by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 76 U.S. colleges awarded 2,010 degrees and certificates in General Family & Consumer Sciences. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 75% of graduates. College Factual ranks 41 schools in its 2027 Best General Family & Consumer Sciences Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $34,363 one year after completing, rising to $50,703 after four years.
Family and Consumer Sciences, or home economics, is much more than sewing pillows and learning how to cook simple recipes. This major provides you with a variety of classes preparing you to make informed decisions and so you can help others reach a high quality of life. With a degree in family and consumer sciences you will be able to help individuals, families, and communities with well-being, family relations, child development, housing, personal finance, and nutrition. You will get a chance to explore a broad range of disciplines as well as dive deeply into the topics that interest you the most.
Some courses that you may take while in college can include: child development, clothing, consumer economics, sociology, health science, family financial management, food science, human biology, housing, meal management, human development, and nutrition.
A major in General Family & Consumer Sciences explores Family And Consumer Sciences/human Sciences, General.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, general family & consumer sciences is a widely-pursued major, with 2,010 degrees awarded annually. 76 colleges award general family & consumer sciences degrees, an average of 26 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 380.
By level, the 2,010 awards include 121 associate degrees, 1,502 bachelor’s degrees, 346 master’s degrees and 41 doctorates.
Women earned 85% of general family & consumer sciences degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,713 of 2,010). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,003) and Hispanic or Latino (388), and international students earned 47.
College Factual ranks 41 schools in its 2027 Best General Family & Consumer Sciences Schools ranking, including 5 for associate degrees, 32 for bachelor’s degrees, 7 for master’s degrees and 2 for doctorates. It also ranks general family & consumer sciences schools within 20 states. In all, 76 colleges offer general family & consumer sciences programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Family & Consumer Sciences Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general family & consumer sciences credential is the bachelor’s degree: 1,502 of the 2,010 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general family & consumer sciences call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
This major is great for people who like to do a lot of practical things. You will not only learn how to improve your cooking in taste, but also in nutritional value. You will learn about interior and fashion design including how to design and sew your own clothing. You will be able to creatively express yourself in a variety of practical methods.
Another important aspect of this major is money management techniques. Students will need to use math and science to complete large research projects. Some research projects may involve interviewing and spending time with children of different ages. Students should keep an open mind as they investigate issues concerning the physically or mentally challenged or people who are impoverished. Be ready to push your boundaries as you learn different methods of improving life for diverse groups of the population.
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How long a general family & consumer sciences degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 121 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,502 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 346 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 41 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general family & consumer sciences, at 43.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 43.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 21.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 21.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 6.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.8% |
| Some college courses | 0.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.3% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to General Family & Consumer Sciences, with an average median salary of $77,827; the strongest outlook belongs to Farm and Home Management Educators, at 14.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Adjunct Instructor, Sewing Teacher, Teacher and Tailoring Teacher.
This field is vast and can interest many different people. Graduates will have received a broad education they can use in many fields. You may find jobs working in education, business, human services, or government. It is up to you what career path is most interesting to you.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to general family & consumer sciences, 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% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
General Family & Consumer Sciences graduates earn a median $34,363 one year after completing their program, $50,703 after four years and $47,614 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,363 |
| 4 years | $50,703 |
| 5 years | $47,614 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to general family & consumer sciences 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 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | $55,950 |
General Family & Consumer Sciences includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General (2,010). It has 8 similar majors in the Family, Consumer & Human Sciences field, which together award 54,282 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 and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | 2,010 |
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