International and Comparative Education: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 1 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Positive payoff
+$47,952 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.
8.6 yrsModeled economic break-even
+16%Modeled 10-year ROI
$79,640Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$79,640Median reported earnings · year 4
$66,024Average reported earnings · year 5
$8,000Median federal debt
74thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
1With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 0 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
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.
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$79,640National median$79,64075th percentile$79,640
1 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.
Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
1 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Duke University$79,640Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations and current wages
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job. Wage estimates describe occupations nationwide—not graduates of this degree.
NO MATCHUnreported U.S. jobs · SOC 99-9999
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics · May 2025 estimates, published May 2026.
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 | Duke UniversityBachelor's Degree | Durham, NC | $79,640 | $8,000 | +16% | Positive payoff |
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.