Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 9 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$115,920 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.
17.2 yrsModeled economic break-even
−42%Modeled 10-year ROI
$61,024Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$61,024Median reported earnings · year 4
$63,691Average reported earnings · year 5
$23,344Median federal debt
48thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
9Reporting programs
8With year-4 earnings
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.
Median
25th percentile$56,489National median$61,02475th percentile$69,246
8 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
9 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1Savannah College of Art and DesignSavannah, GA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$128,600Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$49,4302Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$90,210Federal debt$27,000Annual net price$38,7933Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette, IN · PublicYear-4 earnings$69,246Federal debt$19,500Annual net price$14,6004Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburg, VA · PublicYear-4 earnings$65,248Federal debt$22,875Annual net price$24,9535Oregon State UniversityCorvallis, OR · PublicYear-4 earnings$56,800Federal debt$24,938Annual net price$19,6046Oregon State University-Cascades CampusBend, OR · PublicYear-4 earnings$56,800Federal debt$24,938Annual net price$18,0487Bradley UniversityPeoria, IL · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$56,489Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$22,7198University of HoustonHouston, TX · PublicYear-4 earnings$53,410Federal debt$23,344Annual net price$14,2769University of GeorgiaAthens, GA · PublicYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$18,500Annual net price$13,936
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Savannah College of Art and Design$128,6002Syracuse University$90,2103Purdue University-Main Campus$69,2464Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University$65,2485Oregon State University$56,8006Oregon State University-Cascades Campus$56,8007Bradley University$56,4898University of Houston$53,4109University of GeorgiaNot availableObserved 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.
Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1192 · 3 crosswalk linksFarm and Home Management EducatorsSOC 25-9021 · 2 crosswalk linksFirst-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersSOC 41-1011 · 1 crosswalk linksMarket Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsSOC 13-1161 · 1 crosswalk linksMarketing ManagersSOC 11-2021 · 1 crosswalk linksPublic Relations SpecialistsSOC 27-3031 · 1 crosswalk linksSales ManagersSOC 11-2022 · 1 crosswalk linksTechnical WritersSOC 27-3042 · 1 crosswalk linksWriters and AuthorsSOC 27-3043 · 1 crosswalk links
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 | Savannah College of Art and DesignBachelor's Degree | Savannah, GA | $128,600 | Not available | +121% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Syracuse UniversityBachelor's Degree | Syracuse, NY | $90,210 | $27,000 | +35% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Purdue University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $69,246 | $19,500 | +2% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Blacksburg, VA | $65,248 | $22,875 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Oregon State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Corvallis, OR | $56,800 | $24,938 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Oregon State University-Cascades CampusBachelor's Degree | Bend, OR | $56,800 | $24,938 | -53% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Bradley UniversityBachelor's Degree | Peoria, IL | $56,489 | Not available | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | University of HoustonBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | $53,410 | $23,344 | -65% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | University of GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Athens, GA | Not available | $18,500 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $13,936 |
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.