Housing and Human Environments Degree
Students study how the design and management of residential spaces affect human wellbeing, including housing policy, interior environments, community planning, and universal design. Graduates typically pursue careers in housing authority management, community development, residential design, and urban planning agencies. This major addresses the critical intersection of shelter, health, and quality of life.
What Housing and Human Environments Graduates Do
Your degree prepares you to manage the physical environments where people live, work, and gather. As a facilities manager, you’ll oversee the operations of a corporate campus or hospital, coordinating maintenance crews, managing security protocols, and planning long-term building upgrades. In the fast-paced world of event planning, you’ll spend your days juggling vendor contracts and detailed timelines before orchestrating a flawless conference on-site. Or, as an interior designer, you’ll translate a client’s vision into reality by creating digital mockups, sourcing materials, and managing contractors.
You’ll typically start as a coordinator or assistant, learning the ropes by handling daily work orders or sourcing fabric samples before advancing to manage entire buildings or lead your own projects. While commercial paths like facilities management and event planning show steady growth, be aware that related education roles are much smaller, with some facing a decline.
With moderate AI exposure, these careers are changing, not disappearing. AI will automate significant chunks of routine work, like drafting initial floor plans or monitoring building systems. This shifts your focus to the uniquely human skills: negotiating complex contracts, solving on-the-ground problems, and building the client relationships that are central to success.
Common Career Paths
Where Housing and Human Environments graduates typically work, ranked by salary. Salary ranges show 25th–75th percentile spread. This field has roughly 37,800 combined openings per year.
| Career Path | Salary Range | Openings/yr | Growth | AI Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Facilities managers | 13,200 | +3.8% | 48% | |
| Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary | 200 | +3.4% | 54% | |
| Interior designers | 7,800 | +3.2% | 50% | |
| Meeting, convention, and event planners | 15,500 | +4.8% | 49% | |
| Farm and home management educators | 1,100 | -2.5% | 37% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. Salary range shows 25th–median–75th percentile (national).
Best Schools for Housing and Human Environments
13 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full AI scenario analysis and earnings projections.
| # | School | DW Score | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT |
69 65–70 |
$67,737/yr | 40.2x |
| 2 | CUNY New York City College of Technology Brooklyn, NY |
64 60–65 |
$64,192/yr | 23.8x |
| 3 | University of Georgia Athens, GA |
54 50–54 |
$44,316/yr | 14.5x |
| 4 | Ohio University-Eastern Campus Saint Clairsville, OH |
47 45–47 |
$38,637/yr | 19.9x |
| 5 | Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus Chillicothe, OH |
47 45–47 |
$38,637/yr | 19.9x |
| 6 | Ohio University-Southern Campus Ironton, OH |
47 45–47 |
$38,637/yr | 19.9x |
| 7 | Ohio University-Lancaster Campus Lancaster, OH |
47 45–47 |
$38,637/yr | 19.9x |
| 8 | Ohio University-Zanesville Campus Zanesville, OH |
47 45–47 |
$38,637/yr | 19.9x |
| 9 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, MO |
44 41–45 |
$42,394/yr | 9.2x |
| 10 | Missouri State University-Springfield Springfield, MO |
42 40–43 |
$40,324/yr | 12.3x |
| 11 | Ohio University-Main Campus Athens, OH |
38 36–38 |
$38,637/yr | 8.4x |
| 12 | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Stillwater, OK |
35 34–35 |
$37,351/yr | 8.1x |
| 13 | University of Akron Main Campus Akron, OH |
31 31–31 |
$34,772/yr | 5.8x |
Highest Earning Housing and Human Environments Programs
Schools where Housing and Human Environments graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | DW Score |
|---|---|---|
| Brigham Young University | $67,737/yr | 69 |
| CUNY New York City College of Technology | $64,192/yr | 64 |
| University of Georgia | $44,316/yr | 54 |
| University of Missouri-Columbia | $42,394/yr | 44 |
| Missouri State University-Springfield | $40,324/yr | 42 |
| Ohio University-Eastern Campus | $38,637/yr | 47 |
| Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus | $38,637/yr | 47 |
| Ohio University-Southern Campus | $38,637/yr | 47 |
| Ohio University-Lancaster Campus | $38,637/yr | 47 |
| Ohio University-Zanesville Campus | $38,637/yr | 47 |
Best ROI for Housing and Human Environments
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Housing and Human Environments.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | DW Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brigham Young University | 40.2x | $67,737/yr | 69 |
| CUNY New York City College of Technology | 23.8x | $64,192/yr | 64 |
| Ohio University-Eastern Campus | 19.9x | $38,637/yr | 47 |
| Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus | 19.9x | $38,637/yr | 47 |
| Ohio University-Southern Campus | 19.9x | $38,637/yr | 47 |
| Ohio University-Lancaster Campus | 19.9x | $38,637/yr | 47 |
| Ohio University-Zanesville Campus | 19.9x | $38,637/yr | 47 |
| University of Georgia | 14.5x | $44,316/yr | 54 |
| Missouri State University-Springfield | 12.3x | $40,324/yr | 42 |
| University of Missouri-Columbia | 9.2x | $42,394/yr | 44 |
Related Majors
Explore similar fields of study.
Consider the Trade Route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Housing and Human Environments offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.