Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services, Other.
Data details: Graduation rate, gender, ethnicity, and summary are for this specific degree (6-digit CIP) from IPEDS. Salary, debt, and related financial outcomes are based on the degree category (4-digit CIP) from the College Scorecard API. ← Back to search
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Please use your own discretion when interpreting these results. For certain degrees, a limited number of institutions report to the government's College Scorecard API, which may cause the data to be skewed or less representative of national trends. Consider these figures as informative but not definitive, and consult additional sources or advisors for important decisions.
Debt to Income Ratio
Debt-to-income analysis for Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services, Other.: The DTI for this program is 54.0%, which is within the generally accepted range for higher education. While not as low as some top-performing degrees, this ratio suggests that most graduates can manage their student loan payments, especially if they secure employment in related fields. If you are considering Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services, Other., compare your expected starting salary (currently $42580) to the average debt ($23013) to ensure it fits your financial goals in .
Degrees with a DTI between 0.5 and 0.8 are common, but it's wise to plan your budget and consider loan repayment options.
Important financial note for Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services, Other.: The debt-to-income ratio for this program is 54.0%, which is above the recommended maximum of 80%. This means that, on average, graduates may need to dedicate a significant portion of their first-year earnings to student loan payments. If you are considering Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services, Other., be sure to weigh the average starting salary ($42580) against the typical student debt ($23013), and explore scholarships, grants, or alternative funding sources to reduce your financial burden in and beyond.
Key Insights
Wondering if Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services, Other. is right for you? This degree is designed for students who want both knowledge and practical experience. Most graduates see starting salaries near $42580, and the average student debt is $23013, with a debt-to-income ratio of 0.54—which is typical for many fields.
With an annual graduating class of 560 students, you’ll be part of a dynamic student body. Whether you’re looking for upward mobility, a chance to innovate, or a degree that’s respected in the job market, Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services, Other. delivers. Take advantage of every resource your school offers to maximize your success!
Degree Overview
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services, Other (CIP 19.0299) is a specialized category for strategic consumer experts who bridge the gap between human needs and corporate operations. While a general family science degree focuses on the household, professionals in this "Other" category are "Consumer Experience Architects." They apply the science of human behavior, nutrition, and family dynamics to product development, corporate wellness, and specialized retail management. It is a path for "business-minded humanists" who want to ensure that products and services are designed with the end-user's physical and psychological well-being in mind.
This field is ideal for "human-centric strategists"—individuals who enjoy analyzing market trends but want to use their technical knowledge of human development to create more ethical and functional consumer environments.
What Is an "Other" FCS Business Services Degree?
A degree in this category is an applied professional path that emphasizes consumer advocacy, corporate responsibility, and life-quality analytics. You will study the "FCS Core"—nutrition, textiles, and human development—but your focus will be on business applications. Because this code houses niche programs, your studies might focus on Global Apparel Supply Chain Ethics, Financial Counseling for High-Risk Populations, or Corporate Work-Life Balance Consulting. It prepares you to be a "User Advocate" who ensures that a company’s bottom line aligns with the real-world needs of families.
Schools offer this degree to:
- Train "Consumer Quality Leads" who test and refine household products for safety and usability
- Develop experts in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), focusing on the impact of business practices on community health
- Prepare professionals for Specialized Retail and Merchandising, where deep knowledge of textile science or human ergonomics is required
- Study Household Resource Tech, focusing on how "Smart Home" devices and services can improve family efficiency
What Will You Learn?
Students learn that a successful business is one that solves a "Human Problem" effectively; they focus on the "Consumer Ecosystem" and the data behind how families spend time and money.
Core Skills You’ll Build
Most students learn to:
- Master Market Research and Consumer Behavior—understanding the psychological triggers that influence family purchasing decisions
- Use "Life-Cycle Analysis" to determine the long-term environmental and social impact of a consumer product
- Design Wellness and Benefit Programs that help employees balance their family duties with professional productivity
- Perform Financial Risk Assessment—helping consumers and small businesses navigate credit, insurance, and investment
- Utilize Quality Assurance Protocols for food, textiles, and household goods
- Understand Public Policy and Consumer Law—ensuring that business services comply with safety and ethical regulations
Topics You May Explore
Coursework is a blend of traditional business, social science, and applied technology:
- Family Resource Economics: Analyzing how economic shifts like inflation or housing trends affect the average household.
