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Family & Consumer Sciences · Consumer Sciences & Business Rank #1 of 8

Consumer Sciences & Businessat Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Graduates earn $43,603/yr in their first year — about 4.0% above the national Consumer Sciences & Business average. Base-case 10-year earnings $630K; scenarios range from $560K to $652K depending on AI disruption.

Blacksburg, VA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
62 SOLID
64
Optimistic
57
Pessimistic
Earnings
$43,603
1-year post-graduation
ROI
10.3x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$630K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
58% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech's program blends a deep understanding of human behavior and needs with practical business applications, differentiating it in a niche field. This unique combination positions graduates well for roles where consumer insights drive strategy, such as in marketing, sales, or customer success, particularly within consumer goods, retail, or service-oriented industries. The university's strong reputation and regional employer connections further enhance these career prospects, even if Blacksburg itself isn't a major corporate hub.

The indication of high AI risk suggests that while the foundational human-centric skills are invaluable, many of the 'business services' tasks, like data analysis, report generation, or content creation, are increasingly susceptible to automation. To thrive, you'll want to lean heavily into developing advanced critical thinking, complex problem-solving, and interpersonal communication skills that AI cannot replicate, focusing on the strategic, human-interaction-heavy aspects of your chosen career.

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
$560K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score57/100
Earnings Multiple9.0x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$630K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score62/100
Earnings Multiple10.2x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$652K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score64/100
Earnings Multiple10.5x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Career Paths

Where Consumer Sciences & Business 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
Marketing managers
+6.6% 10-yr growth · 34,300 openings/yr
$161,030/yr
High
2
Sales managers
+4.7% 10-yr growth · 49,000 openings/yr
$138,060/yr
Moderate
3
Technical writers
+0.9% 10-yr growth · 4,500 openings/yr
$91,670/yr
Very High
4
Family and consumer sciences teachers, postsecondary
+3.4% 10-yr growth · 200 openings/yr
$77,280/yr
High
5
Market research analysts and marketing specialists
+6.7% 10-yr growth · 87,200 openings/yr
$76,950/yr
High
6
Writers and authors
+3.6% 10-yr growth · 13,400 openings/yr
$72,270/yr
Very High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Consumer Sciences & Business

How Virginia Tech stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Syracuse University
NY · Private nonprofit
58
DW Score
$55K
1-yr earn
2.2x
ROI
Top score
Purdue University-Main Campus
IN · Public
62
DW Score
$41K
1-yr earn
14.1x
ROI
University of Houston
TX · Public
61
DW Score
$41K
1-yr earn
13.9x
ROI
Bradley University
IL · Private nonprofit
41
DW Score
$40K
1-yr earn
2.1x
ROI
University of Georgia
GA · Public
60
DW Score
$39K
1-yr earn
13.0x
ROI
Also at Virginia Tech

Other top programs at Virginia Tech

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Virginia Tech, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Consumer Sciences & Business offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Consumer Sciences & Business trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Consumer Sciences & Business at Virginia Tech

How does Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's Consumer Sciences & Business program score?

This program scores 62/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Consumer Sciences & Business graduates.

How vulnerable is Consumer Sciences & Business to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Consumer Sciences & Business careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 56% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University rank so high for Consumer Sciences & Business?

The #1 ranking out of 8 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.