Best Schools for Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services

Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services graduates earn a median of $48,175 within four years of graduating, ranking #226 out of 283 tracked majors — 23% below the median across all fields. There are 184 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 19,579 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Cornell University graduates earn $73,066 while Brigham Young University graduates earn $28,906 — a $44,160 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap. Across all fields, though, which major you pick separates earnings more than which college does.

Early career salary growth is modest: Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services graduates see an average 1% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

184
Schools
$48,175
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#226
of 283 Majors
19,579
Graduates

Public vs Private: Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services

Public (132 schools)
$49,020
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (51 schools)
$47,177
avg. 2yr earnings

Public schools produce comparable or higher early earnings for Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services, often at lower tuition — making them strong value options for this major.

Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services by State

Also by state: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Top Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
Cornell University logo

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY · Private

$73,066
4yr Earnings
41 grads
Acceptance: 8.2%
#2
University of Virginia-Main Campus logo

University of Virginia-Main Campus

Charlottesville, VA · Public

$71,638
4yr Earnings
17 grads · small sample
1yr: $27,272 (16)
Acceptance: 16.9%
#3
University of Maryland-College Park logo

University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, MD · Public

$65,136
4yr Earnings
129 grads
2yr: $36,815 (135)
1yr: $33,385 (138)
Acceptance: 44.8%
#4
Florida State University logo

Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL · Public

$62,663
4yr Earnings
185 grads
2yr: $27,533 (99)
1yr: $25,541 (136)
Acceptance: 25.4%
#5
Binghamton University logo

Binghamton University

Vestal, NY · Public

$62,506
4yr Earnings
127 grads
2yr: $32,772 (75)
1yr: $31,262 (103)
Acceptance: 37.7%
#6
George Mason University logo

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA · Public

$61,565
4yr Earnings
20 grads · small sample
Acceptance: 88.8%
#7
University of California-San Diego logo

University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA · Public

$61,262
4yr Earnings
61 grads
2yr: $30,771 (71)
1yr: $25,882 (69)
Acceptance: 24.5%
#8
Warner Pacific University logo

Warner Pacific University

Portland, OR · Private

$60,180
4yr Earnings
87 grads
2yr: $33,382 (105)
1yr: $37,301 (92)
Acceptance: 58.6%
#9
Warner Pacific University Professional and Graduate Studies logo

Warner Pacific University Professional and Graduate Studies

Portland, OR · Private

$60,180
4yr Earnings
87 grads
2yr: $33,382 (105)
1yr: $37,301 (92)
Acceptance: 67.1%
#10
University of Georgia logo

University of Georgia

Athens, GA · Public

$59,664
4yr Earnings
96 grads
2yr: $25,525 (75)
1yr: $29,842 (71)
Acceptance: 37.2%
#11
The University of Texas at Austin logo

The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public

$59,166
4yr Earnings
106 grads
2yr: $32,391 (126)
1yr: $29,954 (120)
Acceptance: 29.1%
#12
University of Wisconsin-Madison logo

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public

$59,044
4yr Earnings
179 grads
2yr: $33,335 (99)
1yr: $29,244 (115)
Acceptance: 43.4%
#13
Washington State University logo

Washington State University

Pullman, WA · Public

$58,834
4yr Earnings
110 grads
2yr: $32,634 (156)
1yr: $34,566 (170)
Acceptance: 85.4%
#14
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University logo

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · Public

$58,340
4yr Earnings
218 grads
2yr: $29,549 (116)
1yr: $28,797 (88)
Acceptance: 57.0%
#15
California State University-East Bay logo

California State University-East Bay

Hayward, CA · Public

$57,898
4yr Earnings
165 grads
2yr: $39,119 (103)
1yr: $39,638 (158)
Acceptance: 96.8%
#16
University of Connecticut logo

University of Connecticut

Storrs, CT · Public

$57,888
4yr Earnings
215 grads
2yr: $33,459 (194)
1yr: $32,092 (196)
Acceptance: 53.9%
#17
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus logo

