DegreeVerdict
ROI Calculator
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 fieldsSTEM & ComputingHealth & ClinicalBusiness & ManagementSocial & Behavioral SciencesEducationArts, Media & HumanitiesLaw & Public ServiceTrades & Applied Fields
Degree levelAssociate + bachelor’sAssociateBachelor’s
Law & Public Service20 qualifying field-and-credential categories
1Fire ProtectionAssociate's Degree · institution price context $8,669/yr+164%2Fire ProtectionBachelor's Degree · institution price context $14,039/yr+80%3Public Policy AnalysisBachelor's Degree · institution price context $20,702/yr−6%4Homeland SecurityBachelor's Degree · institution price context $17,828/yr−9%5Public Administration and Social Service Professions, OtherBachelor's Degree · institution price context $16,876/yr−11%6Public AdministrationBachelor's Degree · institution price context $15,902/yr−18%7Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, OtherBachelor's Degree · institution price context $16,836/yr−27%8Non-Professional Legal StudiesBachelor's Degree · institution price context $21,029/yr−30%9Security Science and TechnologyBachelor's Degree · institution price context $20,373/yr−52%10Legal Professions and Studies, OtherBachelor's Degree · institution price context $24,767/yr−56%11Criminal Justice and CorrectionsBachelor's Degree · institution price context $18,573/yr−64%12Legal Support ServicesBachelor's Degree · institution price context $17,020/yr−70%13Social WorkBachelor's Degree · institution price context $17,787/yr−74%14Community Organization and AdvocacyBachelor's Degree · institution price context $20,160/yr−77%15Criminal Justice and CorrectionsAssociate's Degree · institution price context $11,357/yr−83%16Human Services, GeneralBachelor's Degree · institution price context $20,457/yr−85%17Legal Support ServicesAssociate's Degree · institution price context $14,283/yr−94%18Community Organization and AdvocacyAssociate's Degree · institution price context $8,403/yr−123%19Social WorkAssociate's Degree · institution price context $9,013/yr−139%20Human Services, GeneralAssociate's Degree · institution price context $10,632/yr−143%

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.