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Most Popular Child Development & Family Studies Schools in California

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2023 Most Popular Child Development & Family Studies Schools in California

136 Colleges
$30,495 Avg Salary
$15,655 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Human Development & Family Studies School for You

Human Development & Family Studies is the #19 most popular major in California with 6,606 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 in California ranking. This report analyzed 136 schools in California 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.

Check out the human development programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in California.

#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 California. Located in the city of San Francisco, City College of San Francisco is a public school with a large student population.

Full Human Development & Family Studies at City College of San Francisco Report

#2

Santa Monica College

Santa Monica, CA

Out of the 136 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Santa Monica College landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in the small city of Santa Monica, SMC is a public school with a very large student population.

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A rank of #3 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 small suburb of Davis.

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

#4

College of the Sequoias

Visalia, CA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend College of the Sequoias. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Child Development & Family Studies Schools in California list. Located in the midsize city of Visalia, College of the Sequoias is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Full Human Development & Family Studies at College of the Sequoias Report

#5

Cuesta College

San Luis Obispo, CA

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Cuesta College is a great place for human development and family studies students. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, Cuesta College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

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

#6

Bakersfield College

Bakersfield, CA

With a ranking of #6, Bakersfield College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for human development and family studies students. Bakersfield College is a fairly large public school located in the city of Bakersfield.

Full Human Development & Family Studies at Bakersfield College Report

#7

Rio Hondo College

Whittier, CA

Rio Hondo College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular human development and family studies programs. RHCCD is a large public school located in the suburb of Whittier.

Read full report on Human Development & Family Studies at Rio Hondo College

#7

East Los Angeles College

Monterey Park, CA

East Los Angeles College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Child Development & Family Studies Schools in California ranking. Located in the suburb of Monterey Park, East Los Angeles College is a public college with a very large student population.

Read full report on Human Development & Family Studies at East Los Angeles College

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 #9 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Hayward, Cal State East Bay is a public college with a fairly large student population.

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

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#10

Fresno City College

Fresno, CA

Fresno City College ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Child Development & Family Studies Schools in California list. Located in the large city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a public school 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.

Full Human Development & Family Studies at Fresno City College Report

#11

Merritt College

Oakland, CA

Merritt 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 #11 on the list. Located in the city of Oakland, Merritt College is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

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#12

Los Angeles Valley College

Valley Glen, CA

With a ranking of #12, Los Angeles Valley College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for human development and family studies students. Located in the city of Valley Glen, LAVC is a public college with a large student population.

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#12

Modesto Junior College

Modesto, CA

Modesto Junior College ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Child Development & Family Studies Schools in California list. MJC is a fairly large public school located in the midsize 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

#14

Santa Ana College

Santa Ana, CA

Santa Ana College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Child Development & Family Studies Schools in California ranking. SAC is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana.

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

Read More…

#15

Los Angeles City College

Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles 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 #15 on the list. Los Angeles City College is a large public school located in the large city of Los Angeles.

Full Human Development & Family Studies at Los Angeles City College Report

#16

Riverside City College

Riverside, CA

Riverside City College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Child Development & Family Studies Schools in California ranking. Riverside City College is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Riverside.

On average, human development graduates from Riverside City College take out $8,250 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read More…

#17

Mt. San Antonio College

Walnut, CA

Mt. San Antonio College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Child Development & Family Studies Schools in California ranking. Mt. SAC is a very large public school located in the large suburb of Walnut.

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California State University - San Marcos came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Child Development & Family Studies Schools in California ranking. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, CSUSM is a public college with a fairly large student population.

The average amount in student loans that human development majors at CSUSM take out is $17,841. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $192.

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Los Angeles Mission College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular human development and family studies programs. Located in the city of Sylmar, Los Angeles Mission College is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

Full Human Development & Family Studies at Los Angeles Mission College Report

#19

El Camino College

Torrance, CA

El Camino College ranked #19 on this year’s Most Popular Child Development & Family Studies Schools in California list. El Camino College is a large public school located in the large suburb of Torrance.

Full Human Development & Family Studies at El Camino College Report

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional popular schools for Child Development & Family Studies students in the state of California that almost earned our Most Popular Child Development & Family Studies Schools in California award.

Rank College Location
21 MiraCosta College Oceanside, CA
22 Citrus College Glendora, CA
23 Cerritos College Norwalk, CA
24 Norco College Norco, CA
25 Fresno Pacific University Fresno, CA
25 Moorpark College Moorpark, CA
27 Mt. San Jacinto College San Jacinto, CA
27 College of the Desert Palm Desert, CA

Best Human Development & Family Studies Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Most Popular Human Development & Family Studies Colleges in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Washington 297
Oregon 483
Nevada 174
Hawaii 69
Alaska 29

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 26 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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