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MASTER'S DEGREE · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 1301

Education, General: is this master's degree worth it?

National picture across 217 reporting college programs.

Personal baseline needed

$63,909 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.

$63,909Median year-4 earnings

$19,774Average institution net-price context

Not availableMedian federal debt

Use your actual price and alternative earnings before evaluating return. Model your own starting point →

WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$63,909Median reported earnings · year 4

$65,556Average reported earnings · year 5

Not availableMedian federal debt

24thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential

217Reporting programs

217With year-4 earnings

COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

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: $58,162
Federal debt: $14,250
Reporting programs: 2

2 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Associate's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $42,127
Federal debt: $11,025
Reporting programs: 34

31 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $49,250
Federal debt: $26,525
Reporting programs: 88

73 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Post-baccalaureate Certificate

Year-4 earnings: $60,429
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 2

2 report earnings →CURRENT VIEW

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $63,909
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 217

217 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Doctoral Degree

Year-4 earnings: $95,543
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 36

36 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

First Professional Degree

Year-4 earnings: $83,429
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 2

2 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Graduate/Professional Certificate

Year-4 earnings: $68,300
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 8

8 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)

Year-4 earnings: $62,656
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 12

12 report earnings →

COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

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$57,006National median$63,90975th percentile$71,516

217 programs report year‑4 earnings.

WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1California State University, Sacramento$102,444 2California State Polytechnic University-Pomona$95,883 3California State University, San Marcos$95,348 4California State University, Bakersfield$92,010 5University of Massachusetts Global$91,710 6University of San Diego$91,474 7California State University, East Bay$91,220 8Harvard University$88,307 9Stanford University$88,065 10Sonoma State University$87,304

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

WHERE THIS FIELD CAN LEAD

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 linksTeaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special EducationSOC 25-9042 · 1 crosswalk linksTeaching Assistants, Special EducationSOC 25-9043 · 1 crosswalk links

