by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 24 U.S. colleges awarded 1,118 degrees and certificates in Family & Consumer Economics. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 79% of graduates. College Factual ranks 19 schools in its 2027 Best Family & Consumer Economics Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $41,182 one year after completing, rising to $56,265 after four years.
Delve into the fascinating exploration of the policies and processes that contribute to successful individual or family management. A major in Family and Consumer Economics will allow you to study the science of family life as well as microeconomics, macroeconomics and how the economy affects the consumer. You will also study financial goal setting, debt management and how to prevent and resolve financial difficulties. The goal of the major is to improve the experiences of the consumer by learning about sales and resource management at all levels. You will also learn how consumers are influenced by marketing and the consequences of advertising deception.
Some courses that you may take while studying include: consumer behavior, price theory, advanced mathematics, economic forecasting, microeconomics, macroeconomics, indexing, and commodities analysis.
Concentrations within this major include Family Resource Management, Consumer Economics, and Consumer Services and Advocacy.
A major in Family & Consumer Economics covers Family And Consumer Economics And Related Studies.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, family & consumer economics is a popular field of study, with 1,118 degrees awarded annually. 24 colleges award family & consumer economics degrees, an average of 47 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 214.
By level, the 1,118 awards include 881 bachelor’s degrees, 230 master’s degrees and 7 doctorates.
Women earned 65% of family & consumer economics degrees and certificates in the latest year (729 of 1,118). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (671) and Hispanic or Latino (178), and international students earned 28.
College Factual ranks 19 schools in its 2027 Best Family & Consumer Economics Schools ranking, including 17 for bachelor’s degrees and 4 for master’s degrees. It also ranks family & consumer economics schools within 11 states. In all, 24 colleges offer family & consumer economics programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Family & Consumer Economics Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common family & consumer economics credential is the bachelor’s degree: 881 of the 1,118 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to family & consumer economics 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, Written Comprehension and Speech Clarity.
To be successful in this major you should feel comfortable taking the leadership role. You will be the guiding factor in the lives of many people by empowering consumers to make good economic decisions. Patience and empathy are valuable traits as you work with individuals and families to help understand their spending behaviors and family finances.
Be prepared to take multiple classes in math, economics, social sciences, public policy, and computer technology. You will be applying the knowledge you've gained in your classes to consumers through social sciences and public policy. You should be able to effectively communicate and work with people from diverse backgrounds.
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How long a family & consumer economics degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 881 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 230 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 7 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to family & consumer economics, at 51.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 51.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 26.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 10.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 6.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.7% |
| Some college courses | 0.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.4% |
| First professional degree | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Family & Consumer Economics, with an average median salary of $82,444; the strongest outlook belongs to Farm and Home Management Educators, at 14.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Adjunct Instructor, Tailoring Teacher, Adjunct Professor and Nutrition Program Instructor.
Graduates will have a broad education they can use in a variety of fields. Those who are able to analyze and communicate consumer issues are valuable to many employers. There is always a need for consumer affairs in all different areas like business, government, and social services. Some graduates also go into financial planning and counseling. Additional career opportunities could be in consumer education, consumer affairs, marketing, or even media. You may also work solely in family financial management and work with social service agencies.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to family & consumer economics, at 1,304,119.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Farm and Home Management Educators | 1,304,119 | 14.0% |
| Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,267,153 | 0.4% |
| Personal Financial Advisors | 311,008 | 6.8% |
Family & Consumer Economics graduates earn a median $41,182 one year after completing their program, $56,265 after four years and $52,641 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $41,182 |
| 4 years | $56,265 |
| 5 years | $52,641 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to family & consumer economics is Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, with a median salary of $99,604.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $99,604 |
| Personal Financial Advisors | $91,777 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | $55,950 |
Family & Consumer Economics includes 4 concentrations that together award 1,118 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Family Resource Management Studies, General (737), Family and Consumer Economics and Related Services, Other (240) and Consumer Economics (97). It has 8 similar majors in the Family, Consumer & Human Sciences field, which together award 55,174 degrees a year; 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 all Family, Consumer & Human Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Family Resource Management Studies, General | 737 |
| Family and Consumer Economics and Related Services, Other | 240 |
| Consumer Economics | 97 |
| Consumer Services and Advocacy | 44 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
