Human Development, Family Studies, at Northern Virginia Community College

Northern Virginia Community College's Human Development program performs respectably for an associate's degree, with graduates earning around $28,000—outpacing both the national and Virginia medians by roughly $2,500 annually. At 60th percentile among Virginia programs, it's a solid middle-of-the-pack option. The $17,500 debt load translates to 7-8 months of annual salary, which is manageable for an associate's degree, especially compared to the modest 4% earnings growth over four years.

However, the small sample size here is critical. With fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers could shift dramatically with just a few outliers. One graduate landing a particularly high or low-paying job can swing the averages significantly. This matters more for a field like human development, where career paths vary widely—some graduates continue to bachelor's programs, others enter direct-service roles with limited advancement, and still others pivot to unrelated work.

The real question is whether this serves as a stepping stone to a bachelor's degree or a terminal credential. At these earnings levels, graduates working full-time would need careful budgeting to manage debt payments while covering Northern Virginia's high cost of living. If your child plans to transfer and complete a four-year degree, this provides a reasonable foundation. If they're stopping at the associate's level, understand that career advancement may be limited without additional credentials.