Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies graduates earn a median $53,262 four years after finishing — $4,902/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,906/yr net price ($67,624 over four years), that pays back in about 13.8 years. Federal data pools 28 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 1,065 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies ranks #148 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 27% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas Tech University | TX | $78,435 |
| 2 | University of Missouri-Columbia | MO | $74,381 |
| 3 | University of Georgia | GA | $74,107 |
| 4 | University of Utah | UT | $69,027 |
| 5 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | OH | $67,018 |
| 6 | The University of Alabama | AL | $65,674 |
| 7 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | TN | $63,996 |
| 8 | Iowa State University | IA | $62,341 |
| 9 | South Dakota State University | SD | $56,132 |
| 10 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | MN | $53,055 |
| 11 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | AZ | $50,074 |
| 12 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion | AZ | $50,074 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.