Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 19 reporting college programs.
−$167,343 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
Observed national outcomes
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Texas Tech University$78,4352University of Missouri-Columbia$74,3813University of Georgia$74,1074University of Utah$69,0275Ohio State University-Main Campus$67,0186The University of Alabama$65,6747The University of Tennessee-Knoxville$63,9968Iowa State University$62,3419South Dakota State University$56,13210University of Minnesota-Twin Cities$53,055Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas Tech UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lubbock, TX | $78,435 | $27,750 | +30% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | University of Missouri-ColumbiaBachelor's Degree | Columbia, MO | $74,381 | $27,000 | +13% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | University of GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Athens, GA | $74,107 | $22,652 | +23% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | University of UtahBachelor's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $69,027 | Not available | -2% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Ohio State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $67,018 | $25,000 | -12% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | The University of AlabamaBachelor's Degree | Tuscaloosa, AL | $65,674 | $23,750 | -23% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleBachelor's Degree | Knoxville, TN | $63,996 | $17,844 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Iowa State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ames, IA | $62,341 | $18,062 | -32% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | South Dakota State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Brookings, SD | $56,132 | $23,789 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $53,055 | $19,750 | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $50,074 | $24,752 | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Scottsdale, AZ | $50,074 | $24,752 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 13 | University of Nebraska at KearneyBachelor's Degree | Kearney, NE | $49,584 | $19,750 | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Texas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Marcos, TX | $49,406 | $19,822 | -82% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | University of Nebraska-LincolnBachelor's Degree | Lincoln, NE | $48,305 | $22,500 | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | SUNY Buffalo State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Buffalo, NY | $47,880 | $25,375 | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Virginia State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Petersburg, VA | $46,514 | $29,500 | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Tennessee State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Nashville, TN | $42,524 | $30,099 | -110% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Middle Tennessee State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Murfreesboro, TN | $39,268 | $26,000 | -125% | Negative payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.