ROI Major

Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services at Minneapolis Community and Technical College

MN · 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 Minneapolis Community and Technical College earn a median salary of $42,341 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in MN, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $44,996. The degree typically pays for itself in 16.5 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

$32,476

Typical Career

$42,341

Top Performers

$53,696

Estimated break-even: 16.5 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$282

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,528. Most students can comfortably afford about a $282 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.1x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.5x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Minnesota buys what costs $0.94 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

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

Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work

Health Care & Social Assistance 31.6%
Public Administration 8.8%
Retail Trade 7.3%

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

$44,996

Nominal: $42,341 in Minnesota (COL 94.1% of national avg) · 6.3% 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).

16.5 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 $29,230 $36,632 $46,593
5 Years After Graduation $32,476 $42,341 $53,696
10 Years After Graduation $41,115 $54,051 $69,154

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 $42,341 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in MN, which has a cost-of-living index of 94.1% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $42,341 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9410) = $44,996 National Average equivalent.

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

Career Verdict

Graduates from the Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services program at Minneapolis Community and Technical College experience a gradual increase in earnings over time. One year after graduation, the median earnings stand at $34,760, which rises to $36,832 after five years and reaches $52,165 after ten years. When adjusted for purchasing power, the median five-year salary equates to approximately $39,141.34 nationally, reflecting the program's ability to provide a stable income that grows with experience, despite the longer break-even period of around 20 years compared to a high school-only path.

The majority of graduates enter the Health Care & Social Assistance sector, with 57.2% initially employed in this field, followed by significant percentages of 31.6% and 27.8% in related roles. This concentration in a vital industry suggests a strong demand for skills in human development and family studies, providing a solid foundation for career growth. While the return on investment may take two decades to match that of a high school diploma, the potential for meaningful contributions to society and job stability in a growing sector can justify the commitment to this educational path.

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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.