Housing and Human Environments at Oklahoma State University-Main Campus

Oklahoma State's Housing and Human Environments program carries the highest debt burden among all programs in this field nationwide—placing in the 95th percentile—while delivering earnings that barely crack $37,000 in the first year. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64 means graduates are borrowing about eight months' worth of their starting salary, which creates real financial pressure during the critical first years of repayment. The fact that this is the only program of its kind in Oklahoma makes it difficult to comparison shop, though nationally it ranks near the bottom (5th percentile) for early earnings.

The moderate sample size suggests these outcomes are reasonably reliable, and the picture doesn't improve much over time based on similar programs elsewhere. Graduates are entering fields like interior design, facilities management, and housing counseling—areas where starting salaries rarely climb quickly. For context, the national median for this degree is only marginally higher at $38,637, so the field itself presents inherent earning limitations regardless of where you study.

Parents should understand they're looking at a program where debt levels are unusually high for what graduates earn immediately after college. Unless your student has compelling reasons to pursue this specific career path—and a clear plan for managing nearly $24,000 in loans on a $37,000 salary—programs with stronger earning potential deserve serious consideration.