Best Bachelor's Degree Programs at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo by ROI
Every Bachelor's Degree major at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
48
Majors with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$303,182
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$29,918
Cost of attendance
| # | Major | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Computer and Information Sciences, General.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$1,917,308 | $143,849 | $29,918 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Computer Engineering.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$1,148,537 | $106,798 | $29,918 | $20,556 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Construction Engineering Technologies.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$963,368 | $96,152 | $29,918 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Industrial Engineering.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$818,585 | $90,242 | $29,918 | $19,691 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$797,513 | $89,378 | $29,918 | $22,500 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$754,221 | $87,345 | $29,918 | $24,449 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Mechanical Engineering.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$732,653 | $86,000 | $29,918 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Materials Engineering
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$732,238 | $85,743 | $29,918 | $17,000 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Civil Engineering.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$669,435 | $82,834 | $29,918 | $20,424 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Statistics.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$595,330 | $78,961 | $29,918 | $17,939 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Biomedical/Medical Engineering.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$562,913 | $77,513 | $29,918 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Physics.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$536,558 | $76,364 | $29,918 | $23,000 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$529,493 | $75,842 | $29,918 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Business/Commerce, General.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$525,148 | $74,241 | $29,918 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Business Administration, Management and Operations.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$519,278 | $75,095 | $29,918 | $17,000 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Agricultural Engineering.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$501,341 | $74,159 | $29,918 | $16,420 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Architectural Engineering.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$466,161 | $72,987 | $29,918 | $25,116 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$444,902 | $71,455 | $29,918 | $18,167 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Food Science and Technology.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$392,445 | $69,000 | $29,918 | $20,654 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Agricultural Business and Management.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$375,353 | $67,730 | $29,918 | $14,500 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Fine and Studio Arts.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$363,010 | $67,430 | $29,918 | $19,198 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Natural Resources Conservation and Research.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$349,268 | $65,447 | $29,918 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Architecture.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$277,663 | $63,723 | $29,918 | $27,500 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Graphic Communications.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$273,900 | $62,891 | $29,918 | $17,961 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Economics.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$272,693 | $62,867 | $29,918 | $18,500 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Mathematics.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$207,778 | $59,501 | $29,918 | $16,718 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$146,228 | $55,295 | $29,918 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Agricultural Public Services.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$144,928 | $55,230 | $29,918 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
Landscape Architecture.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$141,143 | $56,555 | $29,918 | $22,433 | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
Plant Sciences.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$128,548 | $55,536 | $29,918 | $16,666 | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
Communication and Media Studies.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$80,475 | $53,015 | $29,918 | $14,928 | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$38,843 | $51,107 | $29,918 | $17,500 | Full ROI → |
| 33 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
-$5,292 | $47,719 | $29,918 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 34 |
Biology, General.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
-$20,753 | $48,495 | $29,918 | $22,949 | Full ROI → |
| 35 |
History.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
-$41,748 | $47,086 | $29,918 | $17,627 | Full ROI → |
| 36 |
Political Science and Government.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
-$44,099 | $46,971 | $29,918 | $17,665 | Full ROI → |
| 37 |
Natural Resources Management and Policy.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
-$54,592 | $46,604 | $29,918 | $20,000 | Full ROI → |
| 38 |
Sociology.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
-$82,104 | $45,009 | $29,918 | $16,750 | Full ROI → |
| 39 |
Forestry.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
-$84,822 | $44,890 | $29,918 | $17,000 | Full ROI → |
| 40 |
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
-$88,412 | $43,563 | $29,918 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 41 |
English Language and Literature, General.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
-$91,252 | $45,038 | $29,918 | $23,956 | Full ROI → |
| 42 |
Social Sciences, Other.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
-$147,642 | $41,749 | $29,918 | $17,000 | Full ROI → |
| 43 |
Agriculture, General.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
-$155,361 | $41,694 | $29,918 | $21,903 | Full ROI → |
| 44 |
Journalism.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
-$167,551 | $40,911 | $29,918 | $19,333 | Full ROI → |
| 45 |
Animal Sciences.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
-$184,767 | $40,129 | $29,918 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 46 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
-$212,613 | $38,574 | $29,918 | $18,090 | Full ROI → |
| 47 |
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
-$217,897 | $38,270 | $29,918 | $17,500 | Full ROI → |
| 48 |
Psychology, General.
Grad rate: 85.3% |
-$255,592 | $36,554 | $29,918 | $20,000 | 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.