Best Bachelor's Degree Programs at Boston University by ROI
Every Bachelor's Degree major at Boston University ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
42
Majors with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$157,892
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$82,694
Cost of attendance
| # | Major | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Computer Science.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
+$765,816 | $98,399 | $82,694 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Computer Engineering.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
+$744,414 | $97,573 | $82,694 | $26,866 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
+$409,151 | $80,795 | $82,694 | $26,646 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Biomedical/Medical Engineering.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
+$381,419 | $79,422 | $82,694 | $26,848 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Mechanical Engineering.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
+$314,044 | $76,023 | $82,694 | $26,400 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
+$282,920 | $74,492 | $82,694 | $26,773 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Business Administration, Management and Operations.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
+$234,514 | $71,952 | $82,694 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Economics.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
+$155,509 | $67,968 | $82,694 | $24,500 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
+$153,204 | $66,199 | $82,694 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Mathematics.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
+$6,361 | $60,190 | $82,694 | $19,750 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$27,176 | $57,180 | $82,694 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Social Sciences, Other.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$41,596 | $56,459 | $82,694 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Nutrition Sciences.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$56,636 | $55,707 | $82,694 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Communication and Media Studies.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$59,951 | $57,236 | $82,694 | $25,108 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Hospitality Administration/Management.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$82,996 | $56,144 | $82,694 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Social Work.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$197,576 | $48,660 | $82,694 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Sociology.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$203,968 | $50,146 | $82,694 | $26,750 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$226,316 | $48,978 | $82,694 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
International Relations and National Security Studies.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$227,406 | $48,856 | $82,694 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$258,914 | $47,289 | $82,694 | $25,125 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Philosophy.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$264,678 | $47,043 | $82,694 | $25,750 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$271,496 | $44,964 | $82,694 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$277,906 | $46,466 | $82,694 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$278,416 | $44,618 | $82,694 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$285,598 | $45,862 | $82,694 | $23,750 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Design and Applied Arts.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$310,203 | $44,463 | $82,694 | $21,250 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Political Science and Government.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$314,166 | $44,518 | $82,694 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$319,086 | $44,407 | $82,694 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
Biology, General.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$325,206 | $44,101 | $82,694 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
Journalism.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$325,573 | $43,935 | $82,694 | $24,813 | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
Neurobiology and Neurosciences.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$348,516 | $42,868 | $82,694 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
Psychology, General.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$351,096 | $42,739 | $82,694 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 33 |
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$355,546 | $42,584 | $82,694 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 34 |
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$384,416 | $41,073 | $82,694 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 35 |
Research and Experimental Psychology.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$394,076 | $38,835 | $82,694 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 36 |
English Language and Literature, General.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$424,049 | $39,118 | $82,694 | $26,395 | Full ROI → |
| 37 |
Fine and Studio Arts.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$526,746 | $34,024 | $82,694 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 38 |
History.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$532,131 | $33,721 | $82,694 | $26,500 | Full ROI → |
| 39 |
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$534,246 | $33,514 | $82,694 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 40 |
Music.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$562,707 | $32,223 | $82,694 | $26,957 | Full ROI → |
| 41 |
Anthropology.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$595,803 | $30,453 | $82,694 | $25,250 | Full ROI → |
| 42 |
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$714,629 | $24,627 | $82,694 | $26,958 | 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.