Engineering Science: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 10 reporting college programs.
+$180,739 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
This is a positive modeled result. Price, time to finish and future earnings can still change the outcome.
Observed national outcomes
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.
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $76,355
- Federal debt
- $11,750
- Reporting programs
- 18
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $90,246
- Federal debt
- $21,249
- Reporting programs
- 10
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $137,274
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 5
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.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Dartmouth College$113,7492Arizona State University Campus Immersion$101,1273Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus$100,1764Rutgers University-New Brunswick$91,3095Hofstra University$90,2466California State University, Bakersfield$88,9487Trinity University$86,8238University of New Mexico-Main Campus$86,0159Wartburg College$78,95910Vanderbilt UniversityNot availableObserved 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.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dartmouth CollegeBachelor's Degree | Hanover, NH | $113,749 | $17,083 | +131% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $101,127 | $13,250 | +134% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $100,176 | $26,500 | +77% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickBachelor's Degree | New Brunswick, NJ | $91,309 | $24,250 | +67% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | Hofstra UniversityBachelor's Degree | Hempstead, NY | $90,246 | $27,000 | +43% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | California State University, BakersfieldBachelor's Degree | Bakersfield, CA | $88,948 | Not available | +117% | Strong payoff |
| 7 | Trinity UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Antonio, TX | $86,823 | $21,249 | +53% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | University of New Mexico-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Albuquerque, NM | $86,015 | Not available | +70% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Wartburg CollegeBachelor's Degree | Waverly, IA | $78,959 | Not available | +9% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | Vanderbilt UniversityBachelor's Degree | Nashville, TN | Not available | $15,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $15,846 |
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.