American Sign Language: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 22 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$246,408 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
529.3 yrsModeled economic break-even
−98%Modeled 10-year ROI
$45,475Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$45,475Median reported earnings · year 4
$45,433Average reported earnings · year 5
$25,644Median federal debt
11thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
22Reporting programs
20With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $40,131
- Federal debt
- $17,000
- Reporting programs
- 5
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $41,525
- Federal debt
- $25,131
- Reporting programs
- 7
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $45,475
- Federal debt
- $25,644
- Reporting programs
- 22
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $73,269
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$39,516National median$45,47575th percentile$48,295
20 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
22 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1Gallaudet UniversityWashington, DC · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$70,859Federal debt$30,500Annual net price$15,8452Commonwealth University of PennsylvaniaBloomsburg, PA · PublicYear-4 earnings$59,134Federal debt$27,000Annual net price$15,6993Lamar UniversityBeaumont, TX · PublicYear-4 earnings$54,319Federal debt$24,262Annual net price$9,3664Madonna UniversityLivonia, MI · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$50,382Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$17,7555William Woods UniversityFulton, MO · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$49,889Federal debt$25,287Annual net price$26,5696Western Oregon UniversityMonmouth, OR · PublicYear-4 earnings$48,295Federal debt$22,950Annual net price$17,2377Liberty UniversityLynchburg, VA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$48,109Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$29,3578Indiana University-IndianapolisIndianapolis, IN · PublicYear-4 earnings$47,003Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$11,6689St Catherine UniversitySaint Paul, MN · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$45,973Federal debt$27,000Annual net price$19,76410Columbia College ChicagoChicago, IL · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$45,619Federal debt$28,818Annual net price$26,59811Rochester Institute of TechnologyRochester, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$45,330Federal debt$26,870Annual net price$34,90612Siena Heights UniversityAdrian, MI · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$44,933Federal debt$22,753Annual net price$17,12413Keuka CollegeKeuka Park, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$43,419Federal debt$26,000Annual net price$24,33814Kent State University at KentKent, OH · PublicYear-4 earnings$42,488Federal debt$30,000Annual net price$20,78715University of North FloridaJacksonville, FL · PublicYear-4 earnings$39,944Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$10,15416Valdosta State UniversityValdosta, GA · PublicYear-4 earnings$39,516Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$10,94517University of New Hampshire-Main CampusDurham, NH · PublicYear-4 earnings$38,282Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$23,80518University of New Hampshire at ManchesterManchester, NH · PublicYear-4 earnings$38,282Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$9,99219Eastern Kentucky UniversityRichmond, KY · PublicYear-4 earnings$36,755Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$11,04020Utah Valley UniversityOrem, UT · PublicYear-4 earnings$28,583Federal debt$16,763Annual net price$6,37621Troy UniversityTroy, AL · PublicYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$20,500Annual net price$16,52722University of New Mexico-Main CampusAlbuquerque, NM · PublicYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$25,062Annual net price$15,489
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Gallaudet University$70,8592Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania$59,1343Lamar University$54,3194Madonna University$50,3825William Woods University$49,8896Western Oregon University$48,2957Liberty University$48,1098Indiana University-Indianapolis$47,0039St Catherine University$45,97310Columbia College Chicago$45,619Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Interpreters and TranslatorsSOC 27-3091 · 4 crosswalk linksForeign Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1124 · 2 crosswalk linksSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationSOC 25-2031 · 2 crosswalk linksPostsecondary Teachers, All OtherSOC 25-1199 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gallaudet UniversityBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $70,859 | $30,500 | +6% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Commonwealth University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | Bloomsburg, PA | $59,134 | $27,000 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | Lamar UniversityBachelor's Degree | Beaumont, TX | $54,319 | $24,262 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Madonna UniversityBachelor's Degree | Livonia, MI | $50,382 | Not available | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | William Woods UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fulton, MO | $49,889 | $25,287 | -83% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Western Oregon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Monmouth, OR | $48,295 | $22,950 | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Liberty UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lynchburg, VA | $48,109 | Not available | -90% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Indiana University-IndianapolisBachelor's Degree | Indianapolis, IN | $47,003 | Not available | -91% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | St Catherine UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $45,973 | $27,000 | -96% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Columbia College ChicagoBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $45,619 | $28,818 | -98% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Rochester Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Rochester, NY | $45,330 | $26,870 | -99% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Siena Heights UniversityBachelor's Degree | Adrian, MI | $44,933 | $22,753 | -100% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Keuka CollegeBachelor's Degree | Keuka Park, NY | $43,419 | $26,000 | -106% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Kent State University at KentBachelor's Degree | Kent, OH | $42,488 | $30,000 | -110% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | University of North FloridaBachelor's Degree | Jacksonville, FL | $39,944 | Not available | -123% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Valdosta State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Valdosta, GA | $39,516 | Not available | -125% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | University of New Hampshire-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Durham, NH | $38,282 | Not available | -124% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | University of New Hampshire at ManchesterBachelor's Degree | Manchester, NH | $38,282 | Not available | -131% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Eastern Kentucky UniversityBachelor's Degree | Richmond, KY | $36,755 | Not available | -137% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Utah Valley UniversityBachelor's Degree | Orem, UT | $28,583 | $16,763 | -180% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Troy UniversityBachelor's Degree | Troy, AL | Not available | $20,500 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $16,527 |
| 22 | University of New Mexico-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Albuquerque, NM | Not available | $25,062 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $15,489 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.