Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 10 reporting college programs.
$60,766 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
Observed national outcomes
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $46,136
- Federal debt
- $26,595
- Reporting programs
- 50
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $60,766
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 10
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $70,180
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Central Washington University$75,9992Lamar University$67,8133Stephen F Austin State University$65,3444The University of Alabama$64,9295California State University, Northridge$62,5376Illinois State University$58,9957University of Central Arkansas$56,7988Prairie View A&M University$56,5079Eastern Illinois University$56,43510North Carolina Central University$51,714Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Washington UniversityMaster's Degree | Ellensburg, WA | $75,999 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,476 |
| 2 | Lamar UniversityMaster's Degree | Beaumont, TX | $67,813 | Not available | Baseline needed | $9,366 |
| 3 | Stephen F Austin State UniversityMaster's Degree | Nacogdoches, TX | $65,344 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,260 |
| 4 | The University of AlabamaMaster's Degree | Tuscaloosa, AL | $64,929 | Not available | Baseline needed | $22,420 |
| 5 | California State University, NorthridgeMaster's Degree | Northridge, CA | $62,537 | Not available | Baseline needed | $7,021 |
| 6 | Illinois State UniversityMaster's Degree | Normal, IL | $58,995 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,398 |
| 7 | University of Central ArkansasMaster's Degree | Conway, AR | $56,798 | Not available | Baseline needed | $16,511 |
| 8 | Prairie View A&M UniversityMaster's Degree | Prairie View, TX | $56,507 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,570 |
| 9 | Eastern Illinois UniversityMaster's Degree | Charleston, IL | $56,435 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,786 |
| 10 | North Carolina Central UniversityMaster's Degree | Durham, NC | $51,714 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,359 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.