Human Development & Family Studies at Erie Community College

Buffalo, NY · Public · Associate Degree · Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services

with a mid-sized student body of 5,906 in Buffalo, NY.

Program Analysis

Erie Community College's Human Development & Family Studies program produces graduates earning $25,239/yr — within striking distance of the $24,123 national average for this trade.

With a 23.7x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 10% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Human Development & Family Studies career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

A #57 ranking among 85 Human Development & Family Studies programs places Erie Community College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The limited growth from $25,239 to $28,719 over five years suggests earnings in this trade plateau relatively early in one's career.

For students considering alternatives, 3 registered apprenticeship programs align with Human Development & Family Studies careers — offering paid training instead of tuition costs.

53 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
50
Low End
53
Score
55
High End
Earnings $25,239/yr (5% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (67% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (297,800 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$293K
3.3% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
24.0x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
8 of 8
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$12,200
Out-of-state: $22,600
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$28,719
14% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Human Development & Family Studies graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Psychologists, all other $117,580 +4.3% 56%
Social scientists and related workers, all other $100,340 -1.7% 48%
Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary $77,280 +3.4% 46%
Psychologists, all other
$117,580
+4.3% growth 56% AI-proof
Social scientists and related workers, all other
$100,340
-1.7% growth 48% AI-proof
Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary
$77,280
+3.4% growth 46% AI-proof

View all 8 career paths with full salary data →

About Human Development & Family Studies Careers

Your career path often begins on the front lines, either in a bustling community center or a vibrant preschool classroom. You’ll work directly with people, helping a family navigate social service applications on a computer one moment, then guiding children through a creative learning activity with art supplies the next. The work is hands-on, focused on providing direct support and guidance.

Read the full Human Development & Family Studies career guide →

Compare & Explore

Human Development & Family Studies Overview

Human Development & Family Studies at Other Schools

Other Majors at Erie Community College

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Human Development & Family Studies at Erie Community College?
A score of 53/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Erie Community College trails the majority of Human Development & Family Studies programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Human Development & Family Studies to AI automation?
With 33% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $264,056 in decade earnings vs $293,121 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Human Development & Family Studies graduates?
Yes — 3 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Human Development & Family Studies career paths, including Child Care Development Specialist. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
Is there demand for Human Development & Family Studies workers?
The career paths mapped to Human Development & Family Studies have roughly 297,800 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →