Human Development, Family Studies, at Central Washington University

At $27,000 in first-year earnings, Central Washington's human development program places near the bottom nationally but roughly middle-of-the-pack within Washington state. That's a significant distinction: while this lands in just the 5th percentile compared to similar programs nationwide, it's at the 40th percentile among the four Washington schools offering this degree. The problem is that Washington's human development programs generally underperform—the state median of $28,589 is already well below the national median of $33,543. Graduates here are earning about $12,000 less annually than their peers at Washington State University.

The debt load of $21,000 is manageable relative to those modest earnings, creating a debt-to-income ratio under 0.8. That's a reasonable burden if someone is passionate about this field. However, with fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, these numbers could shift significantly year to year. A small cohort also means less program infrastructure and fewer alumni connections—practical concerns beyond the raw numbers.

If your child is committed to human development and family studies, understand they're choosing a lower-earning field regardless of school. Central Washington won't change that trajectory. The degree is affordable and won't create crushing debt, but expect entry-level wages that require careful budgeting or additional credentials to advance.