Human Development, Family Studies, at University of Wisconsin-Madison

UW-Madison's Human Development program starts modestly but shows something unusual: graduates see 35% income growth by year four, reaching $46,149—substantially above both the national and Wisconsin medians for the field. That trajectory matters more than the $34,149 starting salary, which sits below Wisconsin's $35,600 median but edges above the national benchmark. This is a program where patience pays off.

The debt picture is surprisingly manageable for a flagship university. At $21,250, graduates carry about $3,000 less than the state median and roughly 15% less than the national average. That 0.62 debt-to-earnings ratio means the first year may feel tight, but by year four, when earnings approach $46,000, the debt burden becomes quite reasonable. The sample size here is strong—over 100 graduates—so these aren't fluky numbers.

The tradeoff is clear: UW-Stout delivers higher starting salaries ($37,050), but Madison's combination of lower debt and stronger mid-career growth suggests different career paths for graduates. If your child is patient and positions themselves for roles that value a flagship credential alongside this degree—perhaps pairing it with internships or a minor—the investment can work. The real risk is stopping at that $34,000 entry point rather than leveraging it into better opportunities within a few years.