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
STEM & Computing79 qualifying field-and-credential categories
1Physical Science Technologies/TechniciansAssociate's Degree · institution price context $6,852/yr+349%2Engineering Technologies/Technicians, GeneralAssociate's Degree · institution price context $11,744/yr+231%3Engineering ScienceAssociate's Degree · institution price context $7,396/yr+199%4Engineering, GeneralAssociate's Degree · institution price context $7,621/yr+187%5Systems EngineeringBachelor's Degree · institution price context $17,530/yr+179%6Industrial Production Technologies/TechniciansAssociate's Degree · institution price context $11,088/yr+158%7Electromechanical Technologies/TechniciansAssociate's Degree · institution price context $11,276/yr+156%8Computer EngineeringBachelor's Degree · institution price context $19,495/yr+135%9Petroleum EngineeringBachelor's Degree · institution price context $17,673/yr+130%10Construction EngineeringBachelor's Degree · institution price context $18,516/yr+121%11Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringBachelor's Degree · institution price context $18,545/yr+111%12Industrial EngineeringBachelor's Degree · institution price context $18,384/yr+108%13Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/TechniciansAssociate's Degree · institution price context $12,754/yr+107%14Computer ScienceBachelor's Degree · institution price context $20,093/yr+107%15Civil Engineering Technologies/TechniciansAssociate's Degree · institution price context $11,069/yr+105%16Nuclear EngineeringBachelor's Degree · institution price context $19,401/yr+101%17Chemical EngineeringBachelor's Degree · institution price context $19,885/yr+100%18Construction Engineering Technology/TechnicianBachelor's Degree · institution price context $14,638/yr+99%19Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space EngineeringBachelor's Degree · institution price context $20,350/yr+97%20Engineering, OtherBachelor's Degree · institution price context $19,529/yr+91%21Materials EngineeringBachelor's Degree · institution price context $18,493/yr+84%22Applied MathematicsBachelor's Degree · institution price context $19,894/yr+84%23Biomedical/Medical EngineeringBachelor's Degree · institution price context $21,718/yr+84%24Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/TechniciansAssociate's Degree · institution price context $13,835/yr+84%25Mechanical EngineeringBachelor's Degree · institution price context $19,830/yr+78%26Computer ScienceAssociate's Degree · institution price context $9,941/yr+75%27Engineering-Related FieldsBachelor's Degree · institution price context $20,045/yr+74%28Manufacturing EngineeringBachelor's Degree · institution price context $18,990/yr+71%29Quality Control and Safety Technologies/TechniciansBachelor's Degree · institution price context $13,952/yr+68%30StatisticsBachelor's Degree · institution price context $18,776/yr+66%

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.