Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services at University of Wisconsin - Stout
WI · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 19.07
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services degree from University of Wisconsin - Stout earn a median salary of $46,104 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in WI, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $48,480. The degree typically pays for itself in 15.9 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
$34,936
Typical Career
$46,104
Top Performers
$57,082
Estimated break-even: 15.9 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$307
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,842. Most students can comfortably afford about a $307 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.2x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Wisconsin buys what costs $0.95 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Manufacturing, Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance.
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
$48,480
Nominal: $46,104 in Wisconsin (COL 95.1% of national avg) · 5.2% 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 | $25,370 | $33,279 | $42,109 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $34,936 | $46,104 | $57,082 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $41,298 | $54,051 | $67,717 |
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 $46,104 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in WI, which has a cost-of-living index of 95.1% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $46,104 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9510)
= $48,480 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries for graduates include Manufacturing (18.9%), Educational Services (14.6%), and Health Care & Social Assistance (10.2%), reflecting a diverse range of career opportunities. The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 15.9 years, suggesting that while the return on investment may take time to materialize, the degree can lead to stable employment in sectors that are essential to community well-being. Overall, students should weigh the long-term benefits of this degree against the initial financial investment and time commitment.
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 Wisconsin - Stout 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.