BEST COLLEGES FOR EDUCATION, GENERAL

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	California State University, SacramentoMaster's Degree	Sacramento, CA	$102,444	Not available	Baseline needed	$9,338
2	California State Polytechnic University-PomonaMaster's Degree	Pomona, CA	$95,883	Not available	Baseline needed	$11,531
3	California State University, San MarcosMaster's Degree	San Marcos, CA	$95,348	Not available	Baseline needed	$10,229
4	California State University, BakersfieldMaster's Degree	Bakersfield, CA	$92,010	Not available	Baseline needed	$5,652
5	University of Massachusetts GlobalMaster's Degree	Aliso Viejo, CA	$91,710	Not available	Baseline needed	$32,654
6	University of San DiegoMaster's Degree	San Diego, CA	$91,474	Not available	Baseline needed	$30,365
7	California State University, East BayMaster's Degree	Hayward, CA	$91,220	Not available	Baseline needed	$9,320
8	Harvard UniversityMaster's Degree	Cambridge, MA	$88,307	Not available	Baseline needed	$19,066
9	Stanford UniversityMaster's Degree	Stanford, CA	$88,065	Not available	Baseline needed	$13,807
10	Sonoma State UniversityMaster's Degree	Rohnert Park, CA	$87,304	Not available	Baseline needed	$12,885
11	University of PennsylvaniaMaster's Degree	Philadelphia, PA	$87,086	Not available	Baseline needed	$28,699
12	Notre Dame de Namur UniversityMaster's Degree	Belmont, CA	$86,768	Not available	Baseline needed	Not available
13	California State University, Los AngelesMaster's Degree	Los Angeles, CA	$84,668	Not available	Baseline needed	$3,967
14	California State University, StanislausMaster's Degree	Turlock, CA	$84,580	Not available	Baseline needed	$6,067
15	University of Washington-Seattle CampusMaster's Degree	Seattle, WA	$84,551	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,091
16	University of Washington-Bothell CampusMaster's Degree	Bothell, WA	$84,551	Not available	Baseline needed	$12,319
17	University of Washington-Tacoma CampusMaster's Degree	Tacoma, WA	$84,551	Not available	Baseline needed	$10,163
18	Southern Utah UniversityMaster's Degree	Cedar City, UT	$83,304	Not available	Baseline needed	$10,462
19	California Baptist UniversityMaster's Degree	Riverside, CA	$83,297	Not available	Baseline needed	$26,285
20	Cambridge CollegeMaster's Degree	Boston, MA	$82,941	Not available	Baseline needed	$31,072
21	University of California, Los AngelesMaster's Degree	Los Angeles, CA	$80,698	Not available	Baseline needed	$12,548
22	California State University, Monterey BayMaster's Degree	Seaside, CA	$80,296	Not available	Baseline needed	$13,663
23	Azusa Pacific UniversityMaster's Degree	Azusa, CA	$80,114	Not available	Baseline needed	$22,212
24	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoMaster's Degree	San Luis Obispo, CA	$79,570	Not available	Baseline needed	$16,665
25	Whittier CollegeMaster's Degree	Whittier, CA	$79,462	Not available	Baseline needed	$25,757
26	Grand Canyon UniversityMaster's Degree	Phoenix, AZ	$78,699	Not available	Baseline needed	$22,472
27	Whitworth UniversityMaster's Degree	Spokane, WA	$78,357	Not available	Baseline needed	$26,534
28	California State University, Dominguez HillsMaster's Degree	Carson, CA	$77,851	Not available	Baseline needed	$8,615
29	National UniversityMaster's Degree	San Diego, CA	$77,748	Not available	Baseline needed	$22,878
30	Point Loma Nazarene UniversityMaster's Degree	San Diego, CA	$77,441	Not available	Baseline needed	$38,729
31	University of California, RiversideMaster's Degree	Riverside, CA	$77,408	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,304
32	University of Puget SoundMaster's Degree	Tacoma, WA	$77,402	Not available	Baseline needed	$38,394
33	Biola UniversityMaster's Degree	La Mirada, CA	$76,309	Not available	Baseline needed	$31,495
34	University of Michigan-FlintMaster's Degree	Flint, MI	$75,889	Not available	Baseline needed	$7,007
35	University of California, Santa BarbaraMaster's Degree	Santa Barbara, CA	$75,874	Not available	Baseline needed	$16,109
36	Northeastern UniversityMaster's Degree	Boston, MA	$75,769	Not available	Baseline needed	$30,915
37	Northeastern University Professional ProgramsMaster's Degree	Boston, MA	$75,769	Not available	Baseline needed	Not available
38	San Francisco State UniversityMaster's Degree	San Francisco, CA	$75,757	Not available	Baseline needed	$12,278
39	The University of Texas at San AntonioMaster's Degree	San Antonio, TX	$75,453	Not available	Baseline needed	$10,836
40	New York UniversityMaster's Degree	New York, NY	$74,996	Not available	Baseline needed	$37,050
41	Northwest UniversityMaster's Degree	Kirkland, WA	$74,550	Not available	Baseline needed	$22,288
42	Bay Path UniversityMaster's Degree	Longmeadow, MA	$74,030	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,271
43	Loyola Marymount UniversityMaster's Degree	Los Angeles, CA	$73,998	Not available	Baseline needed	$48,381
44	Adelphi UniversityMaster's Degree	Garden City, NY	$73,800	Not available	Baseline needed	$30,783
45	University of California, San DiegoMaster's Degree	La Jolla, CA	$73,566	Not available	Baseline needed	$12,470
46	Manhattanville UniversityMaster's Degree	Purchase, NY	$73,436	Not available	Baseline needed	$20,991
47	Wilmington UniversityMaster's Degree	New Castle, DE	$73,434	Not available	Baseline needed	$15,644
48	Johns Hopkins UniversityMaster's Degree	Baltimore, MD	$73,350	Not available	Baseline needed	$18,809
49	University of Michigan-DearbornMaster's Degree	Dearborn, MI	$72,482	Not available	Baseline needed	$9,492
50	Notre Dame of Maryland UniversityMaster's Degree	Baltimore, MD	$72,480	Not available	Baseline needed	$19,169
