Legal Professions and Studies, Other: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 13 reporting college programs.
−$156,576 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.
Observed national outcomes
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.
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $54,579
- Federal debt
- $16,052
- Reporting programs
- 1
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $43,168
- Federal debt
- $29,518
- Reporting programs
- 2
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $57,249
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Reporting programs
- 13
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $102,110
- Federal debt
- $18,614
- Reporting programs
- 2
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $81,722
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 11
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $96,688
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $129,281
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
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.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Drexel University$93,8112Roger Williams University$66,2303Montclair State University$61,0364Temple University$60,7145Berkeley College-New York$60,3386Nazareth University$60,1867Ball State University$57,2498Bellevue University$56,1369University of Arizona$53,86810Drake University$52,326Observed 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.
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 | Drexel UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $93,811 | Not available | +46% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Roger Williams UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bristol, RI | $66,230 | $27,000 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | Montclair State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Montclair, NJ | $61,036 | $25,000 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Temple UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $60,714 | $27,000 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Berkeley College-New YorkBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $60,338 | $42,249 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Nazareth UniversityBachelor's Degree | Rochester, NY | $60,186 | $23,250 | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Ball State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Muncie, IN | $57,249 | $27,000 | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Bellevue UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bellevue, NE | $56,136 | $30,148 | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | University of ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $53,868 | $20,937 | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Drake UniversityBachelor's Degree | Des Moines, IA | $52,326 | $23,750 | -75% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | University of BaltimoreBachelor's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $48,988 | $30,104 | -83% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Central Penn CollegeBachelor's Degree | Summerdale, PA | $47,979 | Not available | -88% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Berkeley College-Woodland ParkBachelor's Degree | Woodland Park, NJ | $43,968 | $34,413 | -104% | 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.