Education, General: is this doctoral degree worth it?
National picture across 36 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$95,543 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.
$95,543Median year-4 earnings
$18,765Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Four useful answers about Education, General
How much do Education, General doctoral degree graduates earn?
The national median is $95,543 four years after completion across reportable doctoral degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
A national median federal-debt figure is not reportable for this degree in the current release.
Does the college matter for Education, General?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $87,043 to $105,869 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Education, General?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 3 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
Observed national outcomes
$95,543Median reported earnings · year 4
$95,257Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
38thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
1,693IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
36With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 35 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.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $58,162
- Federal debt
- $14,250
- Reporting programs
- 2
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $42,127
- Federal debt
- $11,025
- Reporting programs
- 34
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $49,250
- Federal debt
- $26,525
- Reporting programs
- 88
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $60,429
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $63,909
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 217
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $95,543
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 36
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $83,429
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $68,300
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 8
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $62,656
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 12
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$87,043National median$95,54375th percentile$105,869
36 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.
PRICE × EARNINGS MAP
Where colleges sit for this exact degree
Move left for a lower annual college-wide net price and up for higher observed year-4 earnings.
$125,405Observed year-4 earnings$74,802
University of California, San Diego$12,470 price · $131,358 earningsUniversity of California, Berkeley$13,481 price · $130,547 earningsHarvard University$19,066 price · $125,405 earningsStanford University$13,807 price · $125,390 earningsPurdue University-Main Campus$14,600 price · $118,149 earningsAzusa Pacific University$22,212 price · $113,252 earningsUniversity of Massachusetts-Amherst$22,383 price · $110,816 earningsLesley University$31,152 price · $107,723 earningsGeorge Mason University$17,915 price · $105,869 earningsUniversity of California, Riverside$14,304 price · $105,195 earningsUniversity of Michigan-Ann Arbor$13,138 price · $103,220 earningsUniversity of California, Irvine$14,251 price · $98,554 earningsUniversity of California, Los Angeles$12,548 price · $96,245 earningsCapella University$17,956 price · $96,095 earningsVirginia Commonwealth University$23,433 price · $95,708 earningsArizona State University Campus Immersion$14,967 price · $95,602 earningsUniversity of the Incarnate Word$22,775 price · $95,483 earningsWalden University$33,817 price · $94,881 earningsUniversity of Mississippi$13,314 price · $94,295 earningsUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill$11,655 price · $91,430 earningsUniversity of California, Santa Barbara$16,109 price · $89,989 earningsUniversity of Virginia-Main Campus$21,565 price · $89,240 earningsUniversity of Wyoming$13,599 price · $89,142 earningsUniversity of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus$30,434 price · $88,543 earningsOklahoma State University-Main Campus$17,447 price · $87,356 earningsOhio State University-Main Campus$17,339 price · $87,043 earningsUniversity of Missouri-St Louis$15,071 price · $85,991 earningsNova Southeastern University$30,371 price · $81,299 earningsUniversity of Central Florida$10,411 price · $81,030 earningsSouthwest Baptist University$21,677 price · $80,017 earningsThe University of Tennessee-Knoxville$18,976 price · $77,153 earningsUniversity of Southern Mississippi$21,708 price · $74,802 earningsBaker University$25,301 price · $61,658 earnings
$11,655Annual college-wide average net price$30,434
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
36 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of California, San Diego$131,3582University of California, Berkeley$130,5473Harvard University$125,4054Stanford University$125,3905Claremont Graduate University$118,3976Purdue University-Main Campus$118,1497Azusa Pacific University$113,2528University of Massachusetts-Amherst$110,8169Lesley University$107,72310George Mason University$105,869Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Education Teachers, Postsecondary$75,350 median wage60,830 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1081+2.5% projected employment, 2025–35 · 5.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$39,530–$126,860 10th–90th percentileTeaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special EducationUnreported U.S. jobs · SOC 25-9042Teaching Assistants, Special EducationUnreported U.S. jobs · SOC 25-9043
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Where this degree has enough data to compare
State pages are published only when at least five operating colleges report year-4 earnings for this exact field and credential.
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 | University of California, San DiegoDoctoral Degree | La Jolla, CA | $131,358 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $12,470 |
| 2 | University of California, BerkeleyDoctoral Degree | Berkeley, CA | $130,547 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $13,481 |
| 3 | Harvard UniversityDoctoral Degree | Cambridge, MA | $125,405 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $19,066 |
| 4 | Stanford UniversityDoctoral Degree | Stanford, CA | $125,390 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $13,807 |
| 5 | Claremont Graduate UniversityDoctoral Degree | Claremont, CA | $118,397 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | Not available |
| 6 | Purdue University-Main CampusDoctoral Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $118,149 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $14,600 |
| 7 | Azusa Pacific UniversityDoctoral Degree | Azusa, CA | $113,252 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $22,212 |
| 8 | University of Massachusetts-AmherstDoctoral Degree | Amherst, MA | $110,816 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $22,383 |
| 9 | Lesley UniversityDoctoral Degree | Cambridge, MA | $107,723 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $31,152 |
| 10 | George Mason UniversityDoctoral Degree | Fairfax, VA | $105,869 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $17,915 |
| 11 | University of California, RiversideDoctoral Degree | Riverside, CA | $105,195 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $14,304 |
| 12 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborDoctoral Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $103,220 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $13,138 |
| 13 | University of California, IrvineDoctoral Degree | Irvine, CA | $98,554 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $14,251 |
| 14 | University of California, Los AngelesDoctoral Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $96,245 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $12,548 |
| 15 | Capella UniversityDoctoral Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $96,095 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $17,956 |
| 16 | Virginia Commonwealth UniversityDoctoral Degree | Richmond, VA | $95,708 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $23,433 |
| 17 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionDoctoral Degree | Tempe, AZ | $95,602 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $14,967 |
| 18 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionDoctoral Degree | Scottsdale, AZ | $95,602 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | Not available |
| 19 | University of the Incarnate WordDoctoral Degree | San Antonio, TX | $95,483 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $22,775 |
| 20 | Walden UniversityDoctoral Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $94,881 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $33,817 |
| 21 | University of MississippiDoctoral Degree | University, MS | $94,295 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $13,314 |
| 22 | University of North Carolina at Chapel HillDoctoral Degree | Chapel Hill, NC | $91,430 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $11,655 |
| 23 | University of California, Santa BarbaraDoctoral Degree | Santa Barbara, CA | $89,989 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $16,109 |
| 24 | University of Virginia-Main CampusDoctoral Degree | Charlottesville, VA | $89,240 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $21,565 |
| 25 | University of WyomingDoctoral Degree | Laramie, WY | $89,142 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $13,599 |
| 26 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusDoctoral Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $88,543 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $30,434 |
| 27 | Oklahoma State University-Main CampusDoctoral Degree | Stillwater, OK | $87,356 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $17,447 |
| 28 | Ohio State University-Main CampusDoctoral Degree | Columbus, OH | $87,043 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $17,339 |
| 29 | University of Missouri-St LouisDoctoral Degree | Saint Louis, MO | $85,991 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $15,071 |
| 30 | Nova Southeastern UniversityDoctoral Degree | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $81,299 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $30,371 |
| 31 | University of Central FloridaDoctoral Degree | Orlando, FL | $81,030 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $10,411 |
| 32 | Northcentral UniversityDoctoral Degree | San Diego, CA | $80,493 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | Not available |
| 33 | Southwest Baptist UniversityDoctoral Degree | Bolivar, MO | $80,017 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $21,677 |
| 34 | The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleDoctoral Degree | Knoxville, TN | $77,153 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $18,976 |
| 35 | University of Southern MississippiDoctoral Degree | Hattiesburg, MS | $74,802 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $21,708 |
| 36 | Baker UniversityDoctoral Degree | Baldwin City, KS | $61,658 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $25,301 |
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.