by our College Data Analytics Team
[Family Consumer Economics](/majors/family-consumer-human-sciences/family-consumer-economics/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying family consumer economics schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose family consumer economics graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is South Dakota State University, our #1 for family consumer economics graduate salaries in the The Plains States Region. South Dakota State University is a public school located in the town of Brookings. Students who complete the family consumer economics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,775.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Minnesota Twin Cities one of the highest-paying schools for family consumer economics. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public school located in the city of Minneapolis. After graduating, family consumer economics degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities typically earn about $53,715 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in family consumer economics will find them at University Of Nebraska At Kearney, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Kearney, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a public institution. After graduating, family consumer economics degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Kearney typically earn about $41,817 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Nebraska Lincoln earned it the #4 place for family consumer economics. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public school located in the city of Lincoln. Family Consumer Economics graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of about $45,796 a year early in their careers.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries family consumer economics graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 4 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.