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 Service6 qualifying field-and-credential categories
1Fire ProtectionAssociate's Degree · institution price context $8,669/yr+164%2Criminal Justice and CorrectionsAssociate's Degree · institution price context $11,357/yr−83%3Legal Support ServicesAssociate's Degree · institution price context $14,283/yr−94%4Community Organization and AdvocacyAssociate's Degree · institution price context $8,403/yr−123%5Social WorkAssociate's Degree · institution price context $9,013/yr−139%6Human 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.