DegreeVerdict
ROI Calculator
ASSOCIATE + BACHELOR’S · ILLUSTRATIVE ECONOMIC ROI

Best ROI majors

Compare degree fields using reported earnings, college-wide average net price, expected study time and earnings forgone while enrolled.

Field familyAll fieldsSTEM & ComputingHealth & ClinicalBusiness & ManagementSocial & Behavioral SciencesEducationArts, Media & HumanitiesLaw & Public ServiceTrades & Applied Fields
Degree levelAssociate + bachelor’sAssociateBachelor’s
Trades & Applied Fields46 qualifying field-and-credential categories
1Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/TechniciansAssociate's Degree · institution price context $13,464/yr+154%2Air TransportationAssociate's Degree · institution price context $15,886/yr+152%3Electrical and Power Transmission InstallersAssociate's Degree · institution price context $15,427/yr+75%4Agricultural MechanizationAssociate's Degree · institution price context $8,509/yr+59%5Air TransportationBachelor's Degree · institution price context $17,416/yr+53%6Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and InspectionAssociate's Degree · institution price context $14,541/yr+34%7Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/TechniciansAssociate's Degree · institution price context $14,273/yr+26%8Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/TechniciansAssociate's Degree · institution price context $15,261/yr+24%9Agricultural MechanizationBachelor's Degree · institution price context $17,664/yr+13%10Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)Associate's Degree · institution price context $16,312/yr+11%11Precision Metal WorkingAssociate's Degree · institution price context $11,327/yr+2%12Food Science and TechnologyBachelor's Degree · institution price context $18,438/yr+1%13City/Urban, Community, and Regional PlanningBachelor's Degree · institution price context $19,330/yr−10%14Architectural Sciences and TechnologyBachelor's Degree · institution price context $23,687/yr−12%15ArchitectureBachelor's Degree · institution price context $20,178/yr−14%16Agricultural Business and ManagementBachelor's Degree · institution price context $16,734/yr−15%17Landscape ArchitectureBachelor's Degree · institution price context $18,628/yr−18%18Funeral Service and Mortuary ScienceAssociate's Degree · institution price context $17,846/yr−32%19Interior ArchitectureBachelor's Degree · institution price context $20,495/yr−37%20ForestryBachelor's Degree · institution price context $17,403/yr−46%21Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business ServicesBachelor's Degree · institution price context $18,218/yr−53%22Environmental DesignBachelor's Degree · institution price context $18,147/yr−54%23Plant SciencesBachelor's Degree · institution price context $18,159/yr−55%24Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchBachelor's Degree · institution price context $21,031/yr−62%25Environmental/Natural Resources Management and PolicyBachelor's Degree · institution price context $18,764/yr−66%26Agriculture, GeneralBachelor's Degree · institution price context $15,920/yr−68%27Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessBachelor's Degree · institution price context $19,568/yr−68%28Agricultural Business and ManagementAssociate's Degree · institution price context $14,072/yr−70%29Agricultural Production OperationsBachelor's Degree · institution price context $17,811/yr−70%30Agricultural Public ServicesBachelor's Degree · institution price context $17,632/yr−70%31Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business ServicesAssociate's Degree · institution price context $16,752/yr−71%32Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities ManagementBachelor's Degree · institution price context $16,535/yr−81%33Parks, Recreation, and Leisure StudiesBachelor's Degree · institution price context $15,566/yr−82%34Animal SciencesBachelor's Degree · institution price context $17,383/yr−83%35Culinary Arts and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree · institution price context $23,849/yr−92%36Wildlife and Wildlands Science and ManagementBachelor's Degree · institution price context $16,537/yr−99%37Audiovisual Communications Technologies/TechniciansBachelor's Degree · institution price context $27,003/yr−100%38Graphic CommunicationsBachelor's Degree · institution price context $24,996/yr−107%39Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/TechniciansBachelor's Degree · institution price context $14,642/yr−114%40Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/TechniciansAssociate's Degree · institution price context $14,829/yr−116%41Agricultural Production OperationsAssociate's Degree · institution price context $14,014/yr−127%42Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessAssociate's Degree · institution price context $12,730/yr−142%43Culinary Arts and Related ServicesAssociate's Degree · institution price context $12,265/yr−157%44Graphic CommunicationsAssociate's Degree · institution price context $7,593/yr−164%45Audiovisual Communications Technologies/TechniciansAssociate's Degree · institution price context $13,781/yr−198%46Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming ServicesAssociate's Degree · institution price context $10,701/yr−297%

The ROI scenario compares reported earnings with a $45,000 annual earnings baseline and includes study-time opportunity cost. Annual cost is the average college-wide net price among institutions reporting the field, not program tuition. Certificate and graduate credentials are excluded because that proxy is not reliable enough for those programs.