CollegeCostWise

Master's · Dekalb, Illinois

Is Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services at Northern Illinois University worth it?

Low confidence Low confidence: fewer than 40 graduates behind the earnings figures.

The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans

Graduates typically don't earn back the cost within 20 years, compared with the no-degree baseline.

Earnings 1 year after graduating
Not enough graduates to report
Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating
$60,879
Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation
$30,925
NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Typical borrowing (no graduate net price is published)
$33k (likely $33k – $33k)
AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4
−$4k a year vs bachelor's graduates 4 years out in IL
2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback
Not within 20 years in most scenarios
Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return
−$237k (likely −$365k – −$94k)
Today's dollars
20-year net return
−$258k (likely −$523k – $58k)
Today's dollars

Change income, residency or loans Compare Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services at other schools

Scorecard reports no net price for graduate programs; cost is based on what graduates typically borrowed.

Other majors at Northern Illinois University

Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services at other schools in Illinois