Best Bachelor's in Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Education Programs in 2026

The top 25 out of 32 programs reviewed from the IPEDS database, ranked on graduation rate, affordability, and more. CIP 13.1308.

Family and consumer sciences teacher education, still often called home economics, prepares you to teach middle and high school students practical life and career skills such as nutrition and foods, child development, personal finance, textiles, and family relationships. The degree usually falls within career and technical education, blending subject content across these areas with teaching methods and lab based instruction. Graduates run classrooms and kitchens or textile labs, and often advise student organizations like FCCLA. The ranking below covers accredited bachelor's programs and lists each school's costs and graduation outcomes.

32Programs analyzed
$7,439Median in-state tuition
57%Median graduation rate
$66,270Median wage, career and technical education teachers
  • In-state tuition typically runs from $4,800 to $15,861 a year, with a median near $7,439.
  • 26 of 32 ranked programs sit at public universities, and 7 offer an online or hybrid option.
  • Most lead to an initial state teaching license, which means supervised student teaching plus a licensure exam (37 of 52 US jurisdictions use the Praxis series).
  • We rank on graduation rate first, then selectivity and affordability, all from federal IPEDS data.
  1. 1

    Brigham Young University

    Provo, UTPrivate nonprofit

    91score
    • 81%Grad rate
    • $6,688/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 68%Admit rate
    • 32,952Undergrads
    • 11Grads/yr
    • 1365SAT mid
    • Family & Consumer Sciences Education (BS)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Brigham Young University's Family & Consumer Sciences Education (BS) prepares students for a Utah secondary teaching license in family and consumer sciences. The major spans human development, early childhood, consumer finance, nutrition, food preparation and science, housing and interiors, textiles and clothing construction, and family relations, alongside professional education coursework. Candidates complete a student teaching placement or secondary teaching internship. The program meets Utah's educational requirements for licensure and is delivered on campus. As a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as career in Utah.

    Why it ranks here

    Where it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. Start with the outcome that matters most, 81% of students graduate, top 3% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 68% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Cost only helps its case: at $6,688 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. Together, that is one of the strongest profiles on the page.

    Program page
  2. 2

    University of Georgia

    Athens, GAPublic

    84score
    • 90%Grad rate
    • $10,034/yrIn-state tuition
    • $30,272/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 38%Admit rate
    • 32,399Undergrads
    • 3Grads/yr
    • 1375SAT mid
    • Family and Consumer Sciences Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Georgia's Family and Consumer Sciences Education major, awarded as a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences, is a licensure path for teaching grades 6-12 that draws on two colleges at once. Jointly run by the College of Family and Consumer Sciences and the Mary Frances Early College of Education, its 120 credit hours pair teaching methodology with content in areas such as nutrition, human development, and financial planning, with room to specialize. A full-time, one-semester student teaching placement in a public school anchors the classroom preparation. Completers become eligible for Georgia educator certification in Family and Consumer Sciences for grades 6-12. Approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission and delivered on campus, it suits students who want to teach practical, life-centered subjects. As a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as career in Georgia.

    Why it ranks here

    Its rank is built from three numbers: graduation rate, admission rate, and in-state tuition, in that order of weight. Its strongest card is completion: a 90% graduation rate lands it in the top 1% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. A 38% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $10,034 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. That combination is what puts it in the top handful here.

    Program page
  3. 3

    SUNY Oneonta

    Oneonta, NYPublic

    82score
    • 69%Grad rate
    • $7,070/yrIn-state tuition
    • $18,020/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 70%Admit rate
    • 4,681Undergrads
    • 9Grads/yr
    • 1215SAT mid
    • Family & Consumer Sciences Education, B.S.
    • On-campus
    About the program

    This Adolescence Education: Family and Consumer Sciences B.S. prepares candidates for New York State certification to teach FCS subjects such as personal finance, nutrition, child development, and textiles at the middle and high school levels. Every FCS methods course carries 6 to 10 hours of field work observations in local schools, and candidates complete student-teaching placements in their senior year. The program satisfies the educational requirements for New York State certification only. Instruction is delivered in person on the Oneonta campus. SUNY Oneonta is one of three institutions in New York offering an FCS Education degree. Earning a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of New York's career.

    Why it ranks here

    Where it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. Start with the outcome that matters most, 69% of students graduate, top 13% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 70% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Tuition is middle of the road for programs nationwide at $7,070 in state, so cost neither helps nor hurts its standing. Together, that is one of the strongest profiles on the page.

    Program page
  4. 4

    Harding University

    Searcy, ARPrivate nonprofit

    70score
    • 69%Grad rate
    • $25,290/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 71%Admit rate
    • 3,536Undergrads
    • 1Grads/yr
    • 1170SAT mid
    • Family and Consumer Sciences Education Major (FCSE)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Harding University's Family and Consumer Sciences Education major leads to a Bachelor of Science and secondary licensure for grades 7-12, joining strong subject-matter grounding with a clear path into the classroom. The 135-credit program is substantial, weaving 68 hours in the major with a 29-hour teacher-licensure component that the Cannon-Clary College of Education oversees, setting the admission and retention standards candidates must meet. Field experience is built to grow over time, opening with an introductory course in the teaching profession and technology and building toward an eight-hour supervised teaching placement at the secondary level. Housed in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, the program also connects students to a professional community through the Nu Delta chapter of Kappa Omicron Nu, adding a sense of belonging to the coursework. As a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as career in Arkansas.

