Human Development, Family Studies, at York College of Pennsylvania

York College's Human Development program posts $39,158 in first-year earnings—substantially above both the national median ($33,543) and Pennsylvania's median ($32,198) for this major. At the 93rd percentile nationally, these graduates are out-earning nearly all their peers across the country, and they're carrying $26,920 in debt, which is right in line with typical borrowing for this field. The 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable repayment, though families should note the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means a single cohort's unusual success could be skewing these figures.

What's particularly interesting is that York ranks at only the 60th percentile among Pennsylvania programs despite its strong national showing. This reflects Pennsylvania's generally higher-paying market for human development graduates rather than any weakness at York—the school is actually tied with Messiah University for the highest earnings in the state for this major. For an institution with a 94% admission rate, these outcomes are notably strong.

The caveat here is real: small samples can be misleading, and one exceptional graduating class doesn't guarantee future results. That said, if your child is Pennsylvania-based and interested in family studies or related helping professions, York's combination of accessibility, reasonable debt, and above-average earnings makes it worth serious consideration—just verify these trends hold across multiple years before committing.