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.
Social & Behavioral Sciences26 qualifying field-and-credential categories
1EconomicsBachelor's Degree · institution price context $21,952/yr+29%2International Relations and National Security StudiesBachelor's Degree · institution price context $24,319/yr−23%3Political Science and GovernmentBachelor's Degree · institution price context $20,959/yr−36%4Urban Studies/AffairsBachelor's Degree · institution price context $17,709/yr−42%5Apparel and TextilesBachelor's Degree · institution price context $17,741/yr−48%6Geography and CartographyBachelor's Degree · institution price context $16,758/yr−48%7Area StudiesBachelor's Degree · institution price context $21,639/yr−54%8Research and Experimental PsychologyBachelor's Degree · institution price context $21,574/yr−56%9Foods, Nutrition, and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree · institution price context $18,129/yr−58%10CriminologyBachelor's Degree · institution price context $19,738/yr−59%11Social Sciences, OtherBachelor's Degree · institution price context $19,798/yr−62%12Housing and Human EnvironmentsBachelor's Degree · institution price context $11,420/yr−65%13Family and Consumer Economics and Related StudiesBachelor's Degree · institution price context $16,973/yr−68%14Social Sciences, GeneralBachelor's Degree · institution price context $18,816/yr−72%15SociologyBachelor's Degree · institution price context $18,953/yr−72%16Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesBachelor's Degree · institution price context $17,777/yr−74%17Clinical, Counseling and Applied PsychologyBachelor's Degree · institution price context $20,935/yr−74%18Psychology, OtherBachelor's Degree · institution price context $20,777/yr−79%19Psychology, GeneralBachelor's Degree · institution price context $20,426/yr−81%20Human Development, Family Studies, and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree · institution price context $17,761/yr−92%21Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, GeneralBachelor's Degree · institution price context $14,588/yr−95%22AnthropologyBachelor's Degree · institution price context $17,592/yr−96%23SociologyAssociate's Degree · institution price context $7,169/yr−98%24Social Sciences, GeneralAssociate's Degree · institution price context $8,159/yr−107%25Psychology, GeneralAssociate's Degree · institution price context $8,365/yr−160%26Human Development, Family Studies, and Related ServicesAssociate's Degree · institution price context $9,380/yr−189%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.