    Why it ranks here

    The ranking rewards programs that graduate their students, stay at least somewhat selective, and keep tuition reasonable, so here is how this one measures up. Its strongest card is completion: a 69% graduation rate lands it in the top 13% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. A 71% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $25,290 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. Together, that is one of the strongest profiles on the page.

    Program page
  5. 5

    East Carolina University

    Greenville, NCPublicOnline available

    67score
    • 63%Grad rate
    • $4,452/yrIn-state tuition
    • $20,729/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 89%Admit rate
    • 21,445Undergrads
    • 4Grads/yr
    • 1155SAT mid
    • Family and Consumer Sciences Education (B.S.)
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    East Carolina University's Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences Education prepares candidates to teach subjects that include human development, family finance, housing and interior design, food science, nutrition, and textiles. Housed in the Department of Human Development and Family Science within the College of Health and Human Performance, the program leads to teacher licensure and is offered both on campus and fully online. It holds CAEP accreditation. Earning a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of North Carolina's career.

    Why it ranks here

    Where it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. Start with the outcome that matters most, 63% of students graduate, top 26% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. Admission is close to open access at 89%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Cost only helps its case: at $4,452 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. Together, that is one of the strongest profiles on the page.

    Program page
  6. 6

    Messiah University

    Mechanicsburg, PAPrivate nonprofit

    66score
    • 75%Grad rate
    • $41,300/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 79%Admit rate
    • 2,618Undergrads
    • 4Grads/yr
    • 1230SAT mid
    • Family and Consumer Sciences Education (B.S.)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Messiah University's Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences Education stands out simply for existing, described as one of only two FCS education programs in the state, and it prepares candidates for Pennsylvania PreK-12 teaching certification. The curriculum reflects the breadth of the field itself, moving across areas such as financial and resource management, food science and nutrition, child development, and the balance of family, work, and community life. That range gives future teachers a genuinely wide toolkit. Classroom preparation is spread out and varied, with in-school placements during the sophomore, junior, and senior years that span urban and suburban settings as well as middle and high school contexts. The experience culminates in a 12-week senior student teaching placement, and all coursework is delivered on campus. Earning a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Pennsylvania's career.

    Why it ranks here

    Its rank is built from three numbers: graduation rate, admission rate, and in-state tuition, in that order of weight. Its strongest card is completion: a 75% graduation rate lands it in the top 6% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. A 79% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $41,300 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.

    Program page
  7. 7

    State University of New York at Oswego

    Oswego, NYPublicOnline available

    63score
    • 60%Grad rate
    • $7,070/yrIn-state tuition
    • $16,980/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 81%Admit rate
    • 5,517Undergrads
    • 2Grads/yr
    • 1170SAT mid
    • Career and Technical Educator Preparation, BS - Family and Consumer Sciences Education concentration
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    SUNY Oswego's Family and Consumer Sciences Education concentration is one of six paths within its Career and Technical Educator Preparation, B.S., housed in the College of Education, Health, and Human Services alongside options such as Agricultural, Business and Marketing, and Trade Education. The program is welcoming by design, since students who want to teach Family and Consumer Sciences across all grades can enter as freshmen on the Oswego campus without prior college or career experience, and both traditional and online formats are available. Field placements are woven throughout, and a Focus Forward Program lets students earn credit while mentoring local district students. The concentration carries AAQEP accreditation through April 2029, and it leads to New York State teaching certification. This bachelor's-level family and consumer sciences teacher education program prepares graduates for work as career in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    Where it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. Start with the outcome that matters most, 60% of students graduate, top 32% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 81% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Tuition is middle of the road for programs nationwide at $7,070 in state, so cost neither helps nor hurts its standing. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.

    Program page
  8. 8

    University of Idaho

    Moscow, IDPublic

    63score
    • 57%Grad rate
    • $6,756/yrIn-state tuition
    • $25,992/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 76%Admit rate
    • 9,574Undergrads
    • 1Grads/yr
    • 1110SAT mid
    • Career and Technical Education, Family and Consumer Sciences Option
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Idaho's Career and Technical Education B.S.Ed. in the Family and Consumer Sciences option is a 120-credit, four-year degree in the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences that trains teachers for a notably broad subject. Coursework ranges across nutrition and wellness, culinary arts, child development, family relations, personal finance, and apparel and interior design, giving candidates the versatility such classrooms demand. Every student caps the program with a full-semester student teaching internship in a high school. Completion qualifies graduates for an Idaho secondary 6-12 teaching certificate in family and consumer sciences, and often economics, health, and science depending on electives. Students wanting extra depth can follow a recommended dual-degree path that adds a B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences through 31 more credits, with classes held on campus in Moscow. Graduates of this family and consumer sciences teacher education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as career.

