Human Development, Family Studies, at Northwood Technical College

The small sample size here demands caution, but the numbers tell a troubling story: $18,516 in first-year earnings is barely above minimum wage for full-time work, and while that might rank at the state median for this program, it lands in just the 10th percentile nationally. That's a significant gap—graduates from the typical program elsewhere earn about $7,300 more annually. The $12,914 in debt isn't catastrophic, but when your initial earnings are this low, a 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio means nearly nine months of gross income going toward repayment. That's a heavy burden when you're already earning well below the poverty line.

What makes this particularly difficult to evaluate is the program's purpose. Many students pursue family studies as a stepping stone to bachelor's programs in social work, education, or related fields. If that's the plan, these earnings reflect a transitional moment rather than a career endpoint. But if your child needs to work after graduation—whether to support themselves or save for further education—this pathway offers little financial cushion.

With only five Wisconsin schools offering this associate's degree and limited data, you're essentially betting on uncertainty. Unless there's a clear transfer agreement to a four-year program your child plans to attend, the combination of rock-bottom earnings and meaningful debt makes this a risky choice for families without financial backup plans.