Human Development, Family Studies, at Purdue University Northwest

With just $26,384 in first-year earnings—about $7,750 below Indiana's median for this field—Purdue Northwest's Human Development program ranks in the bottom quarter statewide and the 5th percentile nationally. While earnings do grow 15% by year four, they're still struggling to reach $30,500, well behind what graduates earn at Purdue-Main Campus or Indiana State ($35,400-$36,000 range). The debt load of $26,649 essentially equals an entire year's starting salary, creating immediate financial pressure.

That small sample size matters here. With fewer than 30 graduates in the data, these numbers could shift significantly in either direction. But the pattern is concerning: even among Indiana's eight schools offering this program, Purdue Northwest sits near the bottom. These earnings are problematic in any helping profession context—many entry-level social service positions require bachelor's degrees but pay modestly, and starting below $27,000 leaves little room for managing loan payments and living expenses.

If your child is committed to family studies or social services work, they'd likely see better outcomes at Purdue-Main Campus or Indiana State, where similar programs produce $9,000-$10,000 higher starting salaries with comparable debt. Those extra earnings translate to roughly $750 more per month before taxes—a meaningful difference when entry-level budgets are already tight.