    Why it ranks here

    We rank on the things that actually shape a teaching degree: whether students finish, how hard it is to get in, and the price of admission. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among programs nationwide at 57%, solid without being a standout. A 76% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Cost only helps its case: at $6,756 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.

    Program page
  9. 9

    Bowling Green State University-Main Campus

    Bowling Green, OHPublic

    59score
    • 64%Grad rate
    • $11,405/yrIn-state tuition
    • $19,393/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 81%Admit rate
    • 14,783Undergrads
    • 3Grads/yr
    • 1105SAT mid
    • Career Tech Workforce Education, Specialization in Family and Consumer Sciences Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Bowling Green State University's Bachelor of Science in Education in Career Tech Workforce Education, with a specialization in Family and Consumer Sciences Education, prepares teachers for a subject that touches many corners of everyday life. Coursework ranges widely across areas such as human development, nutrition, personal finance, and interior design, then pairs that content knowledge with professional education courses and hands-on classroom field work. That practical training builds toward a culminating student teaching internship. The on-campus program leads to an Ohio career-technical teaching license for the middle and high school levels. It is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, and its breadth suits candidates who want to teach practical, life-centered subjects to older students. As a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as career in Ohio.

    Why it ranks here

    Three things decide where a program lands on this list: how many students finish, how selective it is, and what it costs. Start with the outcome that matters most, 64% of students graduate, top 23% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 81% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $11,405 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.

    Program page
  10. 10

    Southeast Missouri State University

    Cape Girardeau, MOPublic

    58score
    • 58%Grad rate
    • $8,559/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 74%Admit rate
    • 7,926Undergrads
    • 4Grads/yr
    • 18ACT mid
    • Family and Consumer Sciences Education, B.S.
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Built for students who want to bring the practical arts into K-12 classrooms, the Family and Consumer Sciences Education, B.S. at Southeast Missouri State University blends a hands-on major with the professional coursework that leads to Missouri certification. Around 120 credit hours balance about 36 hours in the major against 46 hours of education study, so candidates build subject depth and teaching skill side by side. Much of the learning happens in real schools, moving from advanced field experience into a full semester of student teaching. Electives let students range across the field's many corners, in areas such as housing and interior environments, food science, and fashion and theatre design. Everything is taught on the main campus in Cape Girardeau, giving the program a close, in-person feel. This bachelor's-level family and consumer sciences teacher education program prepares graduates for work as career in Missouri.

    Why it ranks here

    Three things decide where a program lands on this list: how many students finish, how selective it is, and what it costs. Start with the outcome that matters most, 58% of students graduate, top 42% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 74% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $8,559 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.

    Program page
  11. 11

    Pittsburg State University

    Pittsburg, KSPublic

    51score
    • 57%Grad rate
    • $6,342/yrIn-state tuition
    • $17,686/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 89%Admit rate
    • 4,472Undergrads
    • 2Grads/yr
    • 21ACT mid
    • Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences, Family and Consumer Sciences Education emphasis
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Pittsburg State University's Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences lets students specialize in a Family and Consumer Sciences Education emphasis, one of four tracks in the major and, notably, one of only two such teacher preparation programs in Kansas. That scarcity gives the pathway a real sense of purpose for students who want to teach subjects rooted in everyday family and consumer life. Preparation leans hands-on, with candidates completing several field experiences teaching middle and high school students before a final-semester student teaching placement alongside a licensed Family and Consumer Sciences teacher. Housed in the Department of Teaching and Leadership, the program leads to teacher licensure. Its Educator Preparation Provider unit is accredited by CAEP. Earning a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Kansas's career.

    Why it ranks here

    Its rank is built from three numbers: graduation rate, admission rate, and in-state tuition, in that order of weight. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among programs nationwide at 57%, solid without being a standout. Admission is close to open access at 89%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Cost only helps its case: at $6,342 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.

    Program page
  12. 12

    North Dakota State University-Main Campus

    Fargo, NDPublicOnline available

    48score
    • 64%Grad rate
    • $9,309/yrIn-state tuition
    • $13,963/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 95%Admit rate
    • 9,762Undergrads
    • 1Grads/yr
    • 22ACT mid
    • Family and Consumer Sciences Education (B.S.)
    About the program

    North Dakota State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences Education through its School of Education, available online. Students choose between two pathways: a licensure track that prepares them to teach family and consumer sciences and includes a student teaching placement, or a non-licensure track built around family life education and extension education that ends in an internship. The licensure pathway leads to teacher certification. As a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as career in North Dakota.

    Why it ranks here

    Three things decide where a program lands on this list: how many students finish, how selective it is, and what it costs. Start with the outcome that matters most, 64% of students graduate, top 23% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. Admission is close to open access at 95%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. The one drag is price, $9,309 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.

