Human Development, Family Studies, at Midlands Technical College

Midlands Technical College graduates with this associate's degree face an unusual earnings pattern: income actually drops 13% by year four, from $25,285 to just $22,026. Among South Carolina's 18 programs in this field, this performance lands in the 40th percentile—below the state median of $25,805 and trailing competitors like York Tech and Greenville Tech by roughly $3,000 annually.

The debt picture offers a rare bright spot here. At $22,291, it's well below the national median of $14,614—though this is still nearly a full year's starting salary. Combined with the downward earnings trajectory, this suggests graduates may struggle to build financial momentum even with relatively manageable loans. Keep in mind these figures come from a very small sample (under 30 graduates), so individual outcomes could vary significantly from these medians.

For families considering this path, the earnings decline should prompt hard questions about career trajectory. Human development and family studies associates typically lead to entry-level roles in childcare, social services, or education—fields where bachelor's degrees often unlock substantially higher pay. This might work as a low-cost stepping stone toward further education, but as a terminal degree, it's likely to keep earnings in the low-$20,000s with limited upward mobility.