Human Development & Family Studies at Southern Wesleyan University

Central, SC · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
35 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
36
Optimistic
35
Base Case
41
Pessimistic
Earnings $31,326/yr (-6% vs median)
AI Risk High (33% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (297,800 openings/yr)
ROI 3.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #137 of 156 Human Development & Family Studies programs

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 $420K $426K $411K
Earnings Multiple 3.8x 3.8x 3.7x
Probability of Field Employment 54% 50% 42%
DegreeOutlook Score 36 35 41

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$111,480
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$79,872
28% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$32,521
12.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $31,326 track close to the $33,473 national median for Human Development & Family Studies programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

An earnings multiple of 3.8x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

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 2% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $32,521 against $31,326/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.0 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.

Ranked #137 of 156 Human Development & Family Studies programs, Southern Wesleyan University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Southern Wesleyan University

Southern Wesleyan University has a 100% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a compact campus enrolling 771 students in Central, SC.

See all programs and financial aid at Southern Wesleyan 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

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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Human Development & Family Studies at Southern Wesleyan University?
A score of 35/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Human Development & Family Studies. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Human Development & Family Studies at Southern Wesleyan University worth the student debt?
Median debt of $32,521 against $31,326/yr starting salary means roughly 1.0 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
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 $410,624 in decade earnings vs $420,286 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →