by our College Data Analytics TeamThis major will allow you learn about the development and interactions between individuals, families, and communities. You will learn how economics and finances affect different groups of people, allowing you to come up with solutions to help. These problems do not affect just one area of people, but rather it affects everyone; no matter their age, race, or gender. The role you play is vital to helping the people you work with make decisions and solve problems that can better their life. Through public policy, personal coaching or positive business practices you can influence people to change their lives and live happier and healthier.
There are many different major opportunities and specializations within this field. If you are more interested in health and nutrition you can choose a major in Food & Nutrition. To study the development of families in society, choose a major in Human Development & Family Studies". Have an interest in fashion and clothing design? Major in Textile & Apparel Studies. Other majors in this field are General Family & Consumer Sciences, Housing, and Human Sciences Business Services.
Studying Family, Consumer & Human Sciences covers Family And Consumer Sciences/human Sciences. Instructional Programs That Focus On The Human Interface With The Physical, Social, Emotional, And Intellectual Environments And The Developmental Stages And Needs Of Individuals In The Interrelated Spheres Of Family, Workplace, And Community. Read on to learn the key facts every family, consumer & human sciences student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering family, consumer & human sciences programs.
Nationwide, family, consumer & human sciences is a widely-pursued major, with 53,684 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Family, Consumer & Human Sciences Schools ranking analyzes these 1,066 schools to determine the best overall colleges for family, consumer & human sciences students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of family, consumer & human sciences programs later in this article.
Programs in Family, Consumer & Human Sciences build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations family, consumer & human sciences graduates commonly enter.
Those who choose majors in the Family & Consumer Science field are typically interested in serving people in one form or another. Some essential skills are compassion, dedication and an open mind. Creativity will help you come up with new ideas and fresh approaches when working with people, clothing or food. Classes will involve a lot of abstract theory you will need to synthesize and apply in various real world settings. For example, you may need to determine the developmental needs of a child in order to place them in the best educational setting or home.
Regardless of your specialization, communication will be an essential skill. Writing, reading, speaking, and listening skills are important in every career option. Another skill set is being able to comfortably work on a team either as a team member or in the leadership role. You will have to take initiative while at the same time respecting the other people you are working with and accepting their point of view as well.
Skills emphasized by a family, consumer & human sciences program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a family, consumer & human sciences major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several family, consumer & human sciences degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 3,941 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 8,973 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 17,407 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 22,242 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 247 |
People currently working in careers related to family, consumer & human sciences tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 37.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 19.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 13.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 13.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.0% |
| Some college courses | 2.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 1.6% |
| First professional degree | 0.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in family, consumer & human sciences careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
There are a variety of career opportunities for those who enter the family, consumer, and human sciences field. You may choose to stay in the human services route and work directly with clients. However, fashion and apparel design is a completely different career path that will allow you to design and manufacture clothing, or run your own fashion boutique. Interior design and housing is another option for a person in this field. Or you may become a registered dietician. Lastly, becoming a business administrator or working in management could be your career path. Here you would have less interaction with clients and do more behind the scenes work.
A degree in family, consumer & human sciences prepares you for numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to family, consumer & human sciences.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to family, consumer & human sciences.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | 3,155,854 | 1.4% |
| Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other | 1,421,275 | 11.1% |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | 1,304,119 | 14.0% |
| Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,267,153 | 0.4% |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,058,186 | 6.4% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 863,163 | 5.6% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | 830,802 | 5.3% |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | 671,367 | 10.3% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of family, consumer & human sciences graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,755 |
| 4 years | $40,959 |
| 5 years | $46,946 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for family, consumer & human sciences graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers family, consumer & human sciences grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Food Service Managers | $165,782 |
| Facilities Managers | $157,669 |
| Dietetic Technicians | $137,981 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $125,305 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $124,518 |
| Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products | $111,183 |
| Security Managers | $104,128 |
| Public Relations Specialists | $103,749 |
With 1,066 different family, consumer & human sciences programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased family, consumer & human sciences school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in family, consumer & human sciences, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
