Human Development, Family Studies, at Kent State University at Salem

Kent State's Salem campus sits in the middle of the national pack for Human Development graduates—nearly matching the national median of $33,543—but lags behind Ohio's stronger-performing programs. At 40th percentile statewide, it trails the state median by about $3,000 annually, and graduates earn roughly $2,000 less than those from Ohio University's various campuses. That gap matters over a career, though the 9% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests steady, if modest, progression.

The debt picture offers a silver lining: at $26,913, borrowing sits below both national and state medians, landing at the 26th percentile nationally (meaning most similar programs carry more debt). The 0.80 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable—graduates need less than a year's salary to cover their loans—which puts them on solid footing for repayment. For a field that often leads to social services or education careers, starting salaries near $34,000 aren't surprising, but they do require realistic budgeting.

If your child is committed to family services work and values staying close to home, this program won't bury them in debt. However, if they're flexible on location, Ohio University's campuses deliver meaningfully higher earnings with comparable debt loads. The program works as an affordable entry point to the field, but it's worth comparing whether the $5,000+ annual earnings difference elsewhere might justify a slightly longer commute or different campus setting.