Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 20 college programs, at a typical net price.
The payoff is roughly break-even — the degree recovers its cost, but slowly.
What Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies pays
Career outlook for Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies graduates
The job market for the occupations Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal financial advisors | 326,000 | +9.6% | $102,140 | Bachelor's degree |
| Farm and home management educators | 12,400 | -2.5% | $58,120 | Master's degree |
| Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary | 3,200 | +3.4% | $77,280 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies vs similar majors
How Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies stacks up against the closest fields in Family & Consumer Sciences on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies Family & Consumer Sciences · this major | Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services | Housing and Human Environments | Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 31 F | 55 C | 46 D | 35 D |
| ROI verdict | Break-even | Strong return | Strong return | Break-even |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $54,153 | $63,691 | $60,451 | $56,176 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $43,878 | $41,908 | $44,617 | $35,726 |
| ROI vs cost | +14% | +134% | +91% | +38% |
| Typical debt | $23,160 | $21,982 | $24,989 | $24,431 |
| Colleges offering it | 20 | 8 | 11 | 63 |
Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Georgia Athens, GA | Associate's | $68,899 | $18,750 | +589% | Strong return |
| 2 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX | Associate's | $70,532 | $27,000 | +432% | Strong return |
| 3 | Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH | Associate's | $65,515 | $20,645 | +386% | Strong return |
| 4 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, MO | Associate's | $65,217 | $27,000 | +301% | Strong return |
| 5 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX | Certificate | $78,644 | $25,643 | +293% | Strong return |
| 6 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, TN | Associate's | $58,779 | $18,500 | +208% | Strong return |
| 7 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL | Associate's | $58,969 | $22,477 | +163% | Strong return |
| 8 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN | Associate's | $53,715 | $17,851 | +118% | Strong return |
| 9 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ | Certificate | $56,495 | $35,340 | +58% | Break-even |
| 10 | South Dakota State University Brookings, SD | Associate's | $51,775 | $21,852 | +42% | Break-even |
| 11 | Texas State University San Marcos, TX | Associate's | $50,122 | $19,349 | +26% | Break-even |
| 12 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ | Associate's | $49,656 | $20,000 | +25% | Break-even |
| 13 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE | Associate's | $45,796 | $20,544 | -82% | Poor return |
| 14 | New Mexico State University-Main Campus Las Cruces, NM | Certificate | $45,238 | $22,208 | -95% | Poor return |
| 15 | University of Nebraska at Kearney Kearney, NE | Associate's | $41,817 | $17,751 | -182% | Poor return |
| 16 | SUNY Buffalo State University Buffalo, NY | Associate's | $40,460 | $21,691 | -248% | Poor return |
| 17 | Tennessee State University Nashville, TN | Associate's | $37,876 | $28,250 | -270% | Poor return |
| 18 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN | Associate's | $37,401 | $23,000 | -317% | Poor return |
| 19 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZ | Certificate | $56,495 | $35,340 | — | Not enough data |
| 20 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZ | Associate's | $49,656 | $20,000 | — | Not enough data |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.