by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1,045 U.S. colleges awarded 56,292 degrees and certificates in Family, Consumer & Human Sciences. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 45% of graduates. College Factual ranks 691 schools in its 2027 Best Family, Consumer & Human Sciences Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $34,755 one year after completing, rising to $49,806 after four years.
This major will allow you learn about the development and interactions between individuals, families, and communities. You will learn how economics and finances affect different groups of people, allowing you to come up with solutions to help. These problems do not affect just one area of people, but rather it affects everyone; no matter their age, race, or gender. The role you play is vital to helping the people you work with make decisions and solve problems that can better their life. Through public policy, personal coaching or positive business practices you can influence people to change their lives and live happier and healthier.
There are many different major opportunities and specializations within this field. If you are more interested in health and nutrition you can choose a major in Food & Nutrition. To study the development of families in society, choose a major in Human Development & Family Studies". Have an interest in fashion and clothing design? Major in Textile & Apparel Studies. Other majors in this field are General Family & Consumer Sciences, Housing, and Human Sciences Business Services.
Studying Family, Consumer & Human Sciences covers Family And Consumer Sciences/human Sciences. Instructional Programs That Focus On The Human Interface With The Physical, Social, Emotional, And Intellectual Environments And The Developmental Stages And Needs Of Individuals In The Interrelated Spheres Of Family, Workplace, And Community.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, family, consumer & human sciences is a widely-pursued major, with 56,292 degrees awarded annually. 1,045 colleges award family, consumer & human sciences degrees, an average of 54 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 4,109.
By level, the 56,292 awards include 4,047 certificates, 9,237 associate degrees, 16,924 bachelor’s degrees, 25,099 master’s degrees and 248 doctorates.
Women earned 92% of family, consumer & human sciences degrees and certificates in the latest year (51,643 of 56,292). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (23,534) and Hispanic or Latino (16,311), and international students earned 844.
College Factual ranks 691 schools in its 2027 Best Family, Consumer & Human Sciences Schools ranking, including 252 for associate degrees, 228 for bachelor’s degrees, 87 for master’s degrees and 4 for doctorates. It also ranks family, consumer & human sciences schools within 50 states. In all, 1,045 colleges offer family, consumer & human sciences programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Family, Consumer & Human Sciences Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common family, consumer & human sciences credential is the master’s degree: 25,099 of the 56,292 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to family, consumer & human sciences call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Those who choose majors in the Family & Consumer Science field are typically interested in serving people in one form or another. Some essential skills are compassion, dedication and an open mind. Creativity will help you come up with new ideas and fresh approaches when working with people, clothing or food. Classes will involve a lot of abstract theory you will need to synthesize and apply in various real world settings. For example, you may need to determine the developmental needs of a child in order to place them in the best educational setting or home.
Regardless of your specialization, communication will be an essential skill. Writing, reading, speaking, and listening skills are important in every career option. Another skill set is being able to comfortably work on a team either as a team member or in the leadership role. You will have to take initiative while at the same time respecting the other people you are working with and accepting their point of view as well.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long a family, consumer & human sciences degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 4,047 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 9,237 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 16,924 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 25,099 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 248 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to family, consumer & human sciences, at 37.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 37.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 19.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 13.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 13.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.0% |
| Some college courses | 2.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.6% |
| First professional degree | 0.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
30 occupations are related to Family, Consumer & Human Sciences, with an average median salary of $81,994; the strongest outlook belongs to Farm and Home Management Educators, at 14.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Adjunct Instructor, Lecturer, Sewing Teacher and Associate Professor.
There are a variety of career opportunities for those who enter the family, consumer, and human sciences field. You may choose to stay in the human services route and work directly with clients. However, fashion and apparel design is a completely different career path that will allow you to design and manufacture clothing, or run your own fashion boutique. Interior design and housing is another option for a person in this field. Or you may become a registered dietician. Lastly, becoming a business administrator or working in management could be your career path. Here you would have less interaction with clients and do more behind the scenes work.
The occupation related to family, consumer & human sciences with the most projected jobs is Dietitians and Nutritionists, at 3,155,854.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | 3,155,854 | 1.4% |
| Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other | 1,421,275 | 11.1% |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | 1,304,119 | 14.0% |
| Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,267,153 | 0.4% |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,058,186 | 6.4% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 863,163 | 5.6% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | 830,802 | 5.3% |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | 671,367 | 10.3% |
Family, Consumer & Human Sciences graduates earn a median $34,755 one year after completing their program, $49,806 after four years and $46,834 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,755 |
| 4 years | $49,806 |
| 5 years | $46,834 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to family, consumer & human sciences is Food Service Managers, with a median salary of $165,782.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Food Service Managers | $165,782 |
| Facilities Managers | $157,669 |
| Dietetic Technicians | $137,981 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $125,305 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $124,518 |
| Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products | $111,183 |
| Security Managers | $104,128 |
| Public Relations Specialists | $103,749 |
Family, Consumer & Human Sciences includes 9 concentrations that together award 56,292 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services (45,898), Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services (3,673) and Apparel and Textiles (2,698). Browse the full list of college majors.
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