Home › University of Wisconsin-Madison › Human Development & Family Studies

Human Development & Family Studies at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
50 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
51
Optimistic
50
Base Case
55
Pessimistic
Earnings $34,149/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk High (33% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (297,800 openings/yr)
ROI 12.5x earnings multiple (3.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #34 of 156 Human Development & Family Studies programs Top 25%

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 $564K $559K $522K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.6x 12.5x 11.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.5x 3.4x 3.2x
Probability of Field Employment 54% 50% 42%
DegreeOutlook Score 51 50 55

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$44,820
Out-of-state: $162,412 (3.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$67,712
-51% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,500
7.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,416
62% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $34,149/yr, Human Development & Family Studies graduates from University of Wisconsin-Madison land near the $33,473 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 12.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 33% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $20,500 debt-to-$34,149 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #34 out of 156 programs, University of Wisconsin-Madison's Human Development & Family Studies program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $34,149 to $55,416 over five years (62% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Wisconsin-Madison

University of Wisconsin-Madison accepts 43% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, one of the larger campuses at 35,665 students in Madison, WI.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Wisconsin-Madison →

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

Compare this program → View all 156 schools offering Human Development & Family Studies →

Human Development & Family Studies at Other Schools

National Louis University ($46,954) Warner Pacific University ($45,523) Warner Pacific University Professional and Graduate Studies ($45,523) George Mason University ($45,140) University of the District of Columbia ($44,819) Tufts University ($44,345) Walden University ($43,693) North Dakota State University-Main Campus ($41,717)

Other Majors at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Chemical Engineering ($85,945) Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($83,260) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($82,018) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($80,566) Industrial Engineering ($80,435) Insurance ($78,796) Materials Engineering ($76,662) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($75,513)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Human Development & Family Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Wisconsin-Madison's Human Development & Family Studies program score?
This program scores 50/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Human Development & Family Studies graduates.
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.
Why does University of Wisconsin-Madison rank so high for Human Development & Family Studies?
The #34 ranking out of 156 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →