Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services at University of Louisiana at Lafayette
LA · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 19.07
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services degree from University of Louisiana at Lafayette earn a median salary of $44,193 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in LA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $47,880. The degree typically pays for itself in 20 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$34,478
Typical Career
$44,193
Top Performers
$53,585
Estimated break-even: 20 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$295
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,683. Most students can comfortably afford about a $295 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.1x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Louisiana buys what costs $0.92 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$47,880
Nominal: $44,193 in Louisiana (COL 92.3% of national avg) · 8.3% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $22,660 | $29,274 | $37,454 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $34,478 | $44,193 | $53,585 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $40,075 | $50,699 | $62,230 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $44,193 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in LA, which has a cost-of-living index of 92.3% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $44,193 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9230)
= $47,880 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary industries that graduates enter include Health Care & Social Assistance (22.9%), Educational Services (17.7%), and Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (11.3%). The estimated break-even point for graduates compared to those with only a high school diploma is approximately 20 years, suggesting a long-term return on investment. While the initial earnings may not be high, the trajectory indicates potential for growth, particularly in sectors that prioritize human services and education, which are critical to community development.
AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.
Compare with Another School
See how the Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services degree at University of Louisiana at Lafayette stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.