Human Development, Family Studies, at Benedict College

Starting at $21,607—nearly $5,000 below South Carolina's already-modest median for this field—Benedict's Human Development program faces an uphill battle justifying its $32,000 debt load. That 1.48 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates are borrowing nearly 18 months of their first year's salary, creating immediate financial strain in a field where earnings growth typically happens slowly. While the program ranks in the 25th percentile statewide (meaning 75% of SC programs deliver better outcomes), the gap between Benedict and even the state median is significant enough to matter.

The small sample size here is crucial—with fewer than 30 graduates in the data, these figures might not represent a typical experience. That said, the pattern is concerning enough that it warrants serious consideration: Southern Wesleyan graduates in the same field earn 45% more in their first year with similar debt. For a program serving predominantly Pell-eligible students (63% of Benedict's population), that income difference translates to real hardship managing loan payments on an already tight budget.

If your child is committed to human development work, exploring programs with stronger earnings outcomes—or considering whether graduate education will be necessary anyway—makes sense. At these earnings levels, every dollar of undergraduate debt matters considerably more than it would in higher-paying fields.