Area Studies: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 10 reporting college programs.
$77,981 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
Observed national outcomes
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.
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $63,939
- Federal debt
- $25,092
- Reporting programs
- 4
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $57,208
- Federal debt
- $21,000
- Reporting programs
- 84
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $77,981
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 10
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $47,725
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
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.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Stanford University$116,1252Harvard University$115,5833Georgetown University$91,6614University of Washington-Seattle Campus$88,1975Columbia University in the City of New York$81,6976George Washington University$74,2657University of California, Los Angeles$71,8338New York University$71,4049University of Chicago$70,63110University of Michigan-Ann Arbor$64,228Observed 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.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford UniversityMaster's Degree | Stanford, CA | $116,125 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,807 |
| 2 | Harvard UniversityMaster's Degree | Cambridge, MA | $115,583 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,066 |
| 3 | Georgetown UniversityMaster's Degree | Washington, DC | $91,661 | Not available | Baseline needed | $40,815 |
| 4 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusMaster's Degree | Seattle, WA | $88,197 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,091 |
| 5 | Columbia University in the City of New YorkMaster's Degree | New York, NY | $81,697 | Not available | Baseline needed | $21,590 |
| 6 | George Washington UniversityMaster's Degree | Washington, DC | $74,265 | Not available | Baseline needed | $36,586 |
| 7 | University of California, Los AngelesMaster's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $71,833 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,548 |
| 8 | New York UniversityMaster's Degree | New York, NY | $71,404 | Not available | Baseline needed | $37,050 |
| 9 | University of ChicagoMaster's Degree | Chicago, IL | $70,631 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,860 |
| 10 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborMaster's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $64,228 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,138 |
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.