2026 Best Value General Family Consumer Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value General Family Consumer Sciences associate’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 116 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on 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 reviewed schools to produce 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 General Family Consumer Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
San Joaquin Delta College earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. San Joaquin Delta College is a public school based in Stockton, CA. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $9,772. Students borrow a median of $6,382 to complete their General Family Consumer Sciences program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,212 ten years after entry. Set against $6,382 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full San Joaquin Delta College report
Out of the 116 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Orange Coast College landed the #2 spot. Read more about Orange Coast College
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southeastern Louisiana University earned it the #3 place in the United States. Get the full Southeastern Louisiana University report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Liberty University earned it the #4 place in the United States. Get the full Liberty University report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Alabama earned it the #5 place in the United States. Get the full University Of North Alabama report
Saddleback College landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Saddleback College profile
University Of Vermont landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of Vermont
Iowa State University came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. More on Iowa State University
Purdue University Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. Get the full Purdue University Main Campus report
Cuny Graduate School And University Center placed #10 among the best-value General Family Consumer Sciences schools in the United States. Read the full report on Cuny Graduate School And University Center
Texas Southern University landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Texas Southern University
Delta State University came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. More on Delta State University
California Baptist University came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. See the full California Baptist University profile
Oklahoma Baptist University came in at #14 in this year's value ranking. More on Oklahoma Baptist University
University Of Guam landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Guam
North Carolina A And T State University offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Get the full North Carolina A And T State University report
Henderson State University landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Henderson State University
South Dakota State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Family Consumer Sciences schools. See the full South Dakota State University profile
Santa Ana College landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Santa Ana College
Baylor University landed the #20 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Baylor University
Northeastern State University came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Northeastern State University report
Florida State University offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Read more about Florida State University
Antelope Valley College came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. See the full Antelope Valley College profile
Shasta College
Shasta College came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. See the full Shasta College profile
University Of Washington Seattle Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. Read the full report on University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value General Family Consumer Sciences Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Missouri Columbia
Snow College
Snow College landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Snow College
Southeast Missouri State University landed the #28 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Southeast Missouri State University profile
Morgan State University ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Family Consumer Sciences schools. Read more about Morgan State University
Jacksonville State University came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. More on Jacksonville State University
North Carolina Central University came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on North Carolina Central University
Central Washington University landed the #32 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Central Washington University
Western Illinois University landed the #33 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Western Illinois University report
Suny College At Oswego placed #34 among the best-value General Family Consumer Sciences schools in the United States. More on Suny College At Oswego
Texas Womans University offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. Get the full Texas Womans University report
Stephen F Austin State University came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. See the full Stephen F Austin State University profile
Brigham Young University Provo placed #37 among the best-value General Family Consumer Sciences schools in the United States. Get the full Brigham Young University Provo report
California State University Fresno ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Family Consumer Sciences schools. Read more about California State University Fresno
Carson Newman College offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. See the full Carson Newman College profile
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #40 among the best-value General Family Consumer Sciences schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Madison
Meredith College
Meredith College came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. See the full Meredith College profile
Ohio University Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. Get the full Ohio University Main Campus report
Union University
Union University came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. More on Union University
Mississippi University For Women placed #44 among the best-value General Family Consumer Sciences schools in the United States. See the full Mississippi University For Women profile
Nicholls State University offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. Read the full report on Nicholls State University
Seattle Pacific University came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. More on Seattle Pacific University
University Of Northern Iowa placed #47 among the best-value General Family Consumer Sciences schools in the United States. See the full University Of Northern Iowa profile
Pittsburg State University offered strong value this year, earning the #48 position. More on Pittsburg State University
Oklahoma State University Main Campus came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. See the full Oklahoma State University Main Campus profile
University Of Maryland Eastern Shore came in at #50 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of Maryland Eastern Shore
Related General Family Consumer Sciences Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value General Family Consumer Sciences Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value General Family Consumer Sciences Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value General Family Consumer Sciences Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value General Family Consumer Sciences Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value General Family Consumer Sciences Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value General Family Consumer Sciences Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value General Family Consumer Sciences Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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 116 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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