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Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Knoxville, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $43,014/yr (6% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

Job Market Medium (25,400 openings/yr)

ROI 10.3x earnings multiple (4.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #7 of 16 Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$565K	$558K	$513K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.5x	10.3x	9.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.4x	4.4x	4.0x
Probability of Field Employment	54%	49%	36%
DegreeOutlook Score	46	45	42

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$53,936

Out-of-state: $127,896 (4.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$72,436

-34% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$18,500

5.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$58,779

37% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $43,014 at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville come in 6% above the national median of $40,770 for Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies programs.

The 10.3x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $43,014 far exceeding the $18,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #7 out of 16 programs, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $43,014 to $58,779 shows 37% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

A 46% admission rate makes The University of Tennessee-Knoxville accessible to a wide range of qualified students, one of the larger campuses at 28,763 students in Knoxville, TN.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville →

Top Career Paths

Personal financial advisors $102,140/yr

Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary $77,280/yr

Farm and home management educators $58,120/yr

View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies at Other Schools

Other Majors at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Frequently Asked Questions

How does The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies program score?

This program scores 45/100 — on the lower end for Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →