by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Consumer Economics involves the study of Consumer Economics. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Micro- And Macro-Economic Theory To Consumer Behavior And Individual And Family Consumption Of Goods And Services. Includes Instruction In Modeling, Economic Forecasting, Indexing, Price Theory, And Analysis Of Individual Commodities And Services And/or Groups Of Related Commodities And Services. Read on to learn the essential details every consumer economics student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering consumer economics programs.
In the U.S., consumer economics draws strong interest, with 91 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Consumer Economics Schools ranking analyzes these 4 schools to determine the best overall colleges for consumer economics students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of consumer economics programs later in this article.
Programs in Consumer Economics develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations consumer economics graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a consumer economics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a consumer economics major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several consumer economics 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 90 |
People currently working in careers related to consumer economics tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 52.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 27.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 9.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 5.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.8% |
| Some college courses | 0.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.4% |
| First professional degree | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in consumer economics careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying consumer economics opens doors to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to consumer economics.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to consumer economics.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Farm and Home Management Educators | 1,304,119 | 14.0% |
| Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,267,153 | 0.4% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of consumer economics graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $41,182 |
| 4 years | $45,170 |
| 5 years | $51,999 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for consumer economics graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers consumer economics grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $99,604 |
| Farm and Home Management Educators | $55,950 |
With 4 different consumer economics programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased consumer economics school rankings to help you.
Those considering consumer economics, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Family Resource Management Studies, General | 789 |
| Family and Consumer Economics and Related Services, Other | 246 |
| Consumer Services and Advocacy | 40 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
