ASSOCIATE + BACHELOR’S · ILLUSTRATIVE ECONOMIC ROIBest ROI majors
Compare degree fields using reported earnings, college-wide average net price, expected study time and earnings forgone while enrolled.
Law & Public Service14 qualifying field-and-credential categories
1Fire ProtectionBachelor's Degree · institution price context $14,039/yr+80%2Public Policy AnalysisBachelor's Degree · institution price context $20,702/yr−6%3Homeland SecurityBachelor's Degree · institution price context $17,828/yr−9%4Public Administration and Social Service Professions, OtherBachelor's Degree · institution price context $16,876/yr−11%5Public AdministrationBachelor's Degree · institution price context $15,902/yr−18%6Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, OtherBachelor's Degree · institution price context $16,836/yr−27%7Non-Professional Legal StudiesBachelor's Degree · institution price context $21,029/yr−30%8Security Science and TechnologyBachelor's Degree · institution price context $20,373/yr−52%9Legal Professions and Studies, OtherBachelor's Degree · institution price context $24,767/yr−56%10Criminal Justice and CorrectionsBachelor's Degree · institution price context $18,573/yr−64%11Legal Support ServicesBachelor's Degree · institution price context $17,020/yr−70%12Social WorkBachelor's Degree · institution price context $17,787/yr−74%13Community Organization and AdvocacyBachelor's Degree · institution price context $20,160/yr−77%14Human Services, GeneralBachelor's Degree · institution price context $20,457/yr−85%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.