Human Development and Family Studies: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Human Development and Family Studies explores the dynamic interplay between individual growth and family environments across the lifespan. This interdisciplinary field examines how biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors shape human behavior and relationships within familial contexts, preparing students to understand and support healthy development at both personal and systemic levels.
- Life Span Development: Investigates physical, cognitive, emotional, and social changes that occur from infancy through old age, emphasizing critical milestones and developmental transitions.
- Family Systems Theory: Analyzes the interconnectedness of family members, focusing on roles, communication patterns, and the impact of family structure on individual well-being.
- Child and Adolescent Development: Explores developmental processes during early and middle childhood, including identity formation, peer relationships, and educational influences.
- Parenting and Caregiving Practices: Studies effective strategies for nurturing, discipline, and emotional support, with attention to cultural variations and socioeconomic contexts.
- Intergenerational Relationships: Examines the ways in which family dynamics, traditions, and conflicts are transmitted across generations.
- Family Policy and Social Services: Addresses public policies, community programs, and support systems designed to strengthen families and promote resilience.
- Research Methods in Human Development: Develops skills in designing and evaluating studies that assess developmental trends, family functioning, and intervention outcomes.
Human Development and Family Studies Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Human Development and Family Studies Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Human Development and Family Studies degrees, including Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 2,630 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1192 | $77,280 | $47,580 - $133,180 | 2,630 | N/A |
Human Development and Family Studies Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $51,260 in New Jersey to $134,060 in California—a 162% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Louisiana, and Michigan. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 2,630 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Human Development and Family Studies by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Human Development and Family Studies programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Human Development and Family Studies is found at Brigham Young University (BYU–I), Idaho (1,475 graduates), University of California (UCD), Davis (279 graduates), California State University (CSUEB), East Bay (236 graduates), Florida State University (FSU) (219 graduates), and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) (179 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 7,964 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brigham Young University (BYU–I) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
1,475 | Rexburg, Idaho | Private | byui.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
279 | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| California State University (CSUEB) |
Bachelor's
|
236 | Hayward, California | Public | csueastbay.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
219 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
179 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
173 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| Montclair State University |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
170 | Montclair, New Jersey | Public | montclair.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
164 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
151 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
147 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
141 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
134 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
123 | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
|
115 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| North Dakota State University (NDSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
113 | Fargo, North Dakota | Public | ndsu.edu |
| University of Rhode Island (URI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
110 | Kingston, Rhode Island | Public | web.uri.edu |
| The University of Alabama (UA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
109 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Public | ua.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
107 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| Utah State University (USU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
105 | Logan, Utah | Public | usu.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
101 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
100 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| California State University (CSUSM) |
Bachelor's
|
99 | San Marcos, California | Public | csusm.edu |
| Binghamton University |
Bachelor's
Post-Master's
|
96 | Vestal, New York | Public | binghamton.edu |
| Kansas State University (K‑State) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
95 | Manhattan, Kansas | Public | k-state.edu |
| Texas State University (TXST) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
93 | San Marcos, Texas | Public | txst.edu |
| Pacific Oaks College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
89 | Pasadena, California | Private | pacificoaks.edu |
| Empire State University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
89 | Saratoga Springs, New York | Public | sunyempire.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
89 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Public | uncg.edu |
| Merrimack College |
Bachelor's
|
85 | North Andover, Massachusetts | Private | merrimack.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNR) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
84 | Reno, Nevada | Public | unr.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Bachelor's
|
84 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Bachelor's
|
80 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
78 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
|
77 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
77 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| University of New Hampshire (UNH) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
75 | Durham, New Hampshire | Public | unh.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
73 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| California State University (CSUMB) |
Bachelor's
|
73 | Seaside, California | Public | csumb.edu |
| Northern Illinois University (NIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
71 | Dekalb, Illinois | Public | niu.edu |
| Bowling Green State University (BGSU) |
Bachelor's
|
69 | Bowling Green, Ohio | Public | bgsu.edu |
| Southwestern College (SWC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
68 | Chula Vista, California | Public | swccd.edu |
| Southern Utah University (SUU) |
Bachelor's
|
65 | Cedar City, Utah | Public | suu.edu |
| South Dakota State University (SDSU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
64 | Brookings, South Dakota | Public | sdstate.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
63 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
61 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | worldcampus.psu.edu |
