Best colleges for Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services by graduate earnings are Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ($43,603), Purdue University ($40,999) and University of Houston ($40,949), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Blacksburg, VA): $43,603, 81 graduates a year
- Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN): $40,999, 21 graduates a year
- University of Houston (Houston, TX): $40,949, 88 graduates a year
- Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR): $37,913, 26 graduates a year
Compare 17 U.S. colleges offering Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 13 states.
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,603 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 19.02 and the First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services programs
The Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services program focuses on equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in various business environments related to family and consumer sciences. This program is ideal for individuals interested in understanding consumer behavior, managing services, and enhancing customer experiences in retail and service industries.
Learn more about Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services →
Students will develop core skills in customer service, administration, sales, and marketing. Coursework emphasizes active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication, preparing graduates to handle various business challenges in the family and consumer sciences field.
Top 5 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,603 | 81 | 86% | — | $22,875 |
| 2 | Purdue University West Lafayette, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,999 | 21 | 83% | — | $19,500 |
| 3 | University of Houston Houston, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,949 | 88 | 65% | — | $23,344 |
| 4 | Oregon State University Corvallis, OR Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,913 | 26 | 70% | — | $24,938 |
| 5 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $55,192 | 9 | 84% | $28,851 | $27,000 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexandria Technical & Community College Alexandria, MN Public · Certificate | $58,733 | 26 | 60% | — | — |
Specializations within Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services
3 of the 4 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 19.02 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Business Family and Consumer Sciences/CIP 19.0201
Human Sciences partial data388 graduates / yr5 institutions5 states - Consumer Merchandising/CIP 19.0203
Retailing Management 107 graduates / yr11 institutions9 states - Family and Consumer Sciences/CIP 19.0202
Human Sciences Communication limited data5 graduates / yr2 institutions2 states
Show all 4 codes (1 with no U.S. programs reported)+
- Family and Consumer Sciences/
Human Sciences Business Services19.0299
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Offered across 13 states
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
| State | Institutions | Median earnings | Top institution by earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesotalimited | 1 | $58,733 | Alexandria Technical & Community College |
| New Yorklimited | 2 | $55,192 | Syracuse University |
| Virginialimited | 1 | $43,603 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University |
| Indianalimited | 1 | $40,999 | Purdue University |
| Texaslimited | 2 | $40,949 | University of Houston |
| Oregonlimited | 1 | $37,913 | Oregon State University |
| Arizonalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Californialimited | 2 | — | — |
| Coloradolimited | 1 | — | — |
| Ohiolimited | 1 | — | — |
| Oklahomalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Utahlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Wisconsinlimited | 1 | — | — |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 41-1011, First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers, and its national outlook.
Careers in this field may include roles in customer service, retail management, and sales supervision. The job outlook indicates a decline of 5% with approximately 125,100 annual openings. The median wage for positions in this area is $47,320, typically requiring a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 19.02.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 19.02 (Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services) maps to 9 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-2021 | Marketing Managers |
| 11-2022 | Sales Managers |
| 13-1161 | Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists |
| 25-1192 | Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-9021 | Farm and Home Management Educators |
| 27-3031 | Public Relations Specialists |
| 27-3042 | Technical Writers |
| 27-3043 | Writers and Authors |
| 41-1011 | First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workersprimary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Provide customer service by greeting and assisting customers and responding to customer inquiries and complaints.
- Direct and supervise employees engaged in sales, inventory-taking, reconciling cash receipts, or in performing services for customers.
- Examine merchandise to ensure that it is correctly priced and displayed and that it functions as advertised.
- Monitor sales activities to ensure that customers receive satisfactory service and quality goods.
- Instruct staff on how to handle difficult and complicated sales.
- Assign employees to specific duties.
Common questions
What is Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services?+
It is a program that prepares students for business roles related to family and consumer sciences.
What skills will I learn?+
You will learn skills in customer service, administration, sales, and critical thinking.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 5%, with around 125,100 annual openings.
What education is required for careers in this field?+
Most positions typically require a high school diploma or equivalent.
How much do Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services graduates earn?+
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,603, College Scorecard (2019); the First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers occupation pays about $53,380 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services?+
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services maps to CIP 19.02 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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