    Program page
  13. 13

    Utah State University

    Logan, UTPublic

    47score
    • 59%Grad rate
    • $7,627/yrIn-state tuition
    • $24,060/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 92%Admit rate
    • 25,706Undergrads
    • 17Grads/yr
    • 1180SAT mid
    • Family and Consumer Sciences Education, BS/BA (School-Based emphasis)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Utah State University's Family and Consumer Sciences Education, offered as a BS or BA of 120-plus credits, sits within the Applied Sciences, Technology and Education Department and lets students choose how their training points. The School-Based track leads to a Utah teaching license for grades 6-12, while a Community-Based track skips licensure and adds two internships instead. Future teachers begin mentor teacher work as sophomores, must gain admission to the Secondary Teacher Education Program, and close out with a semester of student teaching. What ties the coursework together is breadth across daily life, from nutrition and foods to apparel and textiles, interior design, and financial literacy, which prepares graduates to advise FCCLA chapters. The program holds AAQEP accreditation. Graduates of this family and consumer sciences teacher education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as career.

    Why it ranks here

    We rank on the things that actually shape a teaching degree: whether students finish, how hard it is to get in, and the price of admission. Its strongest card is completion: a 59% graduation rate lands it in the top 35% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. Admission is close to open access at 92%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Tuition is middle of the road for programs nationwide at $7,627 in state, so cost neither helps nor hurts its standing. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.

    Program page
  14. 14

    Western Michigan University

    Kalamazoo, MIPublic

    46score
    • 58%Grad rate
    • $15,861/yrIn-state tuition
    • $19,826/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 85%Admit rate
    • 13,027Undergrads
    • 2Grads/yr
    • Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Education, B.S.
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Western Michigan University's Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Education spans an unusually broad set of teaching areas, reaching from culinary arts and nutrition to personal finance, interior design, and child care. Offered by the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences as an approved State Board of Education and CAEP program, the in-person major leads to a Michigan Standard Certificate for middle and high school teaching, with an optional CTE Vocational Certificate for those who qualify. Candidates put their learning into practice through a pre-internship and a full internship, and students pursuing the Career and Technical Education endorsement add 4,000 hours of relevant work experience. An Accelerated Graduate Degree Program lets qualifying students bank graduate credit while still undergraduates. The breadth of subjects makes it a natural fit for teachers who like variety. As a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as career in Michigan.

    Why it ranks here

    Its place on the list comes down to outcomes, selectivity, and price, weighted in that order. Start with the outcome that matters most, 58% of students graduate, top 42% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. Admission is close to open access at 85%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. The one drag is price, $15,861 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.

    Program page
  15. 15

    New Mexico State University-Main Campus

    Las Cruces, NMPublic

    45score
    • 55%Grad rate
    • $6,283/yrIn-state tuition
    • $23,407/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 89%Admit rate
    • 12,507Undergrads
    • 3Grads/yr
    • 990SAT mid
    • Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences (Family and Consumer Sciences Education)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    New Mexico State University's Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences, with the Family and Consumer Sciences Education major, is housed in the Family and Consumer Sciences department and requires a minimum of 120 credits, including 48 credits in courses numbered 3000 or above. Students complete 12 credits of supervised student teaching (FCSC 4810) in the spring semester of the senior year. The program is an accredited education program meeting New Mexico teacher licensure requirements, preparing graduates to teach in middle or high schools or to work in Cooperative Extension or community agencies. As a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as career in New Mexico.

    Why it ranks here

    Its rank is built from three numbers: graduation rate, admission rate, and in-state tuition, in that order of weight. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among programs nationwide at 55%, solid without being a standout. Admission is close to open access at 89%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Cost only helps its case: at $6,283 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.

    Program page
  16. 16

    Liberty University

    Lynchburg, VAPrivate nonprofit

    44score
    • 65%Grad rate
    • $15,297/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 99%Admit rate
    • 52,961Undergrads
    • 1Grads/yr
    • Bachelor of Education in Family and Consumer Sciences Education, Grades 6-12
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Liberty University's Bachelor of Education in Family and Consumer Sciences Education prepares candidates to teach grades 6 through 12 and leads to a Virginia teaching license. Offered on campus only through the School of Education, the CAEP-accredited program totals 120 credit hours and grounds its teaching in a Christian worldview. Classroom readiness builds through three practicums spanning 16 weeks and at least 150 clock hours of direct instruction, followed by a full semester of student teaching worth 9 to 12 credits. Because the field sits within career and technical education, candidates also pass a Family and Consumer Science Industry Certification Exam that validates their hands-on skills. Graduates are prepared to teach in public, private, community, or homeschool settings. Graduates of this family and consumer sciences teacher education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as career.

    Why it ranks here

    Where it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. Start with the outcome that matters most, 65% of students graduate, top 16% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. Admission is close to open access at 99%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. The one drag is price, $15,297 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability.

    Program page
  17. 17

    South Dakota State University

    Brookings, SDPublic

    44score
    • 62%Grad rate
    • $7,773/yrIn-state tuition
    • $11,283/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 98%Admit rate
    • 10,719Undergrads
    • 5Grads/yr
    • 1150SAT mid
    • Family and Consumer Sciences Education (B.S.)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    South Dakota State University's Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences Education gives students a broad foundation across the many areas the field encompasses, from family life to nutrition and consumer management. Offered through the School of Education, Counseling and Human Development, the program is built to translate that wide-ranging content into teaching. Its reach extends past the conventional classroom, preparing graduates to teach in middle and high schools, to work in occupational and adult training programs, or to serve as extension educators in their communities. That range makes the degree a flexible choice for students who want to share practical life skills in more than one kind of setting. Instruction is delivered on campus in Brookings. Earning a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of South Dakota's career.

    Why it ranks here

    The ranking rewards programs that graduate their students, stay at least somewhat selective, and keep tuition reasonable, so here is how this one measures up. Its strongest card is completion: a 62% graduation rate lands it in the top 29% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. Admission is close to open access at 98%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Tuition is middle of the road for programs nationwide at $7,773 in state, so cost neither helps nor hurts its standing.

    Program page
  18. 18

    Wayne State College

    Wayne, NEPublic

    44score
    • 52%Grad rate
    • $5,880/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 3,902Undergrads
    • 6Grads/yr
    • Family and Consumer Sciences/Occupational Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Wayne State College prepares Family and Consumer Sciences teachers for grades 6 through 12, offering the degree as either a B.A. or a B.S. through the Department of Educational Foundations and Leadership. Because FCS is a field endorsement, students are not required to add another endorsement to be classroom-ready, though many choose to pair it with Middle Level Education or Work-Based Learning for extra reach. The path is deliberately practical: embedded field experiences build toward a full semester of clinical practice in a chosen district, and juniors can join the Northeast Nebraska Teacher Academy to substitute teach for pay. Much of the hands-on work happens in the Benthack Hall labs, keeping the coursework close to the kitchens and classrooms graduates will one day run. The educator preparation programs are approved by the Nebraska Department of Education. This bachelor's-level family and consumer sciences teacher education program prepares graduates for work as career in Nebraska.

    Why it ranks here

    Its place on the list comes down to outcomes, selectivity, and price, weighted in that order. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 52% the graduation rate trails the national median, which caps how high it can climb. Cost only helps its case: at $5,880 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results.

    Program page
  19. 19

    Brigham Young University-Idaho

    Rexburg, IDPrivate nonprofit

    41score
    • 55%Grad rate
    • $4,800/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 96%Admit rate
    • 45,585Undergrads
    • 11Grads/yr
    • 1085SAT mid
    • Family and Consumer Sciences Education Composite
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Brigham Young University-Idaho offers the Family and Consumer Sciences Education Composite as a Bachelor of Science through the Department of Home and Family. The major combines coursework in nutrition, clothing and textiles, interior design, and child development with teacher preparation, readying graduates to teach life skills to youth in the public school system. It leads to teacher licensure and is taught on campus. A bachelor's-level path in family and consumer sciences teacher education, it builds toward a career among career in Idaho.

    Why it ranks here

    The ranking rewards programs that graduate their students, stay at least somewhat selective, and keep tuition reasonable, so here is how this one measures up. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among programs nationwide at 55%, solid without being a standout. Admission is close to open access at 96%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Cost only helps its case: at $4,800 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results.

    Program page
  20. 20

    University of Wisconsin-Stout

    Menomonie, WIPublic

    41score
    • 55%Grad rate
    • $7,715/yrIn-state tuition
    • $16,279/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 88%Admit rate
    • 6,136Undergrads
    • 7Grads/yr
    • 24ACT mid
    • Bachelor of Science in Family & Consumer Sciences Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Family and consumer sciences is a wide-ranging field, and the University of Wisconsin-Stout's Bachelor of Science in Family & Consumer Sciences Education reflects that breadth. Offered on campus through the School of Education, the curriculum moves across everyday human needs, from food and nutrition to child development to housing and interior design, preparing candidates to teach the full subject to K-12 students. Students test what they learn through pre-student teaching placements and a capstone student teaching semester in area schools. UW-Stout describes this as one of the largest programs of its kind in the country. Graduates earn Wisconsin DPI License #1210, which the university notes meets initial licensure requirements in all U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. Earning a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Wisconsin's career.

    Why it ranks here

    We rank on the things that actually shape a teaching degree: whether students finish, how hard it is to get in, and the price of admission. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among programs nationwide at 55%, solid without being a standout. Admission is close to open access at 88%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Tuition is middle of the road for programs nationwide at $7,715 in state, so cost neither helps nor hurts its standing.

    Program page
  21. 21

    Minnesota State University-Mankato

    Mankato, MNPublicOnline available

    35score
    • 54%Grad rate
    • $8,355/yrIn-state tuition
    • $17,725/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 88%Admit rate
    • 13,433Undergrads
    • 6Grads/yr
    • 23ACT mid
    • Family Consumer Science Education, B.S.
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Minnesota State University-Mankato's Bachelor of Science in Family Consumer Science Education sits in the Department of Family Consumer Science within the College of Allied Health and Nursing. Alongside the subject major, students complete a professional education sequence and staged field experiences that build toward a full-term student teaching placement. Delivered on campus at Mankato, the program is approved by the Minnesota Department of Education and leads to licensure for grades 5-12. This bachelor's-level family and consumer sciences teacher education program prepares graduates for work as career in Minnesota.

    Why it ranks here

    Its place on the list comes down to outcomes, selectivity, and price, weighted in that order. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 54% the graduation rate trails the national median, which caps how high it can climb. Admission is close to open access at 88%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. The one drag is price, $8,355 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability.

