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Family & Consumer Sciences · Family & Consumer Economics Rank #6 of 16

Family & Consumer Economicsat The University of Alabama

Graduates earn $41,201/yr in their first year — about 1.0% above the national Family & Consumer Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $563K; scenarios range from $517K to $571K depending on AI disruption.

Tuscaloosa, AL Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
45 AVERAGE
46
Optimistic
43
Pessimistic
Earnings
$41,201
1-year post-graduation
ROI
11.4x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$563K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
53% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Alabama

The University of Alabama’s program in Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies consistently ranks highly, reflecting its solid curriculum and strong regional placement power. While the field is broad, graduates often find roles in personal finance, community education, or extension services, benefiting from the university's established network across Alabama and the Southeast. You'll likely see initial opportunities with regional financial institutions, credit unions, or through state and local government agencies involved in consumer outreach, given the local economic landscape.

However, the "related studies" aspect means your career trajectory can be quite varied. Given the high AI risk identified for some common paths, focusing on developing irreplaceable human skills like complex problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal communication will be paramount. Seek out internships that offer direct client interaction and opportunities to manage nuanced situations, as these are the areas where human expertise will continue to outshine AI.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$517K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score43/100
Earnings Multiple10.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$563K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score45/100
Earnings Multiple11.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$571K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score46/100
Earnings Multiple12.0x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Alabama's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Family & Consumer Economics graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Personal financial advisors
+9.6% 10-yr growth · 24,100 openings/yr
$102,140/yr
High
2
Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary
+3.4% 10-yr growth · 200 openings/yr
$77,280/yr
High
3
Farm and home management educators
-2.5% 10-yr growth · 1,100 openings/yr
$58,120/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Family & Consumer Economics

How University of Alabama stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Texas Tech University
TX · Public
57
DW Score
$54K
1-yr earn
13.9x
ROI
University of Missouri-Columbia
MO · Public
52
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
10.5x
ROI
University of Georgia
GA · Public
55
DW Score
$49K
1-yr earn
14.4x
ROI
Ohio State University-Main Campus
OH · Public
51
DW Score
$46K
1-yr earn
11.7x
ROI
Texas State University
TX · Public
43
DW Score
$46K
1-yr earn
9.9x
ROI
Also at University of Alabama

Other top programs at University of Alabama

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Alabama, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Family & Consumer Economics at University of Alabama

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Family & Consumer Economics at The University of Alabama?

A score of 45/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Family & Consumer Economics. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Family & Consumer Economics careers?

With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $517,006 in decade earnings vs $571,044 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.