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Human Development & Family Studies at Washington State University

Pullman, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $39,880/yr (19% vs median)

AI Risk High (33% exposed)

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

ROI 9.5x earnings multiple (4.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #33 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	$494K	$494K	$468K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	9.5x	9.5x	9.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.3x	4.3x	4.0x
Probability of Field Employment	54%	50%	42%
DegreeOutlook Score	50	50	51

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$51,988

Out-of-state: $116,292 (4.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$57,604

-11% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,978

6.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$48,017

20% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $39,880 per year, Human Development & Family Studies graduates from Washington State University earn slightly above the $33,473 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.5x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $22,978 represents roughly 7 months of the $39,880 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #33 of 156 nationally, this is a top-5% Human Development & Family Studies program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $39,880 to $48,017 over five years — a 20% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Washington State University

With 85% of applicants admitted, Washington State University prioritizes broad access, one of the larger campuses at 21,583 students in Pullman, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Washington State 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 Washington State 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 Washington State University?

A score of 50/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Human Development & Family Studies field.

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 $467,874 in decade earnings vs $494,411 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Washington State University's Human Development & Family Studies program stand out?

Ranked #33 of 156 programs nationally, Washington State University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

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