Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services at Connecticut State Community College
CT · Associate's Degree · CIP 19.07
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services degree from Connecticut State Community College earn a median salary of $43,359 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in CT, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $37,605. The degree typically pays for itself in 25.4 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$32,870
Typical Career
$43,359
Top Performers
$54,422
Estimated break-even: 25.4 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$289
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,613. Most students can comfortably afford about a $289 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.1x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Connecticut buys what costs $1.15 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Finance & Insurance.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$37,605
Nominal: $43,359 in Connecticut (COL 115.3% of national avg) · 13.3% lower 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 | $30,722 | $39,163 | $46,678 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $32,870 | $43,359 | $54,422 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $37,984 | $46,073 | $57,726 |
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 $43,359 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in CT, which has a cost-of-living index of 115.3% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $43,359 × (1.0 ÷ 1.1530)
= $37,605 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary industries for graduates are predominantly within Health Care & Social Assistance, with 53.3% entering this field shortly after graduation. This sector remains a significant employment avenue, with 46.8% and 29.5% of graduates continuing in similar roles over time. Considering the estimated break-even point of approximately 25.4 years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment for this program may be viewed as moderate. While the field offers stable employment opportunities, the long-term financial benefits may take considerable time to materialize.
Compare with Another School
See how the Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services degree at Connecticut State Community College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Ready to apply?
Start your application for Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services at Connecticut State Community College.
Explore More
Other Degrees at Connecticut State Community College
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.