Best Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Degrees in the US by ROI
Top colleges ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all active states. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
2
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$315,330
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$86,923
Cost of attendance
| # | College | State | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Northwestern University
Grad rate: 96.2% |
IL | +$439,024 | $69,645 | $87,804 | $19,312 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Columbia University in the City of New York
Grad rate: 95.1% |
NY | +$191,636 | $58,394 | $86,042 | $37,186 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Degrees by State
Browse Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.