Only 32 colleges in the country offer Family and Consumer Economics, which means graduates enter the workforce from a smaller, more specialized pool. Median earnings four years out: $53,262.
This page covers Family and Consumer Economics as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Family & Consumer Sciences and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Family and Consumer Economics is a focused area of study within Family & Consumer Sciences. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $53,262 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 32 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 1,208 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. Coursework pairs research methods with the applied study of people and institutions.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$40,141
Median Earnings · 4yr
$53,262
Colleges Offering
32
Graduates / Year
1,208
Avg Net Price / yr
$16,424
How Much Do Family and Consumer Economics Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Family and Consumer Economics, a typical graduate earns $53,262, below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $39,377 and $72,720, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Source: College Scorecard.
Earnings grow steadily as you advance past entry-level roles. The four-year figure is a better long-term target.
$53,262
4-Year National Median
Below average for bachelor's degree holders.
$53,055
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Family and Consumer Economics graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Degree level and sector drive the gap. Graduate-level government and research roles anchor the top; entry-level social services and nonprofit roles anchor the bottom.
$39,37725th pct.
$53,262Median
$72,72075th pct.
A Solid Financial Return
Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $53,262 and an estimated $65,696 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 2.8 years.
Based on outcomes from 28 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 1,208 students who complete Family and Consumer Economics programs each year, the majority (80%) earn a bachelor's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
80%
Bachelor's80%
Master's13%
Post-Bacc Cert.5%
What Can You Do With a Family and Consumer Economics Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Family and Consumer Economics graduates show up in 2 different occupations, and Personal Financial Advisor pays the most at $105,070/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Active ListeningReading ComprehensionSpeakingWritingCritical Thinking
Day-to-day responsibilities
Advise clients on financial plans using knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate. Duties include assessing clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, and financial objectives. May also buy and sell financial assets for clients.
Interview clients to determine their current income, expenses, insurance coverage, tax status, financial objectives, risk tolerance, or other information needed to develop a financial plan.
Analyze financial information obtained from clients to determine strategies for meeting clients' financial objectives.
Answer clients' questions about the purposes and details of financial plans and strategies.
Active ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionWritingSocial Perceptiveness
Day-to-day responsibilities
Instruct and advise individuals and families engaged in agriculture, agricultural-related processes, or home management activities. Demonstrate procedures and apply research findings to advance agricultural and home management activities. May develop educational outreach programs. May instruct on either agricultural issues such as agricultural processes and techniques, pest management, and food safety, or on home management issues such as budgeting, nutrition, and child development.
Advise farmers and demonstrate techniques in areas such as feeding and health maintenance of livestock, growing and harvesting practices, and financial planning.
Conduct classes or deliver lectures on subjects such as nutrition, home management, and farming techniques.
Collaborate with producers to diagnose and prevent management and production problems.
Top Colleges for Family and Consumer Economics
Not sure where to study Family and Consumer Economics? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Family and Consumer Economics graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Family & Consumer Sciences Programs
Family and Consumer Economics is not the only path through Family & Consumer Sciences: 7 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Family and Consumer Economics program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
The data on Family and Consumer Economics shows 2 measurable strengths and 4 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.
PROS
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $40,141 at graduation to $53,262 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 17,900 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
CONS
Modest median earningsFour-year median of $53,262 lags STEM and business fields, affecting ROI at higher-cost programs.
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Declining roles in some areas1 related career show negative 10-year employment projections. Research specific roles before committing.
High earnings varianceGap between 25th ($39,377) and 75th ($72,720) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, role, and location.
Family and Consumer Economics Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Family and Consumer Economics graduates earn?
$53,262 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $39,377 and $72,720, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Family and Consumer Economics degree?
$40,141 in the first year out. That grows to $53,262 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Family and Consumer Economics degree?
Personal Financial Advisor is one path, and it pays a median of $105,070 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Family and Consumer Economics program take?
Four years of full-time study for a Family and Consumer Economics bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.
How many colleges offer Family and Consumer Economics?
32 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Family and Consumer Economics degree worth it?
$53,262 median earnings four years out against $16,424 a year in average net price. That is a reasonable payback window, best at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Family and Consumer Economics and Family & Consumer Sciences?
Family and Consumer Economics is the narrower of the two: Family & Consumer Sciences covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Family and Consumer Economics-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Family and Consumer Economics graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Family and Consumer Economics graduates consistently look for research methodology, interpersonal communication, and policy understanding. Experience with surveys, qualitative interviews, or statistical tools is often a differentiator in government, nonprofit, and research roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
What is the job outlook for Family and Consumer Economics graduates?
Outlook is slow overall: related occupations average -0.9% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Personal Financial Advisor is among the strongest-growth roles at +1.4%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
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