Housing and Human Environments: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 12 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Negative payoff
−$147,071 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
With these assumptions, the added earnings do not recover the cost within ten years.
28.7 yrsModeled economic break-even
−65%Modeled 10-year ROI
$52,861Observed earnings · year 4
Not reachedMaximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
Observed national outcomes
$52,861Median reported earnings · year 4
$55,790Average reported earnings · year 5
$25,683Median federal debt
30thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
11With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 0 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
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.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $35,492
- Federal debt
- $5,677
- Reporting programs
- 2
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $52,861
- Federal debt
- $25,683
- Reporting programs
- 12
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $133,013
- 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.
Median
25th percentile$52,861National median$52,86175th percentile$54,226
11 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
12 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1CUNY New York City College of Technology$82,8242University of Georgia$69,8183University of Missouri-Columbia$61,6834Missouri State University-Springfield$54,2265Oklahoma State University-Main Campus$53,4556Ohio University-Eastern Campus$52,8617Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus$52,8618Ohio University-Southern Campus$52,8619Ohio University-Lancaster Campus$52,86110Ohio University-Main Campus$52,861Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Interior Designers$67,190 median wage71,500 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-1025+2.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 7.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$41,420–$114,140 10th–90th percentileFarm and Home Management Educators$60,220 median wage8,220 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-9021-3.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: Master's degree$37,650–$85,060 10th–90th percentileFacilities Managers$106,660 median wage156,180 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-3013+4.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 14.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$64,480–$176,120 10th–90th percentileFamily and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary$75,870 median wage2,770 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1192+2.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$47,830–$130,790 10th–90th percentileMeeting, Convention, and Event Planners$61,160 median wage142,860 U.S. jobs · SOC 13-1121+5.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 16.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$36,830–$101,700 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Where this degree has enough data to compare
State pages are published only when at least five operating colleges report year-4 earnings for this exact field and credential.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CUNY New York City College of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $82,824 | Not available | +89% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | University of GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Athens, GA | $69,818 | $25,000 | +5% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | University of Missouri-ColumbiaBachelor's Degree | Columbia, MO | $61,683 | $26,802 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Missouri State University-SpringfieldBachelor's Degree | Springfield, MO | $54,226 | $26,411 | -63% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Oklahoma State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Stillwater, OK | $53,455 | $23,773 | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Ohio University-Eastern CampusBachelor's Degree | Saint Clairsville, OH | $52,861 | $25,683 | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Ohio University-Chillicothe CampusBachelor's Degree | Chillicothe, OH | $52,861 | $25,683 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Ohio University-Southern CampusBachelor's Degree | Ironton, OH | $52,861 | $25,683 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Ohio University-Lancaster CampusBachelor's Degree | Lancaster, OH | $52,861 | $25,683 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Ohio University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Athens, OH | $52,861 | $25,683 | -71% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Ohio University-Zanesville CampusBachelor's Degree | Zanesville, OH | $52,861 | $25,683 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | University of Akron Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Akron, OH | Not available | $26,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $13,946 |
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.