ASSOCIATE + BACHELOR’S · ILLUSTRATIVE ECONOMIC ROI

Best ROI majors

Compare degree fields using reported earnings, college-wide average net price, expected study time and earnings forgone while enrolled.

Field familyAll fields STEM & Computing Health & Clinical Business & Management Social & Behavioral Sciences Education Arts, Media & Humanities Law & Public Service Trades & Applied Fields

Degree levelAssociate + bachelor’s Associate Bachelor’s

Arts, Media & Humanities34 qualifying field-and-credential categories

31Fine and Studio ArtsAssociate's Degree · institution price context $8,682/yr−196%32English Language and Literature, GeneralAssociate's Degree · institution price context $6,728/yr−198%33Film/Video and Photographic ArtsAssociate's Degree · institution price context $17,919/yr−202%34Visual and Performing Arts, GeneralAssociate's Degree · institution price context $10,810/yr−214%

The ROI scenario compares reported earnings with a $45,000 annual earnings baseline and includes study-time opportunity cost. Annual cost is the average college-wide net price among institutions reporting the field, not program tuition. Certificate and graduate credentials are excluded because that proxy is not reliable enough for those programs.