2026 Best Value Family Consumer Economics Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Family Consumer Economics doctoral degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 34 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor evaluated schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Family Consumer Economics Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
For return on investment, no school beat University Of Minnesota Twin Cities this year in the United States. Set in Minneapolis, MN, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $69,020. Set against $19,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 80% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full University Of Minnesota Twin Cities report
You'll get strong value at University Of Arizona, which ranked #2 this year. This public school is set in Tucson, AZ. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Students borrow a median of $21,861 to complete their Family Consumer Economics program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $59,979. That is a strong return on a $21,861 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%. More on University Of Arizona
You'll get strong value at University Of Utah, which ranked #3 this year. See the full University Of Utah profile
A rank of #4 makes University Of Nebraska At Kearney one of the best values in the United States. More on University Of Nebraska At Kearney
A rank of #5 makes North Dakota State University Main Campus one of the best values in the United States. More on North Dakota State University Main Campus
South Dakota State University landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about South Dakota State University
Langston University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value Family Consumer Economics schools. More on Langston University
Texas State University San Marcos landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Texas State University San Marcos report
Ashford University offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. More on Ashford University
Athens Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Read more about Athens Technical College
California State University Northridge offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. Read the full report on California State University Northridge
University Of Georgia landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Georgia
Delaware State University came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Delaware State University report
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #14 in this year's value ranking. More on Ohio State University Main Campus
Charleston Southern University placed #15 among the best-value Family Consumer Economics schools in the United States. Read the full report on Charleston Southern University
New Mexico State University Main Campus ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value Family Consumer Economics schools. See the full New Mexico State University Main Campus profile
The University Of Alabama landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. More on The University Of Alabama
Kansas State University came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Kansas State University
Arizona State University Skysong landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Arizona State University Skysong
Carson Newman College came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. See the full Carson Newman College profile
Arizona State University came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Arizona State University report
Tennessee State University came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Tennessee State University report
Southern Crescent Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Read the full report on Southern Crescent Technical College
Texas Tech University placed #24 among the best-value Family Consumer Economics schools in the United States. More on Texas Tech University
University Of Nebraska Lincoln ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Family Consumer Economics schools. Read the full report on University Of Nebraska Lincoln
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Family Consumer Economics Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Virginia State University offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. See the full Virginia State University profile
Richland Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. Get the full Richland Community College report
Iowa State University offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. More on Iowa State University
Suny College At Buffalo placed #29 among the best-value Family Consumer Economics schools in the United States. More on Suny College At Buffalo
The University Of Tennessee placed #30 among the best-value Family Consumer Economics schools in the United States. Read the full report on The University Of Tennessee
North Carolina A And T State University came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on North Carolina A And T State University
Auburn University placed #32 among the best-value Family Consumer Economics schools in the United States. More on Auburn University
Middle Tennessee State University ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value Family Consumer Economics schools. Read the full report on Middle Tennessee State University
University Of Kentucky landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of Kentucky
Related Family Consumer Economics Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Family Consumer Economics Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Family Consumer Economics Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Family Consumer Economics Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Family Consumer Economics Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Family Consumer Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Family Consumer Economics Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Family Consumer Economics Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 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 · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 34 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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