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.
Family, Consumer & Human Sciences was the 22nd most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 55,820 degrees in this year alone. This represents a small change of only -0.8% from the prior year's total of 56,273 family, consumer and human sciences degrees awarded.
This year's Best Family, Consumer & Human Sciences Schools ranking compares 244 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom family, consumer and human sciences rankings further below.
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.
family, consumer and human sciences degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Specific family, consumer and human sciences careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are many different family, consumer and human sciences degree levels. You can get anything from a in family, consumer and human sciences to the highest family, consumer and human sciences degree, a . Different family, consumer and human sciences degrees vary in how long they take.
| 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 bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to family, consumer and human sciences, with approximately 31.1% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to family, consumer and human sciences tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 27.6% |
| High School Diploma | 23.3% |
| Master’s Degree | 9.9% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 9.0% |
| Some College Courses | 8.2% |
About 58.7% of workers in careers related to family, consumer and human sciences obtain at least associate degrees. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in family, consumer and human sciences careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the family, consumer and human sciences career you are seeking.
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.
Want a job when you graduate with your family, consumer and human sciences degree? Family, Consumer & Human Sciences careers are expected to grow 8.8% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to family, consumer and human sciences.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Sales Supervisors | 1,590,100 | 3.8% |
| Childcare Workers | 1,300,900 | 6.9% |
| High School Teachers | 1,095,500 | 7.5% |
| Food Preparation and Serving Worker Supervisors | 1,024,500 | 9.3% |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | 733,700 | 23.2% |
Family, Consumer & Human Sciences graduates between 2017-2019 reported earning an average of $31,336 in the 2019-2020 timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $8,248 to as high as $79,004. As you might expect, salaries for family, consumer and human sciences graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for family, consumer and human sciences graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers family, consumer and human sciences grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Marketing Managers | $147,240 |
| Sales Managers | $140,320 |
| Fashion Designers | $87,610 |
| Home Economics Professors | $77,170 |
| Technical Writers | $75,500 |
With over 3,420 different family, consumer and human sciences 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 family, consumer and human sciences school rankings to help you with this.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Human Development & Family Studies | 42,112 |
| Food, Nutrition & Related Services | 4,858 |
| Textile & Apparel Studies | 3,313 |
| General Family & Consumer Sciences | 2,906 |
| Family & Consumer Economics | 1,454 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Education | 327,871 |
| Social Sciences | 205,984 |
| Psychology | 195,678 |
| Communication & Journalism | 120,571 |
| History | 32,731 |
Image Credit: By National Cancer Institute under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
