Only 35 colleges in the country offer Housing and Human Environments, which means graduates enter the workforce from a smaller, more specialized pool. Median earnings four years out: $59,550.
This page covers Housing and Human Environments as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Family & Consumer Sciences and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Housing and Human Environments is a focused area of study within Family & Consumer Sciences. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $59,550 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 35 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 314 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. Coursework pairs research methods with the applied study of people and institutions.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$38,637
Median Earnings · 4yr
$59,550
Colleges Offering
35
Graduates / Year
314
Avg Net Price / yr
$17,562
How Much Do Housing and Human Environments Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Housing and Human Environments, a typical graduate earns $59,550, near the national median for college graduates. Half of earners land somewhere between $43,708 and $74,275, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $38,637 at one year out to $59,550 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$59,550
4-Year National Median
Near the national median for college graduates.
$52,861
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Housing and Human Environments graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Degree level and sector drive the gap. Graduate-level government and research roles anchor the top; entry-level social services and nonprofit roles anchor the bottom.
$43,70825th pct.
$59,550Median
$74,27575th pct.
A Solid Financial Return
Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $59,550 and an estimated $70,248 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 2.4 years.
Based on outcomes from 19 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 314 students who complete Housing and Human Environments programs each year, the majority (60%) earn a bachelor's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
60%28%
Bachelor's60%
Master's28%
Post-Bacc Cert.7%
What Can You Do With a Housing and Human Environments Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Housing and Human Environments graduates show up in 4 different occupations, and Facilities Managers pay the most at $106,660/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Critical ThinkingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningJudgment and Decision MakingSpeaking
Day-to-day responsibilities
Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.
Monitor the facility to ensure that it remains safe, secure, and well-maintained.
Oversee the maintenance and repair of machinery, equipment, and electrical and mechanical systems.
Oversee construction and renovation projects to improve efficiency and to ensure that facilities meet environmental, health, and security standards, and comply with government regulations.
Plan, design, and furnish the internal space of rooms or buildings. Design interior environments or create physical layouts that are practical, aesthetic, and conducive to the intended purposes. May specialize in a particular field, style, or phase of interior design.
Design plans to be safe and to be compliant with the American Disabilities Act (ADA).
Use computer-aided drafting (CAD) and related software to produce construction documents.
Research health and safety code requirements to inform design.
Coordinate activities of staff, convention personnel, or clients to make arrangements for group meetings, events, or conventions.
Consult with customers to determine objectives and requirements for events, such as meetings, conferences, and conventions.
Review event bills for accuracy and approve payment.
Coordinate services for events, such as accommodation and transportation for participants, facilities, catering, signage, displays, special needs requirements, printing and event security.
Active ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionWritingSocial Perceptiveness
Day-to-day responsibilities
Instruct and advise individuals and families engaged in agriculture, agricultural-related processes, or home management activities. Demonstrate procedures and apply research findings to advance agricultural and home management activities. May develop educational outreach programs. May instruct on either agricultural issues such as agricultural processes and techniques, pest management, and food safety, or on home management issues such as budgeting, nutrition, and child development.
Advise farmers and demonstrate techniques in areas such as feeding and health maintenance of livestock, growing and harvesting practices, and financial planning.
Conduct classes or deliver lectures on subjects such as nutrition, home management, and farming techniques.
Collaborate with producers to diagnose and prevent management and production problems.
Top Colleges for Housing and Human Environments
Not sure where to study Housing and Human Environments? These 14 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Housing and Human Environments graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Family & Consumer Sciences Programs
Housing and Human Environments is not the only path through Family & Consumer Sciences: 7 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Housing and Human Environments program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Housing and Human Environments Degree: Pros & Cons
The data on Housing and Human Environments shows 4 measurable strengths and 3 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.
PROS
Above-average earningsFour-year median of $59,550 puts graduates ahead of many humanities and social science programs.
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $38,637 at graduation to $59,550 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Positive job outlookRelated careers project up to +5.8% job growth over the next 10 years, a solid signal for long-term demand.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 39,500 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
CONS
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Declining roles in some areas1 related career show negative 10-year employment projections. Research specific roles before committing.
Limited program availabilityOnly 35 colleges offer this program nationally, which may limit geographic flexibility when choosing a school.
Housing and Human Environments Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Housing and Human Environments graduates earn?
$59,550 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $43,708 and $74,275, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Housing and Human Environments degree?
$38,637 in the first year out. That grows to $59,550 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Housing and Human Environments degree?
Facilities Managers are one path, and it pays a median of $106,660 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Housing and Human Environments program take?
Four years of full-time study for a Housing and Human Environments bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.
How many colleges offer Housing and Human Environments?
35 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Housing and Human Environments degree worth it?
$59,550 median earnings four years out against $17,562 a year in average net price. That is a reasonable payback window, best at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Housing and Human Environments and Family & Consumer Sciences?
Housing and Human Environments is the narrower of the two: Family & Consumer Sciences covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Housing and Human Environments-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Housing and Human Environments graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Housing and Human Environments graduates consistently look for research methodology, interpersonal communication, and policy understanding. Experience with surveys, qualitative interviews, or statistical tools is often a differentiator in government, nonprofit, and research roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
Is graduate school worth it for Housing and Human Environments graduates?
It can be. At a median salary of $59,550, graduate study in Housing and Human Environments tends to meaningfully raise long-term income, particularly through specialized or professional programs tied to high-demand roles. Weigh that against your own career goals, the program's cost, and whether your target role actually rewards the advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for Housing and Human Environments graduates?
Outlook is slow overall: related occupations average +2.5% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Event Planners are among the strongest-growth roles at +5.8%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
Related Family & Consumer Sciences Programs
Other programs in Family & Consumer Sciences. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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