Delve into the fascinating exploration of the policies and processes that contribute to successful individual or family management. A major in Family and Consumer Economics will allow you to study the science of family life as well as microeconomics, macroeconomics and how the economy affects the consumer. You will also study financial goal setting, debt management and how to prevent and resolve financial difficulties. The goal of the major is to improve the experiences of the consumer by learning about sales and resource management at all levels. You will also learn how consumers are influenced by marketing and the consequences of advertising deception.
Some courses that you may take while studying include: consumer behavior, price theory, advanced mathematics, economic forecasting, microeconomics, macroeconomics, indexing, and commodities analysis.
Concentrations within this major include Family Resource Management, Consumer Economics, and Consumer Services and Advocacy.
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = "family-consumer-human-sciences//family-consumer-economics"
DEBUG: Checking offer "Economics (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Economics (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Economics (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Economics (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 0
DEBUG: No relevant offers, showing generic ESYOH widget
Family & Consumer Economics Degrees Trends
#211Most Popular Major
1.3kDegrees Awarded
239Schools Offering Degrees
In 2021-2022, family & consumer economics was the 211th most popular major nationwide with 1,335 degrees awarded.
This year's Best Family & Consumer Economics Schools ranking compares 16 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom consumer economics rankings further below.
DEBUG: Checking offer "Economics (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Economics (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Economics (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Economics (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 0
DEBUG: No relevant offers, showing generic ESYOH widget
Family & Consumer Economics Degree Requirements
To be successful in this major you should feel comfortable taking the leadership role. You will be the guiding factor in the lives of many people by empowering consumers to make good economic decisions. Patience and empathy are valuable traits as you work with individuals and families to help understand their spending behaviors and family finances.
Be prepared to take multiple classes in math, economics, social sciences, public policy, and computer technology. You will be applying the knowledge you've gained in your classes to consumers through social sciences and public policy. You should be able to effectively communicate and work with people from diverse backgrounds.
ADBLOCK #171
Prior Education for a Consumer Economics Program
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most consumer economics degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Once you obtain your degree, additional consumer economics certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
Types of Family & Consumer Economics Degrees
There are many different consumer economics degree levels. Family & Consumer Economics programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest consumer economics degree you can get. The type of consumer economics degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
Degree
Credit Requirements
Typical Program Length
Associate Degree
60-70 credits
2 years
Bachelor’s Degree
120 credits
4 years
Master’s Degree
50-70 credits
1-3 years
Doctorate
Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation
At least 4 years
A master's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to consumer economics, with approximately 58.6% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for consumer economics workers below.
Level of Education
Percentage of Workers
Master’s Degree
58.6%
Bachelor’s Degree
24.1%
Doctoral Degree
6.9%
Post-Master’s Certificate
6.9%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
3.5%
ADBLOCK #172
Most workers in consumer economics have at least a master's degree. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in family & consumer economics have obtained.
The education level required is different depending on the consumer economics career you are seeking.
Career Opportunities for A Degree In Consumer Economics Graduate
LowNumber of Jobs
$40.9kAverage Starting Salary
8% GrowthJob Outlook 2016-26
Graduates will have a broad education they can use in a variety of fields. Those who are able to analyze and communicate consumer issues are valuable to many employers. There is always a need for consumer affairs in all different areas like business, government, and social services. Some graduates also go into financial planning and counseling. Additional career opportunities could be in consumer education, consumer affairs, marketing, or even media. You may also work solely in family financial management and work with social service agencies.
Growth Projected for Consumer Economics Careers
Want a job when you graduate with your consumer economics degree? Family & Consumer Economics careers are expected to grow 7.7% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to family & consumer economics.
Occupation Name
Projected Jobs
Expected Growth
Farm and Home Management Advisors
11,200
7.7%
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = "family-consumer-human-sciences//family-consumer-economics"
DEBUG: No relevant offers, showing generic ESYOH widget
Consumer Economics Degree Salary Potential
Family & Consumer Economics graduates between <nil> reported earning an average of $40,853 in the <nil> timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $28,180 to as high as $75,686. As you might expect, salaries for consumer economics graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Highest Paid Consumer Economics Careers
Salaries for family & consumer economics graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers consumer economics grads often go into.
Occupation Name
Median Average Salary
Farm and Home Management Advisors
$52,700
ADBLOCK #173
Getting Your Family & Consumer Economics Degree
With over 53 different consumer economics degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased consumer economics school rankings to help you with this.
by our College Data Analytics Team
