Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $27,346/yr fall 16% below the $32,408 national median for Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
With a 17.1x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 4% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
At $12,917 in median debt against $27,346 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
A #29 ranking among 42 Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences programs places Southern Utah University in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
A 44% earnings increase from $27,346 to $39,450 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.