Human Development, Family Studies, at University of North Carolina at Charlotte

UNC Charlotte's Human Development program launches graduates at nearly $40,000—impressive for the field and well above the national median of $33,543. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means this could reflect just a few unusually successful students rather than a reliable pattern. The bigger concern is the backward trajectory: earnings actually drop 7% by year four, falling to $36,931. In a field where many graduates pursue social work, counseling, or education—careers that typically require additional credentials—this dip might reflect time spent in graduate school or certification programs rather than career stagnation.

Within North Carolina, this program sits at the 60th percentile, trailing NC A&T but outperforming UNC Greensboro and Appalachian State. The $26,000 debt load matches the state median and sits comfortably below the national average, keeping the debt-to-earnings ratio at a manageable 0.65. That's reasonable for a helping profession, though families should understand that many career paths in this field—particularly licensed clinical roles—will require a master's degree and additional borrowing.

The strong first-year earnings are encouraging, but with such limited data, wait to see if these numbers hold steady as more graduates enter the dataset. If your child is targeting graduate school anyway, those early earnings could help fund the next degree.