Housing and Human Environments Degree

13 schools compared · Average earnings $43,301/yr

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.

Schools Offering
13
Avg Grad Earnings
$43,301/yr
Avg DegreeOutlook Score
47/100
AI Automation Risk
High
50% task exposure

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
$104,690
$80K$136K
13,200 +3.8% 48%
Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary
$77,280
$57K$100K
200 +3.4% 54%
Interior designers
$63,490
$50K$81K
7,800 +3.2% 50%
Meeting, convention, and event planners
$59,440
$46K$77K
15,500 +4.8% 49%
Farm and home management educators
$58,120
$46K$69K
1,100 -2.5% 37%
Facilities managers
$104,690
$80K $136K
13,200 openings/yr +3.8% growth 48% AI risk
Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary
$77,280
$57K $100K
200 openings/yr +3.4% growth 54% AI risk
Interior designers
$63,490
$50K $81K
7,800 openings/yr +3.2% growth 50% AI risk
Meeting, convention, and event planners
$59,440
$46K $77K
15,500 openings/yr +4.8% growth 49% AI risk
Farm and home management educators
$58,120
$46K $69K
1,100 openings/yr -2.5% growth 37% AI risk

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.

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
Want to compare two Housing and Human Environments programs side by side? Use the comparison tool →

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Housing and Human Environments graduates earn?
Across 13 schools, Housing and Human Environments graduates earn an average of $43,301 per year in their first year after graduation. Earnings range from $34,772 to $67,737 depending on the school.
What is the AI automation risk for Housing and Human Environments?
Housing and Human Environments is rated "High" for AI automation risk, with an average of 50% of job tasks exposed to large language models and AI tools. This means most career tasks in this field could be augmented or replaced by AI over the next decade.
Which school has the best Housing and Human Environments program?
Based on our DegreeOutlook Score (combining earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and ROI), Brigham Young University ranks #1 for Housing and Human Environments with a score of 69/100 and graduate earnings of $67,737/yr.
What's the outlook for a Housing and Human Environments degree?
On average, Housing and Human Environments graduates earn 17.1x their in-state tuition over 10 years. This is a strong return on investment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →