Education, Other: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 33 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$65,153 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.
$65,153Median year-4 earnings
$22,609Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$65,153Median reported earnings · year 4
$62,984Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
26thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
33Reporting programs
33With 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
- $36,690
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $39,644
- Federal debt
- $26,539
- Reporting programs
- 3
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $48,653
- Federal debt
- $25,989
- Reporting programs
- 31
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $52,531
- Federal debt
- $19,625
- Reporting programs
- 2
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $65,153
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 33
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $94,581
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 8
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $90,767
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 4
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$57,179National median$65,15375th percentile$72,585
33 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.
33 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$303,202Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$18,8092New York Institute of TechnologyOld Westbury, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$93,561Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$22,4433New York UniversityNew York, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$83,789Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$37,0504Ramapo College of New JerseyMahwah, NJ · PublicYear-4 earnings$82,156Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$18,1735Regis UniversityDenver, CO · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$78,266Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$18,3976Rhode Island CollegeProvidence, RI · PublicYear-4 earnings$78,105Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$9,4787Empire State UniversitySaratoga Springs, NY · PublicYear-4 earnings$75,854Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$11,6768Southern Methodist UniversityDallas, TX · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$73,179Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$40,8929Endicott CollegeBeverly, MA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$72,585Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$40,65410Capella UniversityMinneapolis, MN · Private for-profitYear-4 earnings$72,432Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$17,95611California State University, NorthridgeNorthridge, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$71,067Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$7,02112Concordia University-Saint PaulSaint Paul, MN · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$69,483Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$18,46213Lesley UniversityCambridge, MA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$67,170Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$31,15214University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN · PublicYear-4 earnings$66,492Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$16,77815George Washington UniversityWashington, DC · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$66,392Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$36,58616Mary Baldwin UniversityStaunton, VA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$66,272Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$12,75617DeSales UniversityCenter Valley, PA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$65,153Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$31,64318Morningside UniversitySioux City, IA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$64,279Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$31,32019Regent UniversityVirginia Beach, VA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$64,245Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$19,92320Eastern UniversitySaint Davids, PA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$63,634Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$26,66221Newman UniversityWichita, KS · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$62,629Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$19,97122Mount Holyoke CollegeSouth Hadley, MA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$61,921Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$26,44123James Madison UniversityHarrisonburg, VA · PublicYear-4 earnings$59,635Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$23,32224Johnson & Wales University-ProvidenceProvidence, RI · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$59,003Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$31,02725Middlebury Institute of International Studies at MontereyMonterey, CA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$57,179Federal debtNot availableAnnual net priceNot available
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Johns Hopkins University$303,2022New York Institute of Technology$93,5613New York University$83,7894Ramapo College of New Jersey$82,1565Regis University$78,2666Rhode Island College$78,1057Empire State University$75,8548Southern Methodist University$73,1799Endicott College$72,58510Capella University$72,432Observed 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 linksTeachers and Instructors, All OtherSOC 25-3099 · 1 crosswalk links
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 | Johns Hopkins UniversityMaster's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $303,202 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,809 |
| 2 | New York Institute of TechnologyMaster's Degree | Old Westbury, NY | $93,561 | Not available | Baseline needed | $22,443 |
| 3 | New York UniversityMaster's Degree | New York, NY | $83,789 | Not available | Baseline needed | $37,050 |
| 4 | Ramapo College of New JerseyMaster's Degree | Mahwah, NJ | $82,156 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,173 |
| 5 | Regis UniversityMaster's Degree | Denver, CO | $78,266 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,397 |
| 6 | Rhode Island CollegeMaster's Degree | Providence, RI | $78,105 | Not available | Baseline needed | $9,478 |
| 7 | Empire State UniversityMaster's Degree | Saratoga Springs, NY | $75,854 | Not available | Baseline needed | $11,676 |
| 8 | Southern Methodist UniversityMaster's Degree | Dallas, TX | $73,179 | Not available | Baseline needed | $40,892 |
| 9 | Endicott CollegeMaster's Degree | Beverly, MA | $72,585 | Not available | Baseline needed | $40,654 |
| 10 | Capella UniversityMaster's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $72,432 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,956 |
| 11 | California State University, NorthridgeMaster's Degree | Northridge, CA | $71,067 | Not available | Baseline needed | $7,021 |
| 12 | Concordia University-Saint PaulMaster's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $69,483 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,462 |
| 13 | Lesley UniversityMaster's Degree | Cambridge, MA | $67,170 | Not available | Baseline needed | $31,152 |
| 14 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMaster's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $66,492 | Not available | Baseline needed | $16,778 |
| 15 | George Washington UniversityMaster's Degree | Washington, DC | $66,392 | Not available | Baseline needed | $36,586 |
| 16 | Mary Baldwin UniversityMaster's Degree | Staunton, VA | $66,272 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,756 |
| 17 | DeSales UniversityMaster's Degree | Center Valley, PA | $65,153 | Not available | Baseline needed | $31,643 |
| 18 | Morningside UniversityMaster's Degree | Sioux City, IA | $64,279 | Not available | Baseline needed | $31,320 |
| 19 | Regent UniversityMaster's Degree | Virginia Beach, VA | $64,245 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,923 |
| 20 | Eastern UniversityMaster's Degree | Saint Davids, PA | $63,634 | Not available | Baseline needed | $26,662 |
| 21 | Newman UniversityMaster's Degree | Wichita, KS | $62,629 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,971 |
| 22 | Mount Holyoke CollegeMaster's Degree | South Hadley, MA | $61,921 | Not available | Baseline needed | $26,441 |
| 23 | James Madison UniversityMaster's Degree | Harrisonburg, VA | $59,635 | Not available | Baseline needed | $23,322 |
| 24 | Johnson & Wales University-ProvidenceMaster's Degree | Providence, RI | $59,003 | Not available | Baseline needed | $31,027 |
| 25 | Middlebury Institute of International Studies at MontereyMaster's Degree | Monterey, CA | $57,179 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 26 | Middlebury CollegeMaster's Degree | Middlebury, VT | $57,179 | Not available | Baseline needed | $31,483 |
| 27 | Walsh UniversityMaster's Degree | North Canton, OH | $56,602 | Not available | Baseline needed | $20,493 |
| 28 | Graceland University-LamoniMaster's Degree | Lamoni, IA | $54,991 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,504 |
| 29 | Columbia CollegeMaster's Degree | Columbia, SC | $52,401 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,408 |
| 30 | Lindenwood UniversityMaster's Degree | Saint Charles, MO | $52,377 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,638 |
| 31 | Centenary College of LouisianaMaster's Degree | Shreveport, LA | $50,558 | Not available | Baseline needed | $23,624 |
| 32 | Arkansas Tech UniversityMaster's Degree | Russellville, AR | $48,047 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,970 |
| 33 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico-MetroMaster's Degree | San Juan, PR | $35,350 | Not available | Baseline needed | $9,788 |
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.