    Program page
  22. 22

    Central Washington University

    Ellensburg, WAPublic

    34score
    • 54%Grad rate
    • $7,231/yrIn-state tuition
    • $25,340/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 91%Admit rate
    • 10,317Undergrads
    • 8Grads/yr
    • Family and Consumer Sciences Career and Technical Education Teaching
    • Online
    About the program

    Central Washington University's Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences Career and Technical Education Teaching prepares candidates for a grades 7-12 teaching endorsement in a field that touches everyday life. The curriculum reaches across areas such as child development, food and nutrition, and personal finance, giving future teachers the breadth their classrooms demand, and it also readies graduates to serve as FCCLA advisers. Delivered fully online in an individually paced format, it lets students begin at any time and move at a rhythm that fits their schedule. The path stays firmly connected to real schools through student teaching in a Washington state CTE-approved program. That capstone experience carries candidates the final stretch toward certification. As a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as career in Washington.

    Why it ranks here

    Its rank is built from three numbers: graduation rate, admission rate, and in-state tuition, in that order of weight. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 54% the graduation rate trails the national median, which caps how high it can climb. Admission is close to open access at 91%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Tuition is middle of the road for programs nationwide at $7,231 in state, so cost neither helps nor hurts its standing.

    Program page
  23. 23

    University of Central Arkansas

    Conway, ARPublic

    34score
    • 54%Grad rate
    • $7,500/yrIn-state tuition
    • $15,000/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 89%Admit rate
    • 8,268Undergrads
    • 6Grads/yr
    • 1040SAT mid
    • Family and Consumer Sciences Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Central Arkansas's Bachelor of Science in Education in Family and Consumer Sciences Education pairs a content major with a dedicated teaching sequence, an unusual combination housed in the Department of Nutrition and Family Sciences. The teacher licensure program runs at least 120 hours and joins the family and consumer sciences major to a minor in Teaching and Learning spread across seven courses, plus a curriculum development methods course that ties subject knowledge to classroom practice. Two internships give the degree its practical spine, beginning with a practicum and building to a directed teaching experience that doubles as the university's core capstone. That structure lets candidates move from studying the content to teaching it within a single sequence. The program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. This bachelor's-level family and consumer sciences teacher education program prepares graduates for work as career in Arkansas.

    Why it ranks here

    Its place on the list comes down to outcomes, selectivity, and price, weighted in that order. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 54% the graduation rate trails the national median, which caps how high it can climb. Admission is close to open access at 89%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Tuition is middle of the road for programs nationwide at $7,500 in state, so cost neither helps nor hurts its standing.

    Program page
  24. 24

    Langston University

    Langston, OKPublicHBCU

    34score
    • 17%Grad rate
    • $4,653/yrIn-state tuition
    • $12,406/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 1,742Undergrads
    • 3Grads/yr
    • Bachelor of Science, Family and Consumer Science: Early Childhood Education concentration
    About the program

    Langston University's Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Science, with its Early Childhood Education concentration, prepares students to teach and advocate for children from birth through age eight. The concentration takes a wide view of a young child's world, focusing not just on the classroom but on families and communities, which suits teachers who see early learning as something rooted in a child's whole environment. Candidates put theory into practice through field experiences in early childhood settings and hands-on work in the department's Demonstration Learning Center, where they can try out approaches with real children. Housed in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, the concentration leads to an initial Oklahoma early childhood teaching license. This bachelor's-level family and consumer sciences teacher education program prepares graduates for work as career in Oklahoma.

    Why it ranks here

    The ranking rewards programs that graduate their students, stay at least somewhat selective, and keep tuition reasonable, so here is how this one measures up. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 17% the graduation rate trails the national median, which caps how high it can climb. Cost only helps its case: at $4,653 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results.

    Program page
  25. 25

    Eastern Kentucky University

    Richmond, KYPublic

    33score
    • 50%Grad rate
    • $10,020/yrIn-state tuition
    • $20,930/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 78%Admit rate
    • 13,448Undergrads
    • 4Grads/yr
    • 980SAT mid
    • Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Human Sciences Education, Family and Consumer Sciences Education concentration
    • CAEP-accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Eastern Kentucky University's Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Human Sciences Education, with a concentration in Family and Consumer Sciences Education, readies teachers for the hands-on world of middle and high school family and consumer sciences classrooms. Housed in the Department of Applied Human Sciences, the on-campus program weaves subject knowledge in areas such as biology, health, and the social sciences into professional teaching preparation. Much of the learning happens in dedicated sewing, cooking, and preschool labs, giving candidates practice in the very settings they will one day run. Supervised classroom experiences and student teaching round out the sequence. Accredited by CAEP, the degree leads to Kentucky teacher licensure. Graduates of this family and consumer sciences teacher education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as career.

    Why it ranks here

    Where it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 50% the graduation rate trails the national median, which caps how high it can climb. A 78% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $10,020 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability.

    Program page
How we rank

Each program is scored 0 to 100 against the other programs in its specialty: graduation rate (50%), selectivity by admission rate (30%), and affordability by in-state tuition (20%). Scores are percentile-based within the specialty, so they compare like with like. A program missing a field gets the neutral median for it, so it is neither rewarded nor punished. Earnings are intentionally excluded: federal per-school earnings are not yet published for education programs, and the field-level salary figure is identical for every school, so ranking on it would be meaningless. To keep the overall list from being dominated by a single state's public-university system, it shows at most 2 programs per state; the value, affordability, graduation-rate, and selectivity pages rank every program without that limit.

  • Graduation rate: 50%
  • Selectivity (admission rate): 30%
  • Affordability (in-state tuition): 20%

What careers can you get with a bachelor's in Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Education?

Graduates most often go on to work as career and technical education teachers. Nationally, the median wage for that occupation is $66,270, with most earning between $50,040 and $101,340, and roughly 111,420 people employed across the United States, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Family and consumer sciences teachers are reported within career and technical education teachers.

Read the full guide on how to become a career and technical education teacher, or see career and technical education teachers pay by state →

$66,270Median annual wage
$50,040 to $101,34010th to 90th percentile
111,420Employed nationally

Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 25-2032), and BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Wages are national and not school-specific.

Career and Technical Education Teachers Salary by State in 2026

Median annual wage for career and technical education teachers, by state. Highest is Washington at $101,180, lowest is Puerto Rico at $53,160.

StateMedian wage
Washington$101,180
Connecticut$100,810
Massachusetts$98,020
New Jersey$83,770
Rhode Island$81,820
California$80,620
New York$79,820
Delaware$79,230
Ohio$79,230
Vermont$79,220
Georgia$78,760
Oregon$78,380
Maryland$78,320
Alaska$78,130
Maine$78,050
Illinois$77,950
Michigan$77,400
New Hampshire$76,320
Pennsylvania$75,760
Virginia$75,580
Wisconsin$74,310
Colorado$72,750
Utah$72,380
South Carolina$72,120
Minnesota$71,650
New Mexico$66,750
Texas$64,610
Nevada$64,510
Nebraska$63,180
Arizona$62,980
Wyoming$62,570
Florida$62,140
Arkansas$61,780
Tennessee$61,700
North Dakota$61,500
Louisiana$61,300
Kentucky$61,130
Idaho$60,510
Alabama$59,470
Missouri$59,300
Oklahoma$58,800
North Carolina$58,600
Kansas$58,300
Mississippi$57,910
West Virginia$57,760
Iowa$57,660
Indiana$56,390
South Dakota$56,070
Montana$55,190
Puerto Rico$53,160

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

How much a bachelor's in Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Education program costs

Published in-state tuition across the 32 ranked bachelor's programs typically runs from $4,800 to $15,861 a year, with a median near $7,439. Most of that spread is public versus private: public universities charge state residents the least, while private colleges set a single sticker price that applies to everyone. 26 of the 32 programs here are public, which is usually where the lowest in-state numbers come from.

Sticker price is rarely what a student pays. Grants and scholarships lower the net cost, and future teachers have aid written specifically for them: the federal TEACH Grant provides up to $4,000 a year to students who agree to teach a high-need subject in a low-income school, and many states add service scholarships and loan-forgiveness programs for people who commit to the classroom. Two costs to watch are out-of-state tuition, which at public schools often runs two to three times the resident rate, and mandatory fees and living expenses, which the tuition figure leaves out entirely.

What none of this changes is the paycheck at the end. The median wage for career and technical education teachers is $66,270 regardless of where the degree was earned, so two graduates can reach the same salary having paid very different tuition to get there. That is exactly why affordability, essentially graduation rate per tuition dollar, is one of the factors we weight rather than an afterthought.

Sources: tuition and program data from IPEDS; the TEACH Grant from Federal Student Aid; wages from BLS OEWS.

How to get licensed to teach with a bachelor's in Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Education

A bachelor's in Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Education program prepares you academically, but teaching in a public school also requires a license issued by the state where you work. Every state runs its own credential, yet the path rhymes almost everywhere. You complete a state-approved preparation program, log supervised field experience that builds to a full term of student teaching, and pass one or more licensure exams, then apply to the state with a background check and, in most places, complete a mentored first year before the license becomes fully clear and renewable.

The exams are where states differ most. 37 of the 52 US jurisdictions use ETS's Praxis series to test basic skills and subject knowledge; the rest run their own, such as California's CBEST and CSET or New York's NYSTCE. A growing number also require a performance assessment like edTPA, in which candidates submit video and written evidence from their own student teaching. The grade-band and subject endorsements on your license, elementary versus a specific secondary subject, are set by the tests you pass and the program you complete.

Because the specifics are decided state by state, where you plan to teach matters as much as where you study. Licenses do not transfer automatically, though most states honor an out-of-state credential through interstate reciprocity, usually with some added coursework or testing. Check your target state's department of education for its exact requirements before you enroll.

Sources: licensure requirements from each state's department of education; the Praxis series from ETS; edTPA; programmatic standards from CAEP.

How does accreditation work in 2026 for a bachelor's in Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Education?

Two different things get called accreditation, and only one of them gets you licensed. Institutional accreditation comes first: a regional accreditor such as SACSCOC, the Higher Learning Commission, or the Middle States Commission reviews the whole university, and it is what lets credits transfer and federal financial aid flow. Any college worth considering has it, but on its own it says nothing specific about the quality of the education program.

Program, or programmatic, accreditation is the education-specific layer. The national accreditor is CAEP, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, formed in 2013 when the two older bodies, NCATE and TEAC, merged; AAQEP is a newer alternative that a growing number of programs have adopted. A CAEP or AAQEP seal signals that the preparation program has been reviewed against national standards for clinical practice, content knowledge, and candidate outcomes.

The credential that actually licenses you, though, is state program approval. A state only allows its approved programs to recommend graduates for certification, so approval, not a national seal, is what turns your degree into a license, and it is also what makes interstate reciprocity possible. Plenty of strong programs carry state approval without a separate national accreditor, which is common and not a red flag. When you compare options, confirm two things: that the school is regionally accredited, and that the specific program is approved by the state where you intend to teach.

Programmatic accreditor: CAEP. State approval is granted by each state's department of education.

Ways to earn your bachelor's in Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Education

A traditional four-year, on-campus bachelor's is the most common route into teaching, and for good reason: the degree leans on in-person field placements that build to a full term of student teaching. That said, 7 of the 32 ranked programs advertise an online or hybrid option, which can suit paraprofessionals and career-changers already working in schools; the clinical hours still take place in a real classroom near you.

You do not have to start at a four-year school. Many students spend their first two years at a community college, earn an associate's, and transfer in, which trims the cost of the early coursework, and statewide articulation agreements often guarantee the credits apply. If you already hold a bachelor's in another field, you can usually skip a second degree entirely and enter through an alternative-certification program or a master's-with-licensure route built for career-changers.

Whatever the format, the non-negotiable is supervised clinical practice. Every licensure-track program includes a student-teaching placement, and some now pair it with a paid, year-long residency alongside a mentor teacher, an increasingly common model that eases the unpaid-semester crunch traditional student teaching can create.

Sources: online and program counts from IPEDS; alternative-certification pathways per the US Department of Education.

How to become a family and consumer sciences teacher

The path runs from a bachelor's degree through a state-approved prep program and licensure exams into a mentored first year.

  1. 1

    Earn a bachelor's degree

    Complete a bachelor's in family and consumer sciences education program that combines content across foods, child development, finance, and textiles with teaching methods. Programs are often coordinated between a family and consumer sciences department and the college of education.

  2. 2

    Complete a state-approved prep program

    Finish the supervised student teaching built into your program, typically a full semester in a secondary FCS classroom and lab. This is where you practice managing labs, safety, and hands on projects.

  3. 3

    Pass the required licensure exams

    Take the exams your state requires, often a Praxis family and consumer sciences subject test plus a general teaching test. The exact exams and passing scores vary by state.

  4. 4

    Apply for your state license

    Submit your application to the state education agency with transcripts, exam scores, and a background check. Many states issue this as a career and technical education or family and consumer sciences endorsement.

  5. 5

    Complete a mentored first year

    Begin teaching under the induction or mentoring program many states require for new teachers. Use it to develop your curriculum, labs, and any student organization you advise.

Requirements summarized from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook and each state's department of education. Exact requirements vary by state.

Frequently asked questions about a Bachelor's in Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Education

Do you need a bachelor's in family and consumer sciences education to teach family and consumer sciences?

To teach family and consumer sciences, you need a bachelor's degree, the standard entry point, and most future FCS teachers earn one in family and consumer sciences education. That degree combines the broad subject content with the teaching coursework and student teaching required for a state license.

How long does a bachelor's in family and consumer sciences education take?

The bachelor's degree takes about four years of full-time study, including a semester of student teaching near the end. Testing and the state license application usually add a few weeks to a few months after graduation.

How much do family and consumer sciences teachers earn with a bachelor's in family and consumer sciences education in 2026?

Family and consumer sciences teachers earn pay that generally falls under career and technical education at the secondary level. The BLS median wage for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School is $66,270, though actual pay varies by state, district, and experience.

Do you need a teaching license with a bachelor's in family and consumer sciences education?

Yes, you need a teaching license, since teaching FCS in a public school requires a state license or career and technical education endorsement, earned by completing an approved program, passing the required exams, and clearing a background check. Requirements vary by state, so check the rules where you plan to teach.

Can you earn a bachelor's in family and consumer sciences education online?

You can complete some of a bachelor's in family and consumer sciences teacher education online, but family and consumer sciences is lab based, and the student teaching and hands on components require in-person work. Fully online options are limited, so confirm how a program handles labs and field placements before enrolling.

Is a bachelor's in family and consumer sciences education worth it?

A bachelor's in family and consumer sciences teacher education is worth it in many states, where family and consumer sciences teachers are in short supply, which can make qualified graduates attractive to districts. The training also transfers to related roles in extension education, nutrition and wellness programs, and community and family services.

Answers draw on IPEDS, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, and each state's department of education.

Data sources for our Bachelor's in Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Education ranking