Human Development & Family Studies at Iowa State University
Ames, IA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
48
Optimistic
47
Base Case
50
Pessimistic
Earnings
$36,364/yr (9% vs median)
AI Risk
High (33% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (297,800 openings/yr)
ROI
11.5x earnings multiple (4.4x 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 | $482K | $483K | $458K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 11.5x | 11.5x | 10.9x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.4x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 54% | 50% | 42% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 48 | 47 | 50 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$41,988
Out-of-state: $110,732 (4.4x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,080
6.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,407
25% growth from Year 1
About Iowa State University
Iowa State University has a 89% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with 25,033 students enrolled in Ames, IA.
See all programs and financial aid at Iowa State University →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 Iowa State University
Consider the Trade Route?
Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Iowa State University's Human Development & Family Studies program score?
This program scores 47/100 — on the lower end for Human Development & Family Studies. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Human Development & Family Studies to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Human Development & Family Studies careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 33% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →