Best Bachelor's Degree Programs at Auburn University by ROI
Every Bachelor's Degree major at Auburn University ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
51
Majors with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$14,242
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$34,402
Cost of attendance
| # | Major | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Chemical Engineering.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
+$653,881 | $83,134 | $34,402 | $23,104 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Mechanical Engineering.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
+$542,978 | $77,684 | $34,402 | $24,514 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
+$504,813 | $75,817 | $34,402 | $25,125 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Industrial Engineering.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
+$499,024 | $75,401 | $34,402 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Architectural Engineering.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
+$478,512 | $74,291 | $34,402 | $22,000 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
+$462,313 | $73,377 | $34,402 | $20,458 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Computer Engineering.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
+$413,643 | $71,056 | $34,402 | $22,125 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Biological/Biosystems Engineering.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
+$357,133 | $68,475 | $34,402 | $25,747 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Civil Engineering.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
+$334,175 | $67,167 | $34,402 | $23,375 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Computer and Information Sciences, General.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
+$277,062 | $64,421 | $34,402 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Economics.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
+$238,092 | $60,785 | $34,402 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Finance and Financial Management Services.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
+$210,737 | $60,801 | $34,402 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Architecture.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
+$201,432 | $60,842 | $34,402 | $28,000 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Accounting and Related Services.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
+$191,844 | $60,042 | $34,402 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
+$155,645 | $58,043 | $34,402 | $20,449 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
International Business.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
+$155,012 | $56,631 | $34,402 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Business Administration, Management and Operations.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
+$137,334 | $57,249 | $34,402 | $22,250 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Nutrition Sciences.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
+$104,532 | $55,862 | $34,402 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Agricultural Business and Management.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
+$80,000 | $54,357 | $34,402 | $21,875 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Forestry.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
+$25,317 | $51,530 | $34,402 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Marketing.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
+$22,877 | $51,408 | $34,402 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Public Administration.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
+$14,032 | $49,582 | $34,402 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Health and Medical Administrative Services.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
+$10,569 | $51,147 | $34,402 | $25,750 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Communication and Media Studies.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
-$24,879 | $49,032 | $34,402 | $20,675 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Hospitality Administration/Management.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
-$27,963 | $49,136 | $34,402 | $24,500 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Biology, General.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
-$30,370 | $48,965 | $34,402 | $23,750 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
-$46,293 | $47,882 | $34,402 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Music.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
-$79,288 | $44,916 | $34,402 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
Apparel and Textiles.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
-$92,815 | $45,858 | $34,402 | $23,976 | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
Journalism.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
-$93,843 | $45,572 | $34,402 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
-$117,555 | $44,572 | $34,402 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
Design and Applied Arts.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
-$123,908 | $44,440 | $34,402 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 33 |
Plant Sciences.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
-$138,523 | $43,338 | $34,402 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 34 |
Human Resources Management and Services.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
-$138,868 | $41,937 | $34,402 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 35 |
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
-$147,348 | $41,513 | $34,402 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 36 |
Political Science and Government.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
-$159,163 | $42,522 | $34,402 | $23,700 | Full ROI → |
| 37 |
Mathematics.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
-$192,768 | $39,242 | $34,402 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 38 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
-$224,065 | $39,179 | $34,402 | $22,250 | Full ROI → |
| 39 |
History.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
-$229,923 | $38,903 | $34,402 | $22,500 | Full ROI → |
| 40 |
Animal Sciences.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
-$230,641 | $38,808 | $34,402 | $21,625 | Full ROI → |
| 41 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
-$235,328 | $38,707 | $34,402 | $23,600 | Full ROI → |
| 42 |
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
-$251,538 | $37,856 | $34,402 | $23,000 | Full ROI → |
| 43 |
Special Education and Teaching.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
-$268,165 | $36,974 | $34,402 | $22,250 | Full ROI → |
| 44 |
Psychology, General.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
-$271,843 | $36,672 | $34,402 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 45 |
Sociology.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
-$274,585 | $36,653 | $34,402 | $22,250 | Full ROI → |
| 46 |
English Language and Literature, General.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
-$282,898 | $36,423 | $34,402 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 47 |
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
-$287,337 | $36,251 | $34,402 | $25,740 | Full ROI → |
| 48 |
Social Work.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
-$313,881 | $34,676 | $34,402 | $22,069 | Full ROI → |
| 49 |
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
-$326,489 | $34,052 | $34,402 | $22,164 | Full ROI → |
| 50 |
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
-$342,998 | $33,418 | $34,402 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 51 |
Fine and Studio Arts.
Grad rate: 80.0% |
-$391,308 | $29,315 | $34,402 | $0 | 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.