Human Development & Family Studies at Tufts University

Medford, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
43 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
44
Optimistic
43
Base Case
43
Pessimistic
Earnings $44,345/yr (32% vs median)
AI Risk High (33% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (297,800 openings/yr)
ROI 2.1x earnings multiple
Ranked #78 of 156 Human Development & Family Studies programs Top 50%

Program Analysis

At Tufts, your Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services degree benefits immensely from the university's strong academic rigor and its location in the dynamic Greater Boston area. The elevated earnings reflect how employers value the critical thinking, research, and communication skills honed in this program, often more than the specific major itself. Graduates frequently leverage Tufts' extensive alumni network to enter diverse fields like education, non-profit management, social policy analysis, or healthcare administration, where their deep understanding of human behavior is essential. While aspects of this field may evolve with AI, your capacity for empathy, complex problem-solving, and direct human interaction will always be in demand. To maximize your prospects, actively pursue internships and research opportunities to translate your theoretical knowledge into tangible professional experience, making you a versatile and highly sought-after candidate.

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 $581K $575K $535K
Earnings Multiple 2.1x 2.1x 2.0x
Probability of Field Employment 54% 50% 42%
DegreeOutlook Score 44 43 43

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$271,376
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$141,740
48% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,170
4.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,338
38% growth from Year 1

About Tufts University

Only 10% of applicants gain admission to Tufts University, reflecting elite selectivity, with a mid-sized student body of 6,804 in Medford, MA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $141,740 — 48% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Tufts 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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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 Tufts University's Human Development & Family Studies program score?
This program scores 43/100 — 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 →