Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services: 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 8 college programs, at a typical net price.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
What Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services pays
Career outlook for Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services graduates
The job market for the occupations Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | 1,432,600 | -5.0% | $47,320 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Market research analysts and marketing specialists | 941,700 | +6.7% | $76,950 | Bachelor's degree |
| Sales managers | 619,500 | +4.7% | $138,060 | Bachelor's degree |
| Marketing managers | 407,000 | +6.6% | $161,030 | Bachelor's degree |
| Public relations specialists | 315,900 | +4.8% | $69,780 | Bachelor's degree |
| Writers and authors | 135,400 | +3.6% | $72,270 | Bachelor's 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 Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services vs similar majors
How Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services 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 Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services Family & Consumer Sciences · this major | Housing and Human Environments | Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 55 C | 46 D | 35 D | 31 F |
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Strong return | Break-even | Break-even |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $63,691 | $60,451 | $56,176 | $54,153 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $41,908 | $44,617 | $35,726 | $43,878 |
| ROI vs cost | +134% | +91% | +38% | +14% |
| Typical debt | $21,982 | $24,989 | $24,431 | $23,160 |
| Colleges offering it | 8 | 11 | 63 | 20 |
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services 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 Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services
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 | $62,427 | $18,375 | +404% | Strong return |
| 2 | Oregon State University-Cascades Campus Bend, OR | Associate's | $64,739 | $24,000 | +340% | Strong return |
| 3 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA | Associate's | $70,108 | $22,450 | +332% | Strong return |
| 4 | Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN | Associate's | $60,193 | $19,500 | +319% | Strong return |
| 5 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NY | Associate's | $81,068 | $27,000 | +313% | Strong return |
| 6 | Oregon State University Corvallis, OR | Associate's | $64,739 | $24,000 | +312% | Strong return |
| 7 | University of Houston Houston, TX | Associate's | $57,782 | $18,548 | +262% | Strong return |
| 8 | Bradley University Peoria, IL | Associate's | $48,471 | — | -24% | Poor return |
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.