Education, Other: is this doctoral degree worth it?
National picture across 8 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$94,581 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$94,581Median year-4 earnings
$16,651Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$94,581Median reported earnings · year 4
$89,552Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
36thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
8Reporting programs
8With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $36,690
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $39,644
- Federal debt
- $26,539
- Reporting programs
- 3
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $48,653
- Federal debt
- $25,989
- Reporting programs
- 31
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $52,531
- Federal debt
- $19,625
- Reporting programs
- 2
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $65,153
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 33
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $94,581
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 8
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $90,767
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 4
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$91,214National median$94,58175th percentile$101,304
8 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Olivet Nazarene University$118,5082Columbus State University$107,8013University of West Georgia$101,3044Regent University$94,7975Old Dominion University$94,3656Missouri Baptist University$92,7107Capella University$91,2148Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus$52,028Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Education Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1081 · 1 crosswalk linksTeachers and Instructors, All OtherSOC 25-3099 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olivet Nazarene UniversityDoctoral Degree | Bourbonnais, IL | $118,508 | Not available | Baseline needed | $20,729 |
| 2 | Columbus State UniversityDoctoral Degree | Columbus, GA | $107,801 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,115 |
| 3 | University of West GeorgiaDoctoral Degree | Carrollton, GA | $101,304 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,786 |
| 4 | Regent UniversityDoctoral Degree | Virginia Beach, VA | $94,797 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,923 |
| 5 | Old Dominion UniversityDoctoral Degree | Norfolk, VA | $94,365 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,638 |
| 6 | Missouri Baptist UniversityDoctoral Degree | Saint Louis, MO | $92,710 | Not available | Baseline needed | $27,006 |
| 7 | Capella UniversityDoctoral Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $91,214 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,956 |
| 8 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo CampusDoctoral Degree | Gurabo, PR | $52,028 | Not available | Baseline needed | $7,051 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.