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 fields STEM & Computing Health & Clinical Business & Management Social & Behavioral Sciences Education Arts, Media & Humanities Law & Public Service Trades & Applied Fields

Degree levelAssociate + bachelor’s Associate Bachelor’s

Education4 qualifying field-and-credential categories

1Education, GeneralAssociate's Degree · institution price context $9,376/yr−126%2Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsAssociate's Degree · institution price context $9,518/yr−161%3Teaching Assistants/AidesAssociate's Degree · institution price context $8,073/yr−168%4Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasAssociate's Degree · institution price context $11,580/yr−191%

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.