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Human Development & Family Studies at Northwestern State University of Louisiana

Natchitoches, LA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $27,373/yr (-18% vs median)

AI Risk High (33% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (297,800 openings/yr)

ROI 11.4x earnings multiple (5.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #118 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	$396K	$403K	$392K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.2x	11.4x	11.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.0x	5.1x	5.0x
Probability of Field Employment	54%	50%	42%
DegreeOutlook Score	37	37	42

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$35,456

Out-of-state: $78,608 (5.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$55,236

-56% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$26,797

11.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Northwestern State University of Louisiana's Human Development & Family Studies graduates start at $27,373/yr, trailing the $33,473 national average by 18%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.4x 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 1% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $26,797 represents roughly 12 months of the $27,373 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #118 of 156 Human Development & Family Studies programs, Northwestern State University of Louisiana falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Northwestern State University of Louisiana

A 94% acceptance rate means Northwestern State University of Louisiana is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 5,840 in Natchitoches, LA.

See all programs and financial aid at Northwestern State University of Louisiana →

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

Other Majors at Northwestern State University of Louisiana

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 Northwestern State University of Louisiana?

A score of 37/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Human Development & Family Studies. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

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 $391,648 in decade earnings vs $395,716 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Human Development & Family Studies from Northwestern State University of Louisiana?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →