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 Fields27 qualifying field-and-credential categories
1Air TransportationBachelor's Degree · institution price context $17,416/yr+53%2Agricultural MechanizationBachelor's Degree · institution price context $17,664/yr+13%3Food Science and TechnologyBachelor's Degree · institution price context $18,438/yr+1%4City/Urban, Community, and Regional PlanningBachelor's Degree · institution price context $19,330/yr−10%5Architectural Sciences and TechnologyBachelor's Degree · institution price context $23,687/yr−12%6ArchitectureBachelor's Degree · institution price context $20,178/yr−14%7Agricultural Business and ManagementBachelor's Degree · institution price context $16,734/yr−15%8Landscape ArchitectureBachelor's Degree · institution price context $18,628/yr−18%9Interior ArchitectureBachelor's Degree · institution price context $20,495/yr−37%10ForestryBachelor's Degree · institution price context $17,403/yr−46%11Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business ServicesBachelor's Degree · institution price context $18,218/yr−53%12Environmental DesignBachelor's Degree · institution price context $18,147/yr−54%13Plant SciencesBachelor's Degree · institution price context $18,159/yr−55%14Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchBachelor's Degree · institution price context $21,031/yr−62%15Environmental/Natural Resources Management and PolicyBachelor's Degree · institution price context $18,764/yr−66%16Agriculture, GeneralBachelor's Degree · institution price context $15,920/yr−68%17Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessBachelor's Degree · institution price context $19,568/yr−68%18Agricultural Production OperationsBachelor's Degree · institution price context $17,811/yr−70%19Agricultural Public ServicesBachelor's Degree · institution price context $17,632/yr−70%20Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities ManagementBachelor's Degree · institution price context $16,535/yr−81%21Parks, Recreation, and Leisure StudiesBachelor's Degree · institution price context $15,566/yr−82%22Animal SciencesBachelor's Degree · institution price context $17,383/yr−83%23Culinary Arts and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree · institution price context $23,849/yr−92%24Wildlife and Wildlands Science and ManagementBachelor's Degree · institution price context $16,537/yr−99%25Audiovisual Communications Technologies/TechniciansBachelor's Degree · institution price context $27,003/yr−100%26Graphic CommunicationsBachelor's Degree · institution price context $24,996/yr−107%27Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/TechniciansBachelor's Degree · institution price context $14,642/yr−114%

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.