51	York College of PennsylvaniaMaster's Degree	York, PA	$72,408	Not available	Baseline needed	$18,556
52	Hamline UniversityMaster's Degree	Saint Paul, MN	$72,271	Not available	Baseline needed	$20,744
53	University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignMaster's Degree	Champaign, IL	$71,889	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,355
54	University of MemphisMaster's Degree	Memphis, TN	$71,521	Not available	Baseline needed	$12,397
55	University of San FranciscoMaster's Degree	San Francisco, CA	$71,516	Not available	Baseline needed	$41,431
56	Capella UniversityMaster's Degree	Minneapolis, MN	$71,396	Not available	Baseline needed	$17,956
57	Goucher CollegeMaster's Degree	Baltimore, MD	$70,867	Not available	Baseline needed	$22,470
58	Jacksonville State UniversityMaster's Degree	Jacksonville, AL	$70,853	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,279
59	University of California, DavisMaster's Degree	Davis, CA	$70,796	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,741
60	La Salle UniversityMaster's Degree	Philadelphia, PA	$69,946	Not available	Baseline needed	$19,409
61	University of Saint JosephMaster's Degree	West Hartford, CT	$69,844	Not available	Baseline needed	$27,989
62	University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyMaster's Degree	Baltimore, MD	$69,822	Not available	Baseline needed	$16,467
63	Purdue University-Main CampusMaster's Degree	West Lafayette, IN	$69,729	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,600
64	Springfield CollegeMaster's Degree	Springfield, MA	$69,601	Not available	Baseline needed	$30,587
65	University of WyomingMaster's Degree	Laramie, WY	$69,554	Not available	Baseline needed	$13,599
66	California State University, FresnoMaster's Degree	Fresno, CA	$69,523	Not available	Baseline needed	$7,000
67	University of St ThomasMaster's Degree	Houston, TX	$69,235	Not available	Baseline needed	$19,359
68	University of Southern MississippiMaster's Degree	Hattiesburg, MS	$69,108	Not available	Baseline needed	$21,708
69	Wilkes UniversityMaster's Degree	Wilkes-Barre, PA	$68,953	Not available	Baseline needed	$27,743
70	Holy Family UniversityMaster's Degree	Philadelphia, PA	$68,760	Not available	Baseline needed	$13,143
71	Simpson UniversityMaster's Degree	Redding, CA	$68,735	Not available	Baseline needed	$27,817
72	Shenandoah UniversityMaster's Degree	Winchester, VA	$68,709	Not available	Baseline needed	$30,298
73	Concordia University TexasMaster's Degree	Austin, TX	$68,531	Not available	Baseline needed	$23,131
74	Mount Saint Mary's UniversityMaster's Degree	Los Angeles, CA	$68,305	Not available	Baseline needed	$21,413
75	East Texas Baptist UniversityMaster's Degree	Marshall, TX	$68,039	Not available	Baseline needed	$23,911
76	Georgian Court UniversityMaster's Degree	Lakewood, NJ	$68,005	Not available	Baseline needed	$19,285
77	Antioch University-Los AngelesMaster's Degree	Culver City, CA	$67,918	Not available	Baseline needed	Not available
78	Antioch University-Santa BarbaraMaster's Degree	Santa Barbara, CA	$67,918	Not available	Baseline needed	Not available
79	Antioch University-New EnglandMaster's Degree	Keene, NH	$67,918	Not available	Baseline needed	Not available
80	Antioch University-SeattleMaster's Degree	Seattle, WA	$67,918	Not available	Baseline needed	Not available
81	Antioch UniversityMaster's Degree	Yellow Springs, OH	$67,918	Not available	Baseline needed	Not available
82	Saint Joseph's College of MaineMaster's Degree	Standish, ME	$67,731	Not available	Baseline needed	$27,555
83	University of Massachusetts-AmherstMaster's Degree	Amherst, MA	$67,432	Not available	Baseline needed	$22,383
84	George Fox UniversityMaster's Degree	Newberg, OR	$67,405	Not available	Baseline needed	$31,679
85	Eastern New Mexico University-Main CampusMaster's Degree	Portales, NM	$67,168	Not available	Baseline needed	$4,904
86	University of Alaska FairbanksMaster's Degree	Fairbanks, AK	$67,036	Not available	Baseline needed	$10,892
87	Boston UniversityMaster's Degree	Boston, MA	$66,882	Not available	Baseline needed	$24,402
88	Monmouth UniversityMaster's Degree	West Long Branch, NJ	$66,828	Not available	Baseline needed	$30,988
89	Westminster UniversityMaster's Degree	Salt Lake City, UT	$66,484	Not available	Baseline needed	$27,094
90	Mercy UniversityMaster's Degree	Dobbs Ferry, NY	$66,077	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,072
91	Salisbury UniversityMaster's Degree	Salisbury, MD	$66,039	Not available	Baseline needed	$17,743
92	Post UniversityMaster's Degree	Waterbury, CT	$65,752	Not available	Baseline needed	$21,634
93	Gonzaga UniversityMaster's Degree	Spokane, WA	$65,557	Not available	Baseline needed	$35,119
94	Eastern Washington UniversityMaster's Degree	Cheney, WA	$65,234	Not available	Baseline needed	$13,886
95	Minnesota State University-MankatoMaster's Degree	Mankato, MN	$65,106	Not available	Baseline needed	$19,139
96	Bloomfield College of Montclair State UniversityMaster's Degree	Bloomfield, NJ	$65,095	Not available	Baseline needed	$28,014
97	Montclair State UniversityMaster's Degree	Montclair, NJ	$65,095	Not available	Baseline needed	$15,566
98	Texas Wesleyan UniversityMaster's Degree	Fort Worth, TX	$64,998	Not available	Baseline needed	$24,066
99	Saint Mary's University of MinnesotaMaster's Degree	Winona, MN	$64,965	Not available	Baseline needed	$11,704
100	Purdue University NorthwestMaster's Degree	Hammond, IN	$64,815	Not available	Baseline needed	$6,079

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.