Human Development & Family Studies at Pacific Oaks College

Pasadena, CA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
42 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
43
Optimistic
42
Base Case
44
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,077/yr (17% vs median)
AI Risk High (33% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (297,800 openings/yr)
ROI 3.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #88 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 $511K $510K $481K
Earnings Multiple 3.8x 3.8x 3.6x
Probability of Field Employment 54% 50% 42%
DegreeOutlook Score 43 42 44

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$133,440
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,125
7.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$50,248
29% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $39,077 per year, Human Development & Family Studies graduates from Pacific Oaks College earn slightly above the $33,473 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

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 6% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,125 represents roughly 8 months of the $39,077 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #88 of 156 Human Development & Family Studies programs, Pacific Oaks College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $39,077 to $50,248 over five years — a 29% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Pacific Oaks College

With just 10% of applicants admitted, Pacific Oaks College ranks among the nation's most selective schools, a smaller institution with 346 students in Pasadena, CA. With 55% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Pacific Oaks College →

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 Pacific Oaks College

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 Pacific Oaks College?
A score of 42/100 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 $480,936 in decade earnings vs $511,323 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →