Human Development, Family Studies, at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

LSU's Human Development and Family Studies program sits in an uncomfortable middle ground: it performs better than most Louisiana alternatives but still trails national standards by a meaningful margin. First-year earnings of $29,539 place it at just the 20th percentile nationally—roughly $4,000 below what the typical graduate earns at other programs across the country. Within Louisiana, though, it ranks in the 60th percentile, outpacing four of the state's six programs.

The debt load of $26,750 is actually slightly favorable compared to both national and state benchmarks, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio under 1.0. That's manageable in theory, but problematic given the low absolute earnings. A graduate making under $30,000 annually will find that monthly loan payments consume a significant portion of their take-home pay, even with a "reasonable" ratio.

For Louisiana families, this becomes a question of opportunity cost. If your child is LSU-caliber academically (as suggested by the 1248 average SAT), they're likely competitive for programs with stronger earning trajectories. Southern University at New Orleans delivers $4,000 more in first-year earnings for graduates in this same field. If your student is committed to this career path, LSU won't sink them financially—but recognize they're starting with below-average earnings that may limit their financial flexibility for years after graduation.