Business/Commerce, General: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 293 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$55,543 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.
12.7 yrsModeled economic break-even
−21%Modeled 10-year ROI
$65,292Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$65,292Median reported earnings · year 4
$65,520Average reported earnings · year 5
$26,290Median federal debt
54thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
293Reporting programs
282With 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
- $43,651
- Federal debt
- $14,094
- Reporting programs
- 26
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $52,628
- Federal debt
- $17,500
- Reporting programs
- 223
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $65,292
- Federal debt
- $26,290
- Reporting programs
- 293
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $134,050
- Federal debt
- $15,725
- Reporting programs
- 1
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $106,812
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 77
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $107,902
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $92,953
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $113,127
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $51,817
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
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$59,641National median$65,29275th percentile$70,601
282 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Virginia-Main Campus$142,1132New York University$137,8043Baylor University$124,4344Wake Forest University$118,1675Northeastern University Oakland$113,6206Northeastern University$113,6207University of Notre Dame$111,4448Brandeis University$108,4059Lehigh University$107,07910George Washington University$107,023Observed 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.
Administrative Services ManagersSOC 11-3012 · 1 crosswalk linksAppraisers of Personal and Business PropertySOC 13-2022 · 1 crosswalk linksBusiness Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1011 · 1 crosswalk linksChief ExecutivesSOC 11-1011 · 1 crosswalk linksConstruction ManagersSOC 11-9021 · 1 crosswalk linksCost EstimatorsSOC 13-1051 · 1 crosswalk linksEntertainment and Recreation Managers, Except GamblingSOC 11-9072 · 1 crosswalk linksFacilities ManagersSOC 11-3013 · 1 crosswalk linksGeneral and Operations ManagersSOC 11-1021 · 1 crosswalk linksIndustrial Production ManagersSOC 11-3051 · 1 crosswalk linksManagement AnalystsSOC 13-1111 · 1 crosswalk linksManagers, All OtherSOC 11-9199 · 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 | University of Virginia-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Charlottesville, VA | $142,113 | Not available | +265% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | New York UniversityBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $137,804 | $19,500 | +183% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Baylor UniversityBachelor's Degree | Waco, TX | $124,434 | $15,000 | +131% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | Wake Forest UniversityBachelor's Degree | Winston-Salem, NC | $118,167 | $18,899 | +148% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | Northeastern University OaklandBachelor's Degree | Oakland, CA | $113,620 | $24,000 | +144% | Strong payoff |
| 6 | Northeastern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $113,620 | $24,000 | +126% | Strong payoff |
| 7 | University of Notre DameBachelor's Degree | Notre Dame, IN | $111,444 | Not available | +131% | Strong payoff |
| 8 | Brandeis UniversityBachelor's Degree | Waltham, MA | $108,405 | $26,000 | +96% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Lehigh UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bethlehem, PA | $107,079 | Not available | +89% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | George Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $107,023 | $20,500 | +90% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | Indiana University-BloomingtonBachelor's Degree | Bloomington, IN | $105,583 | $19,500 | +147% | Strong payoff |
| 12 | University of RochesterBachelor's Degree | Rochester, NY | $93,367 | Not available | +63% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | Skidmore CollegeBachelor's Degree | Saratoga Springs, NY | $93,229 | $20,814 | +56% | Positive payoff |
| 14 | University of GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Athens, GA | $91,970 | $25,092 | +99% | Positive payoff |
| 15 | Pace UniversityBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $89,450 | $31,000 | +46% | Positive payoff |
| 16 | Drexel UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $86,878 | Not available | +25% | Positive payoff |
| 17 | Texas Tech UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lubbock, TX | $86,278 | Not available | +61% | Positive payoff |
| 18 | Maryville University of Saint LouisBachelor's Degree | Saint Louis, MO | $86,209 | Not available | +54% | Positive payoff |
| 19 | University of RedlandsBachelor's Degree | Redlands, CA | $85,066 | $37,500 | +33% | Positive payoff |
