Human Development & Family Studies at Purdue University-Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
49
Optimistic
49
Base Case
53
Pessimistic
Earnings
$35,436/yr (6% vs median)
AI Risk
High (33% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (297,800 openings/yr)
ROI
12.7x 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 | $507K | $506K | $477K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 12.7x | 12.7x | 11.9x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.4x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 54% | 50% | 42% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 49 | 49 | 53 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$39,968
Out-of-state: $115,176 (4.4x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,000
4.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,608
37% growth from Year 1
About Purdue University-Main Campus
Purdue University-Main Campus accepts 50% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, one of the larger campuses at 39,637 students in West Lafayette, IN.
See all programs and financial aid at Purdue University-Main Campus →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
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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 Purdue University-Main Campus's Human Development & Family Studies program score?
This program scores 49/100 — 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.
Why does Purdue University-Main Campus rank so high for Human Development & Family Studies?
The #35 ranking out of 156 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →