Human Development & Family Studies at Messiah University
Mechanicsburg, PA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
31
Optimistic
31
Base Case
36
Pessimistic
Earnings
$32,943/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk
High (33% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (297,800 openings/yr)
ROI
2.7x earnings multiple
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 | $430K | $435K | $418K |
| Earnings Multiple | 2.6x | 2.7x | 2.6x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 54% | 50% | 42% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 31 | 31 | 36 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$162,560
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
9.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$37,003
12% growth from Year 1
About Messiah University
Messiah University accepts 78% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 2,318 in Mechanicsburg, PA. The average net cost of $110,744 over four years represents a 32% discount from published tuition.
See all programs and financial aid at Messiah 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
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Explore the Trade Alternative
Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Messiah University's Human Development & Family Studies program score?
This program scores 31/100 — 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 →