Operations Research: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 5 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Strong payoff
+$733,621 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.
At this price, the reported earnings produce a wide margin over the comparison salary.
2.7 yrsModeled economic break-even
+272%Modeled 10-year ROI
$145,296Observed earnings · year 4
$205,740Maximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
The price benchmark is $183,405 per year below this threshold.
Includes direct price and earnings forgone while studying. Assumes $45,000 in alternative annual earnings and no wage growth. How we calculate itObserved national outcomes
$145,296Median reported earnings · year 4
$138,173Average reported earnings · year 5
$15,000Median federal debt
100thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
4With 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$74,344National median$145,29675th percentile$151,709
4 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.
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
5 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Columbia University in the City of New York$167,5722Cornell University$151,7093University of California, Berkeley$138,8834California State University, Northridge$74,3445Southern Methodist UniversityNot availableObserved year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →14%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Natural Sciences Managers$167,220 median wage108,690 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9121+8.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 9.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$79,710–$316,850 10th–90th percentileEngineering Teachers, Postsecondary$109,270 median wage40,270 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1032+7.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 3.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$61,550–$210,370 10th–90th percentileOperations Research Analysts$88,940 median wage108,510 U.S. jobs · SOC 15-2031+11.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 7.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$57,060–$159,910 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
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 | Columbia University in the City of New YorkBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $167,572 | Not available | +360% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Cornell UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ithaca, NY | $151,709 | $15,000 | +262% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | University of California, BerkeleyBachelor's Degree | Berkeley, CA | $138,883 | Not available | +301% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | California State University, NorthridgeBachelor's Degree | Northridge, CA | $74,344 | $15,000 | +41% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | Southern Methodist UniversityBachelor's Degree | Dallas, TX | Not available | $20,500 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $40,892 |
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.