by our College Data Analytics TeamFamily and Consumer Sciences, or home economics, is much more than sewing pillows and learning how to cook simple recipes. This major provides you with a variety of classes preparing you to make informed decisions and so you can help others reach a high quality of life. With a degree in family and consumer sciences you will be able to help individuals, families, and communities with well-being, family relations, child development, housing, personal finance, and nutrition. You will get a chance to explore a broad range of disciplines as well as dive deeply into the topics that interest you the most.
Some courses that you may take while in college can include: child development, clothing, consumer economics, sociology, health science, family financial management, food science, human biology, housing, meal management, human development, and nutrition.
General Family & Consumer Sciences was the 168th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 2,906 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 15.7% reduction in consumer science degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 3,362.
Our 2023 Best General Family & Consumer Sciences Schools ranking analyzes 57 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for general family and consumer sciences students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of consumer science programs later in this article.
This major is great for people who like to do a lot of practical things. You will not only learn how to improve your cooking in taste, but also in nutritional value. You will learn about interior and fashion design including how to design and sew your own clothing. You will be able to creatively express yourself in a variety of practical methods.
Another important aspect of this major is money management techniques. Students will need to use math and science to complete large research projects. Some research projects may involve interviewing and spending time with children of different ages. Students should keep an open mind as they investigate issues concerning the physically or mentally challenged or people who are impoverished. Be ready to push your boundaries as you learn different methods of improving life for diverse groups of the population.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Once you obtain your degree, additional consumer science certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are many different consumer science degree levels. General Family & Consumer Sciences programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest consumer science degree you can get. The type of consumer science 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 science, with approximately 39.7% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for consumer science workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 38.1% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 27.1% |
| Doctoral Degree | 21.0% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 9.2% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 3.4% |
Most workers in consumer science have at least a master's degree. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in general family and consumer sciences have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which consumer science career you choose.
This field is vast and can interest many different people. Graduates will have received a broad education they can use in many fields. You may find jobs working in education, business, human services, or government. It is up to you what career path is most interesting to you.
Want a job when you graduate with your consumer science degree? General Family & Consumer Sciences careers are expected to grow 7.5% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general family and consumer sciences.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| High School Teachers | 1,095,500 | 7.5% |
| Farm and Home Management Advisors | 11,200 | 7.7% |
| Home Economics Professors | 3,800 | 8.6% |
Recently graduated general family and consumer sciences students earned an average of $30,445 in 2019-2020. Earnings can range from as low as $17,756 to as high as $49,785. As you might expect, salaries for consumer science graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for general family and consumer sciences graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers consumer science grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Home Economics Professors | $77,170 |
| High School Teachers | $64,340 |
| Farm and Home Management Advisors | $52,700 |
With over 178 different consumer science 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 science school rankings to help you with this.
One of 7 majors within the Family, Consumer & Human Sciences area of study, General Family & Consumer Sciences has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Human Development & Family Studies | 42,112 |
| Food, Nutrition & Related Services | 4,858 |
| Textile & Apparel Studies | 3,313 |
| Family & Consumer Economics | 1,454 |
| Human Sciences Business Services | 704 |
Image Credit: By National Cancer Institute under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
