Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $26,384/yr fall 21% below the $33,473 national median for Human Development & Family Studies. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Human Development & Family Studies programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Human Development & Family Studies's typical career paths, with 33% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 3% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $26,298 represents roughly 12 months of the $26,384 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #128 of 156 Human Development & Family Studies programs, Purdue University Northwest falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Earnings grow from $26,384 to $37,197 over five years — a 41% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.