University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus

Waterbury, CT · Public

$57,888
4yr Earnings
215 grads
2yr: $33,459 (194)
1yr: $32,092 (196)
Acceptance: 87.0%
#18
University of Connecticut-Avery Point logo

University of Connecticut-Avery Point

Groton, CT · Public

$57,888
4yr Earnings
215 grads
2yr: $33,459 (194)
1yr: $32,092 (196)
Acceptance: 86.5%
#19
University of Connecticut-Stamford logo

University of Connecticut-Stamford

Stamford, CT · Public

$57,888
4yr Earnings
215 grads
2yr: $33,459 (194)
1yr: $32,092 (196)
Acceptance: 80.2%
#20
University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus logo

University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus

Hartford, CT · Public

$57,888
4yr Earnings
215 grads
2yr: $33,459 (194)
1yr: $32,092 (196)
Acceptance: 86.5%
#21
Towson University logo

Towson University

Towson, MD · Public

$57,295
4yr Earnings
24 grads · small sample
2yr: $29,685 (20)
1yr: $29,060 (29)
Acceptance: 82.8%
#22
Pacific Oaks College logo

Pacific Oaks College

Pasadena, CA · Private

$56,791
4yr Earnings
220 grads
2yr: $37,883 (126)
1yr: $37,256 (198)
Acceptance: 10.0%
#23
Concordia University-Saint Paul logo

Concordia University-Saint Paul

Saint Paul, MN · Private

$55,294
4yr Earnings
54 grads
2yr: $30,988 (33)
1yr: $30,561 (41)
Acceptance: 74.9%
#24
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus logo

University of New Hampshire-Main Campus

Durham, NH · Public

$55,186
4yr Earnings
120 grads
2yr: $33,815 (80)
1yr: $28,126 (70)
Acceptance: 86.9%
#25
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus logo

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Denver, CO · Public

$55,181
4yr Earnings
20 grads · small sample
Acceptance: 77.8%
#26
University of Houston logo

University of Houston

Houston, TX · Public

$54,871
4yr Earnings
99 grads
2yr: $35,861 (74)
1yr: $31,501 (90)
Acceptance: 69.5%
#27
Central Washington University logo

Central Washington University

Ellensburg, WA · Public

$54,858
4yr Earnings
30 grads · small sample
1yr: $25,320 (19)
Acceptance: 90.2%
#28
SUNY Oneonta logo

SUNY Oneonta

Oneonta, NY · Public

$53,836
4yr Earnings
53 grads
2yr: $32,094 (51)
1yr: $30,543 (62)
Acceptance: 70.2%
#29
Michigan State University logo

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public

$53,740
4yr Earnings
171 grads
2yr: $30,520 (100)
1yr: $32,168 (161)
Acceptance: 83.9%
#30
Merrimack College logo

Merrimack College

North Andover, MA · Private

$53,734
4yr Earnings
118 grads
2yr: $28,816 (44)
1yr: $31,026 (92)
Acceptance: 73.6%
#31
Colorado State University-Fort Collins logo

Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Fort Collins, CO · Public

$53,597
4yr Earnings
238 grads
2yr: $28,763 (236)
1yr: $30,953 (216)
Acceptance: 89.6%
#32
Montclair State University logo

Montclair State University

Montclair, NJ · Public

$53,575
4yr Earnings
128 grads
Acceptance: 87.4%
#33
California State University-San Marcos logo

California State University-San Marcos

San Marcos, CA · Public

$53,568
4yr Earnings
285 grads
2yr: $29,775 (164)
1yr: $27,490 (222)
Acceptance: 95.7%
#34
Syracuse University logo

Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY · Private

$53,522
4yr Earnings
53 grads
2yr: $31,314 (18)
1yr: $31,279 (59)
Acceptance: 41.7%
#35
Bowie State University logo

