Curriculum and Instruction: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 4 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$257,492 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.
160.4 yrsModeled economic break-even
−94%Modeled 10-year ROI
$46,713Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$46,713Median reported earnings · year 4
$48,848Average reported earnings · year 5
$27,000Median federal debt
14thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
4With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 0 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
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.
CURRENT VIEW
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $46,713
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Reporting programs
- 4
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $60,655
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 198
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $83,569
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 24
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $68,838
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $68,198
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 6
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $71,589
- 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.
Median
25th percentile$44,498National median$46,71375th percentile$47,047
4 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.
4 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1Wichita State UniversityWichita, KS · PublicYear-4 earnings$51,036Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$13,1942University of Wisconsin-La CrosseLa Crosse, WI · PublicYear-4 earnings$47,047Federal debt$27,000Annual net price$16,2103Lasell UniversityNewton, MA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$46,378Federal debt$26,000Annual net price$27,5114Clark Atlanta UniversityAtlanta, GA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$44,498Federal debt$31,000Annual net price$37,702
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Wichita State University$51,0362University of Wisconsin-La Crosse$47,0473Lasell University$46,3784Clark Atlanta University$44,498Observed 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.
Education Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1081 · 1 crosswalk linksInstructional CoordinatorsSOC 25-9031 · 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 | Wichita State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Wichita, KS | $51,036 | Not available | -74% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-La CrosseBachelor's Degree | La Crosse, WI | $47,047 | $27,000 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | Lasell UniversityBachelor's Degree | Newton, MA | $46,378 | $26,000 | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Clark Atlanta UniversityBachelor's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $44,498 | $31,000 | -102% | 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.