by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 19 U.S. colleges awarded 911 degrees and certificates in Family Systems. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 64% of graduates. College Factual ranks 7 schools in its 2027 Best Family Systems Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $33,342 one year after completing, rising to $46,113 after four years.
A major in Family Systems covers Family Systems. A Program That Focuses On The Family As A Social Unit In Its Developmental, Dynamic, Comparative, And Structural Aspects, And The Significance Of The Family As A System That Impacts Individuals And Society. Includes Instruction In Related Principles Of Sociology, Psychology, Behavioral Sciences, And The Humanities.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., family systems is a widely-pursued major, with 911 degrees awarded annually. 19 colleges award family systems degrees, an average of 48 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 525.
By level, the 911 awards include 9 certificates, 1 associate degrees, 320 bachelor’s degrees, 580 master’s degrees and 1 doctorates.
Women earned 93% of family systems degrees and certificates in the latest year (844 of 911). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (617) and Hispanic or Latino (108), and international students earned 1.
College Factual ranks 7 schools in its 2027 Best Family Systems Schools ranking, including 6 for bachelor’s degrees and 3 for master’s degrees. It also ranks family systems schools within 3 states. In all, 19 colleges offer family systems programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Family Systems Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common family systems credential is the master’s degree: 580 of the 911 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to family systems 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 Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a family systems degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 9 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 320 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 580 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to family systems, at 52.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 52.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 27.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 9.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 5.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.8% |
| Some college courses | 0.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.4% |
| First professional degree | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Family Systems, with an average median salary of $77,777; the strongest outlook belongs to Farm and Home Management Educators, at 14.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Adjunct Instructor, Instructor, Textiles and Clothing Teacher and Home Economics Teacher.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to family systems, 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% |
Family Systems graduates earn a median $33,342 one year after completing their program, $46,113 after four years and $44,419 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $33,342 |
| 4 years | $46,113 |
| 5 years | $44,419 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to family systems 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 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | $55,950 |
Family Systems has 10 similar majors in the Family, Consumer & Human Sciences field, which together award 44,987 degrees a year; the largest are Child Care Provider/Assistant (23,628), Human Development and Family Studies, General (9,399) and Child Development (4,807). Browse all Family, Consumer & Human Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Child Care Provider/Assistant | 23,628 |
| Human Development and Family Studies, General | 9,399 |
| Child Development | 4,807 |
| Child Care and Support Services Management | 4,048 |
| Family and Community Services | 1,725 |
| Early Childhood and Family Studies | 497 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services, Other | 428 |
| Adult Development and Aging | 220 |
| Parent Education Services | 157 |
| Developmental Services Worker | 78 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
