Human Development, Family Studies, at Campbellsville University

With a small graduating class, Campbellsville's associate program in human development stands out dramatically—earning $37,685 places these graduates in the 95th percentile both nationally and among Kentucky programs, where the typical graduate makes just $17,435. That's more than double the state median and $12,000 above the national benchmark. The $20,820 in debt sits below the national median, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55 that suggests graduates can reasonably manage their loans on these salaries.

However, the small sample size here is crucial context. With fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, these exceptional outcomes could reflect a handful of students who found unusually good opportunities rather than what most students should expect. The program's 98% admission rate and relatively low Pell grant enrollment (22%) might also indicate selectivity happening through self-selection rather than admissions standards.

For parents, this looks promising on paper, but the small cohort makes it essential to dig deeper. Ask the school directly about typical job placements, whether these graduates had prior work experience that boosted their earnings, and what percentage of students actually complete the program. If these numbers represent a consistent pattern rather than statistical noise, this could be an exceptional value—but verify before assuming your student will match these outcomes.