Bowie State University

Bowie, MD · Public

$53,181
4yr Earnings
48 grads
2yr: $34,526 (35)
1yr: $34,158 (33)
Acceptance: 83.5%
#36
Oregon State University logo

Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR · Public

$53,109
4yr Earnings
304 grads
2yr: $29,978 (310)
1yr: $30,413 (352)
Acceptance: 78.8%
#37
Oregon State University-Cascades Campus logo

Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

Bend, OR · Public

$53,109
4yr Earnings
304 grads
2yr: $29,978 (310)
1yr: $30,413 (352)
Acceptance: 68.4%
#38
Illinois State University logo

Illinois State University

Normal, IL · Public

$52,748
4yr Earnings
67 grads
1yr: $31,674 (39)
Acceptance: 89.0%
#39
University of Vermont logo

University of Vermont

Burlington, VT · Public

$52,698
4yr Earnings
28 grads · small sample
2yr: $33,993 (11)
1yr: $32,299 (22)
Acceptance: 60.0%
#40
Sonoma State University logo

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA · Public

$52,672
4yr Earnings
40 grads
2yr: $32,467 (55)
1yr: $31,150 (30)
Acceptance: 94.7%
#41
State University of New York at Plattsburgh logo

State University of New York at Plattsburgh

Plattsburgh, NY · Public

$52,593
4yr Earnings
50 grads
2yr: $29,250 (34)
1yr: $29,215 (39)
Acceptance: 75.2%
#42
University of Nevada-Reno logo

University of Nevada-Reno

Reno, NV · Public

$52,084
4yr Earnings
151 grads
2yr: $29,940 (90)
1yr: $30,430 (138)
Acceptance: 85.3%
#43
Texas Tech University logo

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, TX · Public

$51,921
4yr Earnings
247 grads
2yr: $34,399 (215)
1yr: $32,838 (225)
Acceptance: 70.9%
#44
University of Arizona logo

University of Arizona

Tucson, AZ · Public

$51,857
4yr Earnings
117 grads
2yr: $31,856 (110)
1yr: $31,769 (114)
Acceptance: 85.7%
#45
Fresno Pacific University logo

Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA · Private

$51,756
4yr Earnings
140 grads
2yr: $28,960 (75)
1yr: $26,685 (87)
Acceptance: 57.5%
#46
Temple University logo

Temple University

Philadelphia, PA · Public

$51,610
4yr Earnings
57 grads
1yr: $29,266 (54)
Acceptance: 82.9%
#47
University of Florida logo

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL · Public

$51,497
4yr Earnings
95 grads
2yr: $28,790 (142)
1yr: $30,613 (98)
Acceptance: 24.0%
#48
University of Rhode Island logo

University of Rhode Island

Kingston, RI · Public

$51,416
4yr Earnings
155 grads
2yr: $30,186 (134)
1yr: $31,594 (181)
Acceptance: 77.1%
#49
California State University-Fullerton logo

California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA · Public

$51,261
4yr Earnings
823 grads
2yr: $27,764 (583)
1yr: $28,602 (755)
Acceptance: 86.7%
#50
California State University-Monterey Bay logo

California State University-Monterey Bay

Seaside, CA · Public

$51,118
4yr Earnings
32 grads
Acceptance: 94.8%

Showing top 50 of 184 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services?
Cornell University ranks #1 for Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services with median graduate earnings of $73,066 within four years of graduating. There are 184 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services graduates earn?
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services graduates earn an average of $48,175 within four years of graduating. This is 23% below the median across all majors. Earnings range from $28,906 to $73,066 depending on the school.
How hard is it to get into a top Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services program?
The average acceptance rate across Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services programs is 75.4%. The most selective program is at Cornell University with a 8.2% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.
Is a public or private school better for Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services?
Private Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services programs average $47,177 in early earnings vs $49,020 at public schools. Public schools offer competitive earnings at typically lower cost, making them strong value options.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders, from the field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release — Scorecard publishes the two separately.

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