Program-level college ROI
College isn't a scam — it just feels like one when you don't know the ROI of your program, or your college.
We ranked 18,256 degree programs at U.S. colleges on what they cost, what graduates actually earn, and how much of that is a real premium over not going at all. Search your major before you sign the loan paperwork.
- Programs ranked
- 18,256
- Majors covered
- 285
- Data source
- Scorecard + IRS
Start with the number that matters
Not prestige. Not a national brand ranking. The five-year earnings premium your specific program produces over a high-school baseline in the same state, measured against what the degree actually costs.
Rankings & ROI Explorer
Filter by major, state, public or private, cost per year, four-year cost, median debt and premium-to-cost ROI. Share any filtered view as a link.
Open the explorerWhat to Study
Average five-year premium by major, with the top-ranked institution in each, so you can compare fields before you compare schools.
Compare majorsHow We Calculate ROI
The full method, the data sources, and the caveats we'd want disclosed to us — including who is and isn't in the earnings data.
Read the methodHighest scoring programs
Ranked by our composite score, which weighs the five-year premium against cost and debt.
| Institution | Major | 5-yr premium | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|
| BYU-Pathway Worldwide — Information Technology (US students; degree via BYU-Idaho)ID | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $236,837 | |
| BYU-Pathway Worldwide — Applied Business Management (US students; degree via BYU-Idaho)ID | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $159,839 | |
| University of California-Los AngelesCA | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $731,230 | |
| University of Washington-Seattle CampusWA | Computer Engineering | $641,830 | |
| CUNY Medgar Evers CollegeNY | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $432,102 | |
| University of California-BerkeleyCA | Computer Science | $744,999 |
Curated guides
The rest of the four years
Where to live, what to watch, what to wear, how to remember it, and how to stay functional through it. Partner links are labelled.
Where to Live
American Campus Communities
Purpose-built student apartments and on-campus housing, leased by the bed.
What to Watch
Angel Guild
A membership community that funds and votes on family-friendly storytelling.
What to Wear
Splay
Barefoot-style footwear built around foot health and natural toe splay.
Memory & Documentation
Chatbooks
Automatic photo books printed from the pictures already on your phone.
Health & Recovery
BodyIQ NeuroRestore
A recovery-focused supplement aimed at cognitive bounce-back.
Health & Recovery
Ampelis Core7
A seven-part daily stack aimed at mood, focus and resilience.
College isn't a scam — it just feels like one when you don't know the ROI of your program, or your college.
Ask a question, compare notes with other students, or tell us where the data is wrong.