Human Development, Family Studies, at Central Michigan University

Central Michigan's Human Development and Family Studies program sits right in the middle of Michigan's offerings—landing at the 60th percentile statewide—but edges ahead of most national competitors. Graduates start at $35,318, outperforming both the national median ($33,543) and the Michigan median ($35,216), while carrying $27,209 in debt that's actually $2,330 below the state average. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77 means graduates owe about nine months of income, making this reasonably manageable compared to many degree programs.

The 13% earnings growth to nearly $40,000 by year four suggests career progression, though these fields—spanning early childhood education, social services, and family counseling—typically don't command high salaries. Michigan families should note that CMU performs comparably to larger state schools like Western and Eastern Michigan, trailing only Spring Arbor and Baker College among in-state options. With a robust sample size of 100+ graduates and 91% admission rate, these outcomes represent realistic expectations for most students.

For families comfortable with human services career paths, this program delivers typical returns at below-average debt. It's neither a standout value nor a warning flag—just a solid middle-of-the-pack option that costs less to finance than most Michigan alternatives while producing similar income outcomes.