Philosophy: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 123 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$136,782 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.
21.5 yrsModeled economic break-even
−54%Modeled 10-year ROI
$56,849Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$56,849Median reported earnings · year 4
$56,745Average reported earnings · year 5
$22,862Median federal debt
39thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
123Reporting programs
86With 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.
CURRENT VIEW
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $56,849
- Federal debt
- $22,862
- Reporting programs
- 123
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $71,734
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $115,630
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $67,892
- 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$49,583National median$56,84975th percentile$63,410
86 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Pennsylvania$107,4542California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$98,5923Boston College$97,5194CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice$78,0415William & Mary$75,4236Fordham University$74,5077University of California, Santa Barbara$71,7968The University of Texas at Austin$71,7909University of Chicago$71,70910University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill$70,709Observed 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.
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1126 · 4 crosswalk linksMathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1022 · 1 crosswalk linksMathematiciansSOC 15-2021 · 1 crosswalk linksNatural Sciences ManagersSOC 11-9121 · 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 | University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $107,454 | $18,500 | +112% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoBachelor's Degree | San Luis Obispo, CA | $98,592 | Not available | +117% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Boston CollegeBachelor's Degree | Chestnut Hill, MA | $97,519 | $18,000 | +51% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal JusticeBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $78,041 | Not available | +71% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | William & MaryBachelor's Degree | Williamsburg, VA | $75,423 | $16,750 | +19% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Fordham UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bronx, NY | $74,507 | $22,999 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | University of California, Santa BarbaraBachelor's Degree | Santa Barbara, CA | $71,796 | $15,000 | +10% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | The University of Texas at AustinBachelor's Degree | Austin, TX | $71,790 | $18,676 | +3% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | University of ChicagoBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $71,709 | $22,641 | +12% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | University of North Carolina at Chapel HillBachelor's Degree | Chapel Hill, NC | $70,709 | $15,408 | +13% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | Seton Hall UniversityBachelor's Degree | South Orange, NJ | $70,628 | $19,250 | -16% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | University of Massachusetts-LowellBachelor's Degree | Lowell, MA | $68,629 | Not available | -5% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Boston UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $68,026 | $25,750 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | CUNY Brooklyn CollegeBachelor's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $67,948 | $14,125 | +19% | Positive payoff |
| 15 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborBachelor's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $67,293 | $21,510 | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $65,675 | $23,878 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Pennsylvania State University-World CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $65,675 | $23,878 | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | California State University, SacramentoBachelor's Degree | Sacramento, CA | $65,115 | $15,034 | -7% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | George Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $64,898 | Not available | -39% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | University of Maryland-College ParkBachelor's Degree | College Park, MD | $64,846 | $20,164 | -18% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Virginia Commonwealth UniversityBachelor's Degree | Richmond, VA | $64,402 | $21,500 | -29% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | American Public University SystemBachelor's Degree | Charles Town, WV | $64,098 | $22,862 | -13% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | University of ScrantonBachelor's Degree | Scranton, PA | $63,410 | $27,000 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | University of California, BerkeleyBachelor's Degree | Berkeley, CA | $63,326 | $14,475 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | University of California, Los AngelesBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $61,754 | $15,000 | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $61,595 | $13,500 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | University of Washington-Bothell CampusBachelor's Degree | Bothell, WA | $61,595 | $13,500 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonBachelor's Degree | Madison, WI | $61,186 | $24,216 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Loyola University ChicagoBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $60,571 | $25,530 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Georgia State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $60,009 | $27,000 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $59,935 | $26,250 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Scottsdale, AZ | $59,935 | $26,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 33 | Oklahoma State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Stillwater, OK | $59,640 | Not available | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeBachelor's Degree | Milwaukee, WI | $59,370 | $25,500 | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleBachelor's Degree | Knoxville, TN | $59,329 | $25,000 | -44% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Rutgers University-CamdenBachelor's Degree | Camden, NJ | $58,891 | $25,000 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickBachelor's Degree | New Brunswick, NJ | $58,891 | $25,000 | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Rutgers University-NewarkBachelor's Degree | Newark, NJ | $58,891 | $25,000 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | University of OregonBachelor's Degree | Eugene, OR | $58,635 | $26,000 | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | University of California, DavisBachelor's Degree | Davis, CA | $58,633 | $13,200 | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | North Carolina State University at RaleighBachelor's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $58,285 | $24,135 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | West Virginia UniversityBachelor's Degree | Morgantown, WV | $57,041 | Not available | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Columbia University in the City of New YorkBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $56,885 | $20,062 | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | University of Minnesota-DuluthBachelor's Degree | Duluth, MN | $56,812 | Not available | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | University of IowaBachelor's Degree | Iowa City, IA | $56,786 | $26,260 | -56% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | University of HoustonBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | $55,875 | $23,650 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | Ohio State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $55,823 | $26,247 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | University of ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $55,804 | $21,250 | -56% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | University of Massachusetts-BostonBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $54,868 | Not available | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's Degree | College Station, TX | $54,822 | $19,000 | -63% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | San Diego State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Diego, CA | $53,390 | $27,000 | -65% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $53,189 | $21,500 | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | California State University, Los AngelesBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $53,127 | Not available | -59% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | University of FloridaBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $52,656 | $17,217 | -63% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | New York UniversityBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $52,633 | $24,128 | -77% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $52,436 | Not available | -75% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | St. John's University-New YorkBachelor's Degree | Queens, NY | $52,006 | Not available | -77% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | University of Southern CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $51,831 | $11,491 | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | University of California, RiversideBachelor's Degree | Riverside, CA | $51,402 | $19,022 | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | University of California, Santa CruzBachelor's Degree | Santa Cruz, CA | $51,398 | $15,832 | -75% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Texas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Marcos, TX | $50,768 | $26,000 | -77% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | Portland State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Portland, OR | $50,191 | $24,072 | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeBachelor's Degree | Baton Rouge, LA | $50,016 | $19,875 | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | University of Colorado Colorado SpringsBachelor's Degree | Colorado Springs, CO | $49,909 | $28,495 | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | CUNY Hunter CollegeBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $49,583 | Not available | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | University of South FloridaBachelor's Degree | Tampa, FL | $49,561 | Not available | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | Utah Valley UniversityBachelor's Degree | Orem, UT | $49,403 | $15,636 | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | The Catholic University of AmericaBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $49,378 | $23,843 | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | California State University, Long BeachBachelor's Degree | Long Beach, CA | $49,062 | $19,281 | -82% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | California State University, NorthridgeBachelor's Degree | Northridge, CA | $48,566 | Not available | -83% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | Temple UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $47,414 | $25,000 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | Florida State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Tallahassee, FL | $47,153 | $25,359 | -90% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | University of North Carolina at CharlotteBachelor's Degree | Charlotte, NC | $46,067 | $25,000 | -96% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | California State University, FullertonBachelor's Degree | Fullerton, CA | $44,533 | Not available | -102% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | University of LouisvilleBachelor's Degree | Louisville, KY | $44,329 | Not available | -103% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | CUNY Lehman CollegeBachelor's Degree | Bronx, NY | $43,165 | $18,700 | -110% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | Florida International UniversityBachelor's Degree | Miami, FL | $43,085 | $13,134 | -109% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | San Francisco State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $42,993 | $18,000 | -109% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | California State University, FresnoBachelor's Degree | Fresno, CA | $42,337 | $15,000 | -113% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | University of St ThomasBachelor's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $41,209 | $18,201 | -113% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | Hobart William Smith CollegesBachelor's Degree | Geneva, NY | $40,284 | $27,000 | -115% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | Wheaton CollegeBachelor's Degree | Wheaton, IL | $40,076 | $23,685 | -117% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointBachelor's Degree | Stevens Point, WI | $39,532 | $23,380 | -123% | Negative payoff |
| 84 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignBachelor's Degree | Champaign, IL | $34,482 | $18,750 | -144% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyBachelor's Degree | Edinburg, TX | $33,457 | $13,000 | -158% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | Franciscan University of SteubenvilleBachelor's Degree | Steubenville, OH | $31,906 | $25,000 | -148% | Negative payoff |
| 87 | University of California, IrvineBachelor's Degree | Irvine, CA | Not available | $23,705 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $14,251 |
| 88 | University of California, San DiegoBachelor's Degree | La Jolla, CA | Not available | $15,832 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $12,470 |
| 89 | Sonoma State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Rohnert Park, CA | Not available | $19,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $12,885 |
| 90 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | Not available | $31,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $11,900 |
| 91 | University of Colorado BoulderBachelor's Degree | Boulder, CO | Not available | $25,218 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $25,346 |
| 92 | Colorado State University-Fort CollinsBachelor's Degree | Fort Collins, CO | Not available | $18,894 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $21,279 |
| 93 | University of Central FloridaBachelor's Degree | Orlando, FL | Not available | $19,875 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $10,411 |
| 94 | Emory UniversityBachelor's Degree | Atlanta, GA | Not available | $16,438 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $22,585 |
| 95 | University of GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Athens, GA | Not available | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $13,936 |
| 96 | Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleBachelor's Degree | Edwardsville, IL | Not available | $24,362 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $14,889 |
| 97 | University of Notre DameBachelor's Degree | Notre Dame, IN | Not available | $20,793 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $26,780 |
| 98 | Iowa State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ames, IA | Not available | $21,906 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $18,589 |
| 99 | Tulane University of LouisianaBachelor's Degree | New Orleans, LA | Not available | $20,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $39,949 |
| 100 | Towson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Towson, MD | Not available | $25,697 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $17,413 |
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.