Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences at Southeastern Louisiana University

Southeastern Louisiana's Family and Consumer Sciences program starts slow but demonstrates solid momentum, with graduates seeing their earnings jump 27% by year four. The first-year salary of $27,399 ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally—a genuine concern—but reaches $34,781 by year four, nearly matching the national 75th percentile. This growth trajectory suggests the program builds practical skills that take time to translate into market value.

Within Louisiana, the story looks different. This program matches the state median for first-year earnings while carrying substantially less debt ($25,401 versus $35,112 statewide). That's a meaningful advantage when Northwestern State's program is the only in-state option offering significantly higher earnings. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.93 is manageable, especially given the strong earnings growth, and most Louisiana competitors show similar starting salaries with heavier debt loads.

The moderate sample size adds some uncertainty to these figures, but the pattern is clear: this program requires patience. Families comfortable with a modest first job and willing to bet on year-four earnings will find reasonable value here, particularly compared to other Louisiana options. Those needing strong immediate earnings should look elsewhere—Northwestern State shows what's possible at the top end if that's the priority.