Human Development, Family Studies, at Baylor University

Baylor's Human Development program sits squarely at Texas's median for first-year earnings, but with a crucial caveat: the sample size is under 30 graduates, making these numbers less reliable than typical program data. That said, the trajectory shows promise—earnings jump 52% by year four to $48,704, outpacing both the modest national median and pulling ahead of comparable Texas programs. What's less encouraging is the debt picture: at $21,350, it's slightly better than state and national medians, but still ranks in the 74th percentile nationally, meaning most similar programs graduate students with less debt.

The real question is whether Baylor's premium matters here. Students scoring 1313 on the SAT are attending a selective private institution but landing in the middle of Texas's pack for this field. Texas Tech and University of Houston graduates in this program earn $6,000-$7,000 more in their first year, likely at lower cost. For a career field that often requires graduate school (counseling, social work, family therapy), starting with $21,000 in undergraduate debt isn't disastrous, but it's not a bargain either.

Given the small sample and middling outcomes relative to cost, families should verify current placement rates and ask whether Baylor's network specifically opens doors in their target career path—otherwise, stronger in-state public options exist for this major.