| 20 | Saint Anselm CollegeBachelor's Degree | Manchester, NH | $84,734 | $27,000 | +25% | Positive payoff |
| 21 | University of Missouri-ColumbiaBachelor's Degree | Columbia, MO | $84,534 | $21,500 | +51% | Positive payoff |
| 22 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $84,516 | Not available | +60% | Positive payoff |
| 23 | Seattle Pacific UniversityBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $84,493 | $22,000 | +42% | Positive payoff |
| 24 | Franklin CollegeBachelor's Degree | Franklin, IN | $84,491 | Not available | +45% | Positive payoff |
| 25 | Gonzaga UniversityBachelor's Degree | Spokane, WA | $84,459 | $23,250 | +23% | Positive payoff |
| 26 | CUNY Graduate School and University CenterBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $83,561 | $14,500 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 27 | University of OregonBachelor's Degree | Eugene, OR | $83,543 | $21,500 | +43% | Positive payoff |
| 28 | Avila UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kansas City, MO | $83,385 | $32,750 | +57% | Positive payoff |
| 29 | St Lawrence UniversityBachelor's Degree | Canton, NY | $82,269 | $26,113 | +27% | Positive payoff |
| 30 | Regis CollegeBachelor's Degree | Weston, MA | $82,096 | $27,000 | +28% | Positive payoff |
| 31 | Albright CollegeBachelor's Degree | Reading, PA | $82,073 | $33,500 | +43% | Positive payoff |
| 32 | Rollins CollegeBachelor's Degree | Winter Park, FL | $80,654 | $26,000 | +12% | Positive payoff |
| 33 | Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Moraga, CA | $80,262 | $24,000 | +17% | Positive payoff |
| 34 | Gustavus Adolphus CollegeBachelor's Degree | Saint Peter, MN | $79,260 | $25,625 | +26% | Positive payoff |
| 35 | John Brown UniversityBachelor's Degree | Siloam Springs, AR | $78,800 | $26,566 | +29% | Positive payoff |
| 36 | Concordia University TexasBachelor's Degree | Austin, TX | $78,414 | $38,138 | +23% | Positive payoff |
| 37 | Mercer UniversityBachelor's Degree | Macon, GA | $77,713 | $51,452 | +19% | Positive payoff |
| 38 | Regis UniversityBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $75,857 | $32,592 | +22% | Positive payoff |
| 39 | Temple UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $75,632 | $27,000 | +5% | Positive payoff |
| 40 | Kalamazoo CollegeBachelor's Degree | Kalamazoo, MI | $75,260 | $26,000 | +18% | Positive payoff |
| 41 | Covenant CollegeBachelor's Degree | Lookout Mountain, GA | $75,186 | $21,600 | +6% | Positive payoff |
| 42 | Washington CollegeBachelor's Degree | Chestertown, MD | $74,880 | $27,000 | +2% | Positive payoff |
| 43 | Mount St. Mary's UniversityBachelor's Degree | Emmitsburg, MD | $74,839 | $21,500 | +10% | Positive payoff |
| 44 | Wartburg CollegeBachelor's Degree | Waverly, IA | $74,824 | $27,000 | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | Florida State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Tallahassee, FL | $74,716 | Not available | +32% | Positive payoff |
| 46 | Lake Forest CollegeBachelor's Degree | Lake Forest, IL | $74,632 | $27,000 | +1% | Positive payoff |
| 47 | University of DenverBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $74,033 | $21,000 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | Davenport UniversityBachelor's Degree | Grand Rapids, MI | $73,948 | $31,000 | +15% | Positive payoff |
| 49 | University of ConnecticutBachelor's Degree | Storrs, CT | $73,789 | $19,078 | +3% | Positive payoff |
| 50 | University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusBachelor's Degree | Waterbury, CT | $73,789 | $19,078 | +29% | Positive payoff |
| 51 | University of Connecticut-Avery PointBachelor's Degree | Groton, CT | $73,789 | $19,078 | +22% | Positive payoff |
| 52 | University of Connecticut-StamfordBachelor's Degree | Stamford, CT | $73,789 | $19,078 | +16% | Positive payoff |
| 53 | University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusBachelor's Degree | Hartford, CT | $73,789 | $19,078 | +17% | Positive payoff |
| 54 | University of Massachusetts-DartmouthBachelor's Degree | North Dartmouth, MA | $73,398 | $24,973 | +8% | Positive payoff |
| 55 | University of Wisconsin-OshkoshBachelor's Degree | Oshkosh, WI | $73,138 | Not available | +19% | Positive payoff |
| 56 | Pacific Union CollegeBachelor's Degree | Angwin, CA | $73,035 | $31,000 | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | University of New Hampshire-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Durham, NH | $72,692 | $25,500 | +1% | Positive payoff |
| 58 | University of New Hampshire at ManchesterBachelor's Degree | Manchester, NH | $72,692 | $25,500 | +26% | Positive payoff |
| 59 | Siena UniversityBachelor's Degree | Loudonville, NY | $72,369 | $27,000 | -13% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | Washington & Jefferson CollegeBachelor's Degree | Washington, PA | $72,219 | $26,085 | -3% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | University of Houston-Clear LakeBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | $71,973 | $23,766 | +11% | Positive payoff |
