Compare 15 Consumer Economics. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $56,429. Top programs: $78,435+.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Consumer Economics tells a different story. Across 15 programs, earnings range from $39,268 to $78,435—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation. The nearly $40K spread means where you study this field matters far more than the name on the diploma.
Texas Tech University leads with Consumer Economics graduates earning $78,435—well above the $56,429 field average. University of Georgia follows at $74,107, and Ohio State lands at $67,018. All three are public universities, and none sit atop conventional prestige rankings. The pattern is clear: program outcomes in this field are decoupled from institutional reputation.
University of Georgia stands out on debt burden: graduates borrow $18,500 in student loans and carry just a 4.9% payment burden—firmly in the 'Excellent' tier, meaning loan payments are a trivial share of post-grad income. For families weighing parent loans too, Georgia again leads with an 11.3% combined burden, rating 'Good'. Strong earnings and low debt make it the clearest value in the field.
Highest program earnings: $78,435
Strong outcomes ($78,435) with 73% acceptance rate
4.9% payment burden | Excellent — payment under 8% of discretionary
11.3% family burden | Good — payment 8-12% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas Tech UniversityPublic | $78,435 | 35 | $21,500 | Excellent | $23,443 | Good |
| #2 | University Of GeorgiaPublic | $74,107 | 138 | $18,500 | Excellent | $20,855 | Good |
| #3 | $67,018 | 64 | $19,976 | Excellent | $25,868 | Manageable | |
| #4 | $65,674 | 40 | $22,750 | Excellent | $48,666 | High | |
| #5 | $63,996 | 30 | $20,500 | Excellent | $30,610 | Challenging | |
| #6 | Iowa State UniversityPublic | $62,341 | 13 | $22,869 | Excellent | $25,950 | Challenging |
| #7 | $56,132 | 16 | $23,250 | Good | $18,000 | Manageable | |
| #8 | $53,055 | 55 | $19,500 | Good | $25,729 | Challenging | |
| #9 | $50,074 | 153 | $19,500 | Good | $23,519 | Challenging | |
| #10 | $49,584 | 34 | $19,500 | Good | $14,457 | Challenging | |
| #11 | Texas State UniversityPublic | $49,406 | 39 | $21,000 | Good | $22,500 | Challenging |
| #12 | $48,305 | 141 | $21,000 | Good | $25,798 | High | |
| #13 | $46,514 | 10 | $26,500 | Manageable | $22,181 | High | |
| #14 | $42,524 | 21 | $27,000 | Challenging | $18,771 | High | |
| #15 | $39,268 | 40 | $20,000 | Manageable | $14,229 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
