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GRADUATE/PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 1907

Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services: is this graduate/professional certificate worth it?

National picture across 4 reporting college programs.

Personal baseline needed

$59,118 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.

$59,118Median year-4 earnings

$18,303Average institution net-price context

Not availableMedian federal debt

Use your actual price and alternative earnings before evaluating return. Model your own starting point →

WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$59,118Median reported earnings · year 4

$49,689Average reported earnings · year 5

Not availableMedian federal debt

18thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential

4Reporting programs

4With year-4 earnings

COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

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: $31,837
Federal debt: $11,161
Reporting programs: 81

70 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Associate's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $35,276
Federal debt: $16,793
Reporting programs: 96

93 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $46,954
Federal debt: $25,585
Reporting programs: 185

174 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Post-baccalaureate Certificate

Year-4 earnings: $71,428
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 1

1 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $59,496
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 27

27 report earnings →CURRENT VIEW

Graduate/Professional Certificate

Year-4 earnings: $59,118
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 4

4 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)

Year-4 earnings: $54,464
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 1

1 report earnings →

COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

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$45,266National median$59,11875th percentile$68,678

4 programs report year‑4 earnings.

WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1Virginia Commonwealth University$119,836 2Erikson Institute$68,678 3Capella University$49,557 4University of Phoenix-Arizona$45,266

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

WHERE THIS FIELD CAN LEAD

Related occupations

Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.

Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1192 · 5 crosswalk linksFarm and Home Management EducatorsSOC 25-9021 · 5 crosswalk linksChildcare WorkersSOC 39-9011 · 3 crosswalk linksCommunity and Social Service Specialists, All OtherSOC 21-1099 · 3 crosswalk linksPsychologists, All OtherSOC 19-3039 · 3 crosswalk linksPreschool Teachers, Except Special EducationSOC 25-2011 · 2 crosswalk linksNO MATCHSOC 99-9999 · 1 crosswalk linksSocial Scientists and Related Workers, All OtherSOC 19-3099 · 1 crosswalk linksSocial and Human Service AssistantsSOC 21-1093 · 1 crosswalk linksTeaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special EducationSOC 25-9042 · 1 crosswalk linksTeaching Assistants, Special EducationSOC 25-9043 · 1 crosswalk links

BEST COLLEGES FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, FAMILY STUDIES, AND RELATED SERVICES

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	Virginia Commonwealth UniversityGraduate/Professional Certificate	Richmond, VA	$119,836	Not available	Baseline needed	$23,433
2	Erikson InstituteGraduate/Professional Certificate	Chicago, IL	$68,678	Not available	Baseline needed	Not available
3	Capella UniversityGraduate/Professional Certificate	Minneapolis, MN	$49,557	Not available	Baseline needed	$17,956
4	University of Phoenix-ArizonaGraduate/Professional Certificate	Phoenix, AZ	$45,266	Not available	Baseline needed	$13,520

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.