- Professional Ethics and Advocacy: The study of protecting vulnerable consumers from predatory business practices.
- Global Textile and Food Markets: Understanding the logistics and science behind the products we wear and eat.
- Corporate Wellness Strategy: Designing systems that reduce burnout and improve family health within a workforce.
- Product Usability Testing: The lab-based study of how humans physically interact with tools and technology.
- Social Entrepreneurship: Learning how to build businesses that solve social or environmental "Human Science" problems.
What Jobs Can You Get With This Degree?
Graduates find roles as specialists, consultants, and managers in the corporate, non-profit, and government sectors.
Common job roles include:
- Consumer Affairs Manager: Leading the department that handles customer education, safety complaints, and product feedback.
- Corporate Wellness Director: Overseeing a company's health and family-support initiatives for its employees.
- Retail Product Developer: Using knowledge of human development and materials to design better clothing, furniture, or kitchenware.
- Accredited Financial Counselor: Providing professional debt and wealth management services to families and organizations.
- Market Research Analyst: Specializing in the "Home and Family" sector for major brands or consulting firms.
- Customer Experience (CX) Specialist: Designing the "journey" a customer takes when interacting with a service-based business.
Where Can You Work?
These specialists are the "human-side" of the business world:
- Consumer Goods Corporations: Working for companies like P&G, Johnson & Johnson, or IKEA in product and consumer research.
- Financial Services: Working in banks or non-profits that focus on mortgage counseling and community wealth building.
- Fashion and Apparel Brands: Managing the ethical sourcing and consumer fit departments for global retailers.
- Hospitality and Senior Living: Designing the "Business Services" that provide care and lifestyle support for aging populations.
- Insurance and Utility Companies: Acting as a consumer advocate to help customers manage their essential household resources.
How Much Can You Earn?
Because of the business-heavy nature of the degree, salaries are generally higher than in pure social service roles.
- Market Research/Consumer Analysts: Median annual salary of approximately $75,000–$105,000.
- Corporate Wellness/CSR Managers: Salaries typically range from $85,000 to $120,000+.
- Consumer Affairs Specialists: Median annual salary of around $65,000–$90,000.
- Entry-Level Business Analysts: Often start between $55,000 and $70,000.
Is This Degree Hard?
The difficulty is in the balance of technical science and business logic. You must be proficient in Statistics and Economics while maintaining a deep understanding of Human Psychology and Biology (for nutrition or textiles). It requires a strategic and versatile mindset—you must be the person who can read a financial spreadsheet and then go into a lab to discuss the ergonomic safety of a new high-chair design. It is a major that rewards those who are "Professional Fixers" and who enjoy multi-tasking across different departments.
Who Should Consider This Degree?
This degree may be a good fit if you:
- Like business but want to do work that "actually helps people" in their daily lives
- Are fascinated by why people buy what they buy and how they use it
- Want a career that allows you to work in many different industries (from food to fashion to finance)
- Are a "systems thinker" who can see how a corporate decision affects a family's well-being
- Enjoy a mix of data analysis, creative design, and ethical advocacy
How to Prepare in High School
- Take Economics and Psychology; they are the two pillars of consumer behavior
- Take Biology or Chemistry; you'll need them for the "Science" side of FCS (Nutrition/Textiles)
- Practice Data Analysis—learn the basics of Excel or other spreadsheet tools
- Join a business club like DECA or a community club like FCCLA to see the overlap of "Profit and People"
- Read about Sustainable Consumerism and "Fair Trade" to see the future of the industry
The ability to apply human science logic and ethical business mastery to the complexities of the modern marketplace is the hallmark of a successful professional in this field.
Personality Fit (RIASEC Profile)
Official assessment tool by the U.S. Department of Labor