| Kent State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
60 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| Nova Southeastern University (NSU) |
Master's
|
57 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | nova.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Bachelor's
|
55 | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Bachelor's
|
54 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
| Mississippi State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
54 | Mississippi State, Mississippi | Public | msstate.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
|
52 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| University of Maine (UMaine) |
Bachelor's
|
47 | Orono, Maine | Public | umaine.edu |
| Northwestern State University of Louisiana (NSULA) |
Bachelor's
|
46 | Natchitoches, Louisiana | Public | nsula.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
45 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Baylor University |
Bachelor's
|
44 | Waco, Texas | Private | baylor.edu |
| Georgia Southern University |
Bachelor's
|
40 | Statesboro, Georgia | Public | georgiasouthern.edu |
| Louisiana Tech University (LA Tech) |
Bachelor's
|
40 | Ruston, Louisiana | Public | latech.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
40 | Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| State University of New York |
Bachelor's
|
39 | Oswego, New York | Public | oswego.edu |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
38 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Public | lsu.edu |
| Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) |
Associate's
|
35 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | cnm.edu |
| New Mexico State University (NMSU) |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Las Cruces, New Mexico | Public | nmsu.edu |
| Texas Woman's University (TWU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
35 | Denton, Texas | Public | twu.edu |
| Samford University |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Birmingham, Alabama | Private | samford.edu |
| Liberty University |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| SUNY Oneonta |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Oneonta, New York | Public | suny.oneonta.edu |
| Illinois State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Normal, Illinois | Public | illinoisstate.edu |
| The University of Texas Permian Basin |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Odessa, Texas | Public | utpb.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Menomonie, Wisconsin | Public | uwstout.edu |
| Cuesta College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
28 | San Luis Obispo, California | Public | cuesta.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| Abilene Christian University (ACU) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Abilene, Texas | Private | acu.edu |
| University of Louisiana (UL Lafayette) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Lafayette, Louisiana | Public | louisiana.edu |
| Southern Nazarene University (SNU) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | Bethany, Oklahoma | Private | snu.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNL) |
Master's
|
24 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Public | unl.edu |
| University of Vermont (UVM) |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Burlington, Vermont | Public | uvm.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Fielding Graduate University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
21 | Santa Barbara, California | Private | fielding.edu |
| University of Idaho (U of I) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
21 | Moscow, Idaho | Public | uidaho.edu |
| Anderson University (AU) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Anderson, South Carolina | Private | andersonuniversity.edu |
| University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Edmond, Oklahoma | Public | uco.edu |
| College of the Desert (COD) |
Associate's
|
19 | Palm Desert, California | Public | collegeofthedesert.edu |
| Sonoma State University (SSU) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Rohnert Park, California | Public | sonoma.edu |
| Antioch University |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Yellow Springs, Ohio | Private | antioch.edu |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Denver, Colorado | Public | ucdenver.edu |
| Howard University (HU) |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | howard.edu |
| Lamar University (LU) |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Beaumont, Texas | Public | lamar.edu |
| Amridge University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
17 | Montgomery, Alabama | Private | amridgeuniversity.edu |
| Connecticut College (Conn) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | New London, Connecticut | Private | conncoll.edu |
| Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Richmond, Kentucky | Public | eku.edu |
| Franciscan University of Steubenville |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Steubenville, Ohio | Private | franciscan.edu |
| Lee University |
Master's
|
17 | Cleveland, Tennessee | Private | leeuniversity.edu |
| University of the District of Columbia (UDC) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Washington, District of Columbia | Public | udc.edu |
| Concordia University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
16 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | csp.edu |
| Maryville University of Saint Louis |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | maryville.edu |
| City Colleges of Chicago (TRU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
15 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | ccc.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
15 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| University of Rochester |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
15 | Rochester, New York | Private | rochester.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
15 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| Southern Wesleyan University (SWU) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Central, South Carolina | Private | swu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Human Development and Family Studies programs
How much can I earn with a Human Development and Family Studies degree?
Salaries for Human Development and Family Studies graduates vary by role and location. Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $77,280 annually. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $134,060 compared to $51,260 in New Jersey. Approximately 2,630 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Human Development and Family Studies programs?
Currently 171 accredited institutions offer Human Development and Family Studies degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Brigham Young University (BYU–I), Idaho (1,475 graduates), University of California (UCD), Davis (279 graduates), and California State University (CSUEB), East Bay (236 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Human Development and Family Studies growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 7,272 in 2010 to a peak of 10,075 in 2020, before declining slightly to 8,444 in 2023-24. This represents a 16% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Human Development and Family Studies degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 2,630 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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