Physical Sciences, General: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 3 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$24,758 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 these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
11.0 yrsModeled economic break-even
−9%Modeled 10-year ROI
$68,781Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$68,781Median reported earnings · year 4
$71,674Average reported earnings · year 5
$22,250Median federal debt
61thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
3Reporting programs
3With 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.
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$64,456National median$68,78175th percentile$68,781
3 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.
1Villanova University$80,3022CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice$68,7813Arizona State University Campus Immersion$64,456Observed 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.
Natural Sciences ManagersSOC 11-9121 · 1 crosswalk linksSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationSOC 25-2031 · 1 crosswalk links
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 | Villanova UniversityBachelor's Degree | Villanova, PA | $80,302 | $25,000 | -1% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal JusticeBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $68,781 | $11,109 | +23% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $64,456 | $22,250 | -19% | Negative 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.