| 62 | Randolph-Macon CollegeBachelor's Degree | Ashland, VA | $71,844 | $27,000 | -8% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | Springfield CollegeBachelor's Degree | Springfield, MA | $71,807 | Not available | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | University of ArkansasBachelor's Degree | Fayetteville, AR | $71,753 | $29,625 | +6% | Positive payoff |
| 65 | University of North TexasBachelor's Degree | Denton, TX | $71,695 | $18,050 | +10% | Positive payoff |
| 66 | Montana State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bozeman, MT | $71,578 | $23,000 | -2% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | Southwestern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Georgetown, TX | $71,342 | $25,475 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | University of BaltimoreBachelor's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $71,211 | $25,000 | +11% | Positive payoff |
| 69 | Bellevue UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bellevue, NE | $71,128 | $27,025 | +4% | Positive payoff |
| 70 | Bushnell UniversityBachelor's Degree | Eugene, OR | $71,050 | $27,000 | -1% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | Indiana University-IndianapolisBachelor's Degree | Indianapolis, IN | $70,903 | $22,003 | +14% | Positive payoff |
| 72 | Kansas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Manhattan, KS | $70,601 | $29,705 | -1% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | Walsh CollegeBachelor's Degree | Troy, MI | $70,449 | $18,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 74 | University of Minnesota-DuluthBachelor's Degree | Duluth, MN | $70,334 | $23,250 | -1% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | Nebraska Wesleyan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lincoln, NE | $70,281 | $26,750 | -0% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | Biola UniversityBachelor's Degree | La Mirada, CA | $69,873 | $23,875 | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | Excelsior UniversityBachelor's Degree | Albany, NY | $69,623 | $23,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 78 | Goodwin UniversityBachelor's Degree | East Hartford, CT | $69,592 | Not available | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | University of KentuckyBachelor's Degree | Lexington, KY | $69,451 | $23,055 | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | Empire State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saratoga Springs, NY | $69,365 | $28,710 | +7% | Positive payoff |
| 81 | California State University, San MarcosBachelor's Degree | San Marcos, CA | $68,984 | $22,875 | +9% | Positive payoff |
| 82 | California Baptist UniversityBachelor's Degree | Riverside, CA | $68,936 | $28,619 | -16% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterBachelor's Degree | Whitewater, WI | $68,873 | $25,675 | +1% | Positive payoff |
| 84 | Bethel UniversityBachelor's Degree | Mishawaka, IN | $68,689 | $37,189 | -7% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | University of KansasBachelor's Degree | Lawrence, KS | $68,572 | $24,480 | -7% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | Oakland UniversityBachelor's Degree | Rochester Hills, MI | $68,496 | $27,250 | +9% | Positive payoff |
| 87 | University of Nevada-RenoBachelor's Degree | Reno, NV | $68,419 | $17,500 | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 88 | Virginia Commonwealth UniversityBachelor's Degree | Richmond, VA | $68,387 | $23,750 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 89 | DeVry University-ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Phoenix, AZ | $68,126 | $47,236 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 90 | DeVry University-CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Ontario, CA | $68,126 | $47,236 | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 91 | DeVry University-FloridaBachelor's Degree | Orlando, FL | $68,126 | $47,236 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 92 | DeVry University-GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Decatur, GA | $68,126 | $47,236 | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 93 | DeVry University-IllinoisBachelor's Degree | Lisle, IL | $68,126 | $47,236 | -24% | Negative payoff |
| 94 | DeVry University-NevadaBachelor's Degree | Henderson, NV | $68,126 | $47,236 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 95 | DeVry University-OhioBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $68,126 | $47,236 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 96 | DeVry University-TexasBachelor's Degree | Irving, TX | $68,126 | $47,236 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 97 | DeVry University-VirginiaBachelor's Degree | Arlington, VA | $68,126 | $47,236 | -29% | Negative payoff |
| 98 | University of West FloridaBachelor's Degree | Pensacola, FL | $67,651 | $22,500 | +4% | Positive payoff |
| 99 | Northern Kentucky UniversityBachelor's Degree | Highland Heights, KY | $67,174 | $30,750 | +4% | Positive payoff |
| 100 | Ball State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Muncie, IN | $67,141 | $25,000 | -8% | Negative payoff |
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.