Human Development & Family Studies at Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
35 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
36
Optimistic
35
Base Case
38
Pessimistic
Earnings $36,858/yr (10% vs median)
AI Risk High (33% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (297,800 openings/yr)
ROI 2.1x earnings multiple
Ranked #135 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 $524K $521K $490K
Earnings Multiple 2.1x 2.1x 1.9x
Probability of Field Employment 54% 50% 42%
DegreeOutlook Score 36 35 38

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$252,244
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$164,104
35% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,962
7.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,299
39% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $36,858 at Syracuse University come in 10% above the national median of $33,473 for Human Development & Family Studies programs.

The financial case is thin at 2.1x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 $22,962 represents roughly 7 months of the $36,858 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #135 of 156 Human Development & Family Studies programs, Syracuse University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $36,858 to $51,299 over five years — a 39% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Syracuse University

A 42% admission rate makes Syracuse University accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with a mid-sized student body of 15,245 in Syracuse, NY. After financial aid, the average student pays $164,104 over four years — 35% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Syracuse 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

Other Majors at Syracuse University

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 Syracuse 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.
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 $490,489 in decade earnings vs $523,691 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →