Family and Consumer Economics at University of Nebraska-Lincoln

At $35,242 in first-year earnings, UNL's Family and Consumer Economics program lands below both the national median ($40,141) and trails the University of Nebraska at Kearney's $38,009. This puts graduates in the 22nd percentile nationally—meaning roughly three-quarters of similar programs produce higher-earning graduates. The $22,500 in typical debt is manageable, translating to a 0.64 debt-to-earnings ratio, but the modest starting salary means those loan payments will take a bigger bite out of take-home pay than for higher-earning peers.

The 12% earnings growth over four years brings graduates to $39,428, which finally approaches the national median but still lags behind. For context, Nebraska has only two schools offering this program, and UNL falls just below the state median of $36,626. This matters because in-state tuition is often a key reason families choose UNL, yet students could potentially earn more at Kearney while paying similar tuition rates.

The bottom line: This program carries reasonable debt but delivers below-average earnings for the field. Parents should recognize their child will likely start at a salary that makes budgeting tight, even with modest loans. If your student is committed to this field, they should have a clear career plan that leverages UNL's larger alumni network to justify the earnings gap with Kearney.