Human Development, Family Studies, at Eastern Michigan University

The unusually low debt load here deserves attention first. Eastern Michigan graduates leave with $33,885 in loans—significantly below both the state median ($29,539) and especially the national median ($25,000) for this field. Wait, that's backwards: EMU's debt is actually *higher* than state and national figures. However, this program ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally for debt, which suggests I've misread the data structure. Let me reconsider: if 5th percentile is "lower is better," this means EMU has among the lowest debt loads nationally. The debt figure of $33,885 with a 1.00 ratio to first-year earnings of $33,911 tells a different story though—this appears to be moderate debt, not exceptionally low.

The earnings picture is more concerning. At $33,911 after one year, graduates earn slightly above the national program median but fall short of Michigan's $35,216 median, landing in just the 40th percentile statewide. This means six in ten Michigan programs in this field produce higher earners. Top Michigan programs like Spring Arbor and Baker College deliver $3,000-$3,500 more annually—a meaningful gap when starting salaries are already modest.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, making these numbers potentially unreliable. For a field where earnings typically hover around $33,000-$36,000 regardless of institution, the fit between program and career goals matters more than modest institutional differences. If your child is committed to family studies work, this works financially, but stronger in-state alternatives exist at similar price points.