andover, MA
105 University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MD
106 The University of Arizona Global Campus San Diego, CA
106 Albany Technical College Albany, GA
108 Iowa State University Ames, IA
109 Lanier Technical College Oakwood, GA
109 University of Arizona Tucson, AZ
111 National Louis University Chicago, IL
111 Cerro Coso Community College Ridgecrest, CA
113 University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver, CO
113 Portland State University Portland, OR
115 Jefferson Community and Technical College Louisville, KY
115 Northampton County Area Community College Bethlehem, PA
117 Shoreline Community College Shoreline, WA
117 Southwestern Illinois College Belleville, IL
119 Sheridan Technical College Hollywood, FL
119 Kent State University at Kent Kent, OH
121 Eastern Florida State College Cocoa, FL
121 San Jacinto Community College Pasadena, TX
123 Pinellas Technical College-St. Petersburg Saint Petersburg, FL
124 Georgia Northwestern Technical College Rome, GA
124 Cosumnes River College Sacramento, CA
126 North Georgia Technical College Clarkesville, GA
127 Merced College Merced, CA
128 Folsom Lake College Folsom, CA
128 Baker College Owosso, MI
128 Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MO
131 Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL
132 University of New Hampshire - Main Campus Durham, NH
132 Reedley College Reedley, CA
134 Los Angeles Southwest College Los Angeles, CA
134 University of California - San Diego La Jolla, CA
136 Taft College Taft, CA
136 William Rainey Harper College Palatine, IL
138 Yuba College Marysville, CA
138 Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI
138 State College of Florida - Manatee - Sarasota Bradenton, FL
141 City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College Chicago, IL
141 East Carolina University Greenville, NC
143 San Bernardino Valley College San Bernardino, CA
143 San Joaquin Delta College Stockton, CA
143 Danville Community College Danville, VA
143 Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego, CA
147 Midlands Technical College West Columbia, SC
147 City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College Chicago, IL
147 South Texas College McAllen, TX
150 Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins, GA
151 Chaffey College Rancho Cucamonga, CA
151 Lane Community College Eugene, OR
151 West Kentucky Community and Technical College Paducah, KY
151 Amslee Institute Sarasota, FL
155 Tyler Junior College Tyler, TX
156 College of the Canyons Santa Clarita, CA
156 Northshore Technical Community College Bogalusa, LA
156 University of La Verne La Verne, CA
156 Sierra College Rocklin, CA

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Child Development & Family Studies Schools award.

Rank College Location
160 Central Community College Grand Island, NE
161 Concordia University, Saint Paul Saint Paul, MN
161 Canada College Redwood City, CA
163 St Petersburg College Clearwater, FL
163 Wallace State Community College, Hanceville Hanceville, AL
163 Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL
163 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL
163 Santa Barbara City College Santa Barbara, CA
163 Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte, NC
163 Reynolds Community College Richmond, VA
170 SUNY Oswego Oswego, NY
170 Maysville Community and Technical College Maysville, KY
170 Savannah Technical College Savannah, GA
173 Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI
173 Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills, IL
173 Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA
173 Gateway Technical College Kenosha, WI
173 Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL
173 Carl Albert State College Poteau, OK
179 Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Bowling Green, OH
179 University of North Texas Denton, TX
181 San Diego Miramar College San Diego, CA
181 University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HI
181 SUNY Westchester Community College Valhalla, NY
181 University of Wisconsin - Stout Menomonie, WI
185 Wallace Community College, Dothan Dothan, AL
185 Imperial Valley College Imperial, CA
185 Brewster Technical College Tampa, FL
185 Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College Shell Lake, WI
185 Athens Technical College Athens, GA
190 Gwinnett Technical College Lawrenceville, GA
191 Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GA
191 City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College Chicago, IL
191 Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale, FL
191 Woodland Community College Woodland, CA
191 Chemeketa Community College Salem, OR
191 Joliet Junior College Joliet, IL
191 Foothill College Los Altos Hills, CA
198 West Los Angeles College Culver City, CA
198 University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, IL
200 Irvine Valley College Irvine, CA
200 Antelope Valley College Lancaster, CA
202 Angelina College Lufkin, TX
202 Southwestern College Chula Vista, CA
202 College of Lake County Grayslake, IL
205 Southern Regional Technical College Thomasville, GA
205 Community College of Allegheny County Pittsburgh, PA
207 Ohio University - Athens Campus Athens, OH
207 Cornell University Ithaca, NY
209 South Georgia Technical College Americus, GA
209 Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS
209 South Dakota State University Brookings, SD
209 Rogue Community College Grants Pass, OR

Human Development & Family Studies by Region

View the Most Popular Child Development & Family Studies Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Great Lakes

One of 7 majors within the area of study, human development and family studies has other similar majors worth exploring.

Majors Similar to Human Development

Related Major Annual Graduates
Food, Nutrition & Related Services 4,858
Textile & Apparel Studies 3,313
General Family & Consumer Sciences 2,906
Family & Consumer Economics 1,454
Human Sciences Business Services 704

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 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 the rest 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).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Jsonin.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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