Human Development & Family Studies at Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
55 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
56
Optimistic
55
Base Case
60
Pessimistic
Earnings $33,906/yr (1% vs median)
AI Risk High (33% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (297,800 openings/yr)
ROI 17.6x earnings multiple (7.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #9 of 156 Human Development & Family Studies programs Top 10%

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 $584K $577K $537K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.8x 17.6x 16.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.3x 7.2x 6.7x
Probability of Field Employment 54% 50% 42%
DegreeOutlook Score 56 55 60

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$32,760
Out-of-state: $80,280 (7.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$55,204
-69% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,250
6.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$57,628
70% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Sonoma State University's Human Development & Family Studies program produces graduates earning $33,906/yr — within striking distance of the $33,473 national average for this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.6x 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 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $18,250 represents roughly 6 months of the $33,906 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #9 of 156 programs, Sonoma State University's Human Development & Family Studies program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $57,628 show a 70% jump from the $33,906 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Sonoma State University

A 95% acceptance rate means Sonoma State University is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 5,374 in Rohnert Park, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at Sonoma 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
View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Human Development & Family Studies at Other Schools

Compare Human Development & Family Studies

Other Majors at Sonoma 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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Human Development & Family Studies at Sonoma State University?
A score of 55/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Human Development & Family Studies field.
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 $537,221 in decade earnings vs $584,199 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →