Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences at Morgan State University

Morgan State's Family and Consumer Sciences program starts graduates at $31,331—below both Maryland's median ($34,316) and ranking in just the 40th percentile statewide. But here's what matters more: within four years, earnings jump 35% to $42,420, a trajectory that outpaces the typical pattern for this field and suggests graduates are building toward stable career advancement rather than hitting an early ceiling.

The $31,000 debt load tells a different story. While it exceeds national and state medians for this program, it's manageable relative to first-year earnings (0.99 ratio, meaning debt roughly equals one year's salary). That's a reasonable starting point, particularly for a school serving 54% Pell Grant recipients where students might otherwise struggle to complete degrees at all. The key question is whether your student can handle lean early years—those first few years will require careful budgeting.

For families choosing between Maryland's three programs in this field, University of Maryland Eastern Shore delivers stronger starting salaries ($37,301). But Morgan State's lower debt burden compared to UMES (when factoring in typical borrowing patterns at HBCUs) and solid earnings growth suggest it's not a bad alternative, especially if your student values Morgan's Baltimore location and campus culture. Just ensure they understand they're playing a longer game here—the payoff comes with patience and persistence through those initial years.