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Family & Consumer Sciences · Family & Consumer Economics Rank #7 of 16

Family & Consumer Economicsat The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Graduates earn $43,014/yr in their first year — about 6.0% above the national Family & Consumer Economics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $558K; scenarios range from $513K to $565K depending on AI disruption.

Knoxville, TN Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
45 AVERAGE
46
Optimistic
42
Pessimistic
Earnings
$43,014
1-year post-graduation
ROI
9.9x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$558K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
53% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Tennessee

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's Family and Consumer Economics program stands out nationally, likely due to its strong blend of practical financial literacy, consumer education, and community outreach. This isn't just theoretical; you'll gain skills directly applicable to real-world financial planning for individuals and families, or in roles educating the public on consumer choices. UTK’s strong regional presence and alumni network in Tennessee and the Southeast often provide excellent pipelines to employers ranging from local financial advisory firms and regional banks to state extension offices and school districts.

While some data analysis or information dissemination tasks in these fields are increasingly automated, the core human element – building trust, understanding complex personal situations, and providing tailored advice – remains paramount. To truly thrive, focus on developing robust interpersonal skills and seek internships that offer direct client or community interaction. This combination will ensure your expertise is both data-informed and deeply human-centric, making you invaluable as technology evolves.

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
$513K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score42/100
Earnings Multiple9.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$558K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score45/100
Earnings Multiple10.3x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$565K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score46/100
Earnings Multiple10.5x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Tennessee'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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee

Other top programs at University of Tennessee

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

FAQ

Frequently asked about Family & Consumer Economics at University of Tennessee

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

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

How vulnerable is Family & Consumer Economics to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Family & Consumer Economics 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.