Family & Consumer Sciences graduates earn $48,460 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $34,712 and $63,003. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.
This page covers Family & Consumer Sciences 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 & Consumer Sciences is a specialized field of study. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $48,460 four years out, a modest return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 119 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 2,454 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
$31,748
Median Earnings · 4yr
$48,460
Colleges Offering
119
Graduates / Year
2,454
Avg Net Price / yr
$14,489
How Much Do Family & Consumer Sciences Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Family & Consumer Sciences, a typical graduate earns $48,460, below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $34,712 and $63,003, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $31,748 at one year out to $48,460 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$48,460
4-Year National Median
Below average for bachelor's degree holders.
$46,136
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Family & Consumer Sciences 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.
$34,71225th pct.
$48,460Median
$63,00375th pct.
A Solid Financial Return
Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $48,460 and an estimated $57,956 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 3.1 years.
Based on outcomes from 108 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 2,454 students who complete Family & Consumer Sciences programs each year, the majority (83%) earn a bachelor's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
83%
Bachelor's83%
Master's9%
Associate's5%
What Can You Do With a Family & Consumer Sciences Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Family & Consumer Sciences graduates show up in 2 different occupations, and Secondary School Teacher pays the most at $72,040/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
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 & Consumer Sciences
Not sure where to study Family & Consumer Sciences? 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 & Consumer Sciences graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Family & Consumer Sciences Programs
Family & Consumer Sciences 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 & Consumer Sciences program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Family & Consumer Sciences carries financial trade-offs prospective students should weigh carefully. The 2 strengths and 4 concerns below are drawn from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts.
PROS
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $31,748 at graduation to $48,460 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 64,300 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
CONS
Modest median earningsFour-year median of $48,460 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 areas2 related careers show negative 10-year employment projections. Research specific roles before committing.
High earnings varianceGap between 25th ($34,712) and 75th ($63,003) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, role, and location.
Family & Consumer Sciences Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Family & Consumer Sciences graduates earn?
$48,460 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $34,712 and $63,003, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Family & Consumer Sciences degree?
$31,748 in the first year out. That grows to $48,460 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 & Consumer Sciences degree?
Secondary School Teacher is one path, and it pays a median of $72,040 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 & Consumer Sciences program take?
Four years of full-time study for a Family & Consumer Sciences 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 & Consumer Sciences?
119 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 & Consumer Sciences degree worth it?
$48,460 median earnings four years out against $14,489 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 skills do employers look for in Family & Consumer Sciences graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Family & Consumer Sciences 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 & Consumer Sciences graduates?
Outlook is slow overall: related occupations average -1.7% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Secondary School Teacher is among the strongest-growth roles at -0.2%. 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.
Related Family & Consumer Sciences Programs
Other programs in Family & Consumer Sciences. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
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