Human Development & Family Studies at California State University-San Marcos
San Marcos, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
49
Optimistic
48
Base Case
54
Pessimistic
Earnings
$31,184/yr (-7% vs median)
AI Risk
High (33% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (297,800 openings/yr)
ROI
17.0x earnings multiple (6.7x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Human Development & Family Studies graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $528K | $525K | $494K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 17.1x | 17.0x | 16.0x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.7x | 6.7x | 6.3x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 54% | 50% | 42% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 49 | 48 | 54 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$30,956
Out-of-state: $78,476 (6.7x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,362
6.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,769
60% growth from Year 1
About California State University-San Marcos
A 96% acceptance rate means California State University-San Marcos is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 14,174 students in San Marcos, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 44% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.
See all programs and financial aid at California State University-San Marcos →Top Career Paths
Psychologists, all other
$117,580/yr
Social scientists and related workers, all other
$100,340/yr
Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary
$77,280/yr
Compare & Explore
Human Development & Family Studies at Other Schools
Other Majors at California State University-San Marcos
Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?
For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Human Development & Family Studies at California State University-San Marcos?
A score of 48/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Human Development & Family Studies. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Human Development & Family Studies careers?
With 33% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $493,856 in decade earnings vs $528,052 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →