Best Bachelor's Degree Programs at American University by ROI
Every Bachelor's Degree major at American University ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
21
Majors with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$141,487
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$71,549
Cost of attendance
| # | Major | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Accounting and Related Services.
Grad rate: 79.0% |
+$402,764 | $76,448 | $71,549 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Finance and Financial Management Services.
Grad rate: 79.0% |
+$116,720 | $63,673 | $71,549 | $22,625 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication.
Grad rate: 79.0% |
+$55,307 | $60,860 | $71,549 | $26,442 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Business Administration, Management and Operations.
Grad rate: 79.0% |
-$3,156 | $57,819 | $71,549 | $24,697 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Economics.
Grad rate: 79.0% |
-$42,119 | $55,731 | $71,549 | $22,625 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate).
Grad rate: 79.0% |
-$51,522 | $55,379 | $71,549 | $24,375 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Criminal Justice and Corrections.
Grad rate: 79.0% |
-$52,743 | $55,242 | $71,549 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Communication and Media Studies.
Grad rate: 79.0% |
-$54,560 | $55,108 | $71,549 | $22,611 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Political Science and Government.
Grad rate: 79.0% |
-$69,323 | $54,413 | $71,549 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Sociology.
Grad rate: 79.0% |
-$87,996 | $51,910 | $71,549 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.
Grad rate: 79.0% |
-$109,226 | $52,401 | $71,549 | $23,000 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
International Relations and National Security Studies.
Grad rate: 79.0% |
-$149,863 | $50,386 | $71,549 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Public Health.
Grad rate: 79.0% |
-$194,816 | $48,152 | $71,549 | $23,452 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
History.
Grad rate: 79.0% |
-$218,376 | $47,146 | $71,549 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Film/Video and Photographic Arts.
Grad rate: 79.0% |
-$223,063 | $46,726 | $71,549 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Journalism.
Grad rate: 79.0% |
-$240,206 | $45,987 | $71,549 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians.
Grad rate: 79.0% |
-$251,239 | $45,164 | $71,549 | $20,980 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Psychology, General.
Grad rate: 79.0% |
-$342,884 | $40,772 | $71,549 | $23,799 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Area Studies.
Grad rate: 79.0% |
-$352,146 | $40,525 | $71,549 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Literature.
Grad rate: 79.0% |
-$523,817 | $31,881 | $71,549 | $26,105 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Grad rate: 79.0% |
-$578,971 | $29,048 | $71,549 | $24,989 | 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.