ROI Major

Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services at Del Mar College

TX · Associate's Degree · CIP 19.07

Apply Now Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services degree from Del Mar College earn a median salary of $36,346 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in TX, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $39,464. The degree typically pays for itself in 492.8 years.

Quick Insights

Slow Burn / High Debt Risk

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

$29,358

Typical Career

$36,346

Top Performers

$41,612

Estimated break-even: 492.8 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$242

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,029. Most students can comfortably afford about a $242 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 0.9x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.5x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Texas buys what costs $0.92 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Retail Trade.

Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work

Health Care & Social Assistance 40.9%
Educational Services 15.1%
Retail Trade 6.3%

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

$39,464

Nominal: $36,346 in Texas (COL 92.1% of national avg) · 8.6% higher 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).

492.8 years to break even
Graduation 15 years

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 $26,039 $33,173 $40,376
5 Years After Graduation $29,358 $36,346 $41,612
10 Years After Graduation $28,366 $39,163 $49,582

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 $36,346 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in TX, which has a cost-of-living index of 92.1% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $36,346 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9210) = $39,464 National Average equivalent.

COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →

Career Verdict

Graduates in Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services from Del Mar College experience a gradual increase in median earnings over time. One year post-graduation, the median earnings stand at $33,173.00, rising to $36,346.00 after five years, and reaching $39,163.00 after ten years. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary aligns with a national equivalent of $39,463.63, indicating that while initial earnings may be lower than some fields, there is a steady growth trajectory that can enhance financial stability over time.

The primary industries that graduates enter predominantly include Health Care & Social Assistance, which accounts for 55.3% of employment, followed by Educational Services at 15.1%. This concentration in health and education sectors suggests a strong alignment with societal needs, potentially offering job security. However, the estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 492.8 years, indicating a long-term return on investment that may not be favorable in the short term. Overall, while the field offers meaningful career opportunities, prospective students should weigh the financial implications against their personal and professional goals.

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See how the Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services degree at Del Mar College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.

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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.