Best Bachelor's Degree Programs at California State University-Northridge by ROI
Every Bachelor's Degree major at California State University-Northridge ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
49
Majors with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$13,644
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$20,317
Cost of attendance
| # | Major | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
+$1,022,432 | $98,535 | $20,317 | $20,000 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Construction Engineering Technologies.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
+$929,912 | $92,559 | $20,317 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
+$850,674 | $89,964 | $20,317 | $20,250 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Computer Science.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
+$738,199 | $84,221 | $20,317 | $18,483 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
+$714,728 | $82,977 | $20,317 | $17,440 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Mechanical Engineering.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
+$583,712 | $76,464 | $20,317 | $18,000 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Accounting and Related Services.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
+$387,268 | $66,494 | $20,317 | $15,810 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Civil Engineering.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
+$385,383 | $66,597 | $20,317 | $18,732 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Computer and Information Sciences, General.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
+$284,572 | $61,575 | $20,317 | $19,007 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Mathematics.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
+$249,050 | $59,660 | $20,317 | $16,949 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Operations Research.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
+$230,522 | $58,602 | $20,317 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Biotechnology.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
+$118,177 | $53,364 | $20,317 | $20,618 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Management Information Systems and Services.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
+$116,893 | $53,383 | $20,317 | $21,851 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Urban Studies/Affairs.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
+$113,935 | $52,679 | $20,317 | $13,612 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Economics.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
+$109,382 | $52,410 | $20,317 | $13,000 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Geography and Cartography.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
+$61,654 | $49,703 | $20,317 | $8,250 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Finance and Financial Management Services.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
+$42,072 | $49,112 | $20,317 | $14,000 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Marketing.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
+$32,072 | $48,612 | $20,317 | $14,000 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Business Administration, Management and Operations.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$4,558 | $46,848 | $20,317 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Health and Medical Administrative Services.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$16,358 | $46,123 | $20,317 | $13,000 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Public Health.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$64,128 | $43,802 | $20,317 | $14,000 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Communication and Media Studies.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$78,506 | $43,083 | $20,317 | $13,999 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Philosophy.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$80,828 | $42,022 | $20,317 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Hospitality Administration/Management.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$94,078 | $42,372 | $20,317 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$112,028 | $40,462 | $20,317 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Sociology.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$128,318 | $40,525 | $20,317 | $13,000 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Social Work.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$131,374 | $40,335 | $20,317 | $12,449 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$140,038 | $40,074 | $20,317 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$142,546 | $39,961 | $20,317 | $15,184 | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$145,692 | $40,199 | $20,317 | $21,040 | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
Journalism.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$205,286 | $36,844 | $20,317 | $15,480 | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
Film/Video and Photographic Arts.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$206,827 | $36,955 | $20,317 | $18,266 | Full ROI → |
| 33 |
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$207,758 | $36,823 | $20,317 | $17,000 | Full ROI → |
| 34 |
Health and Physical Education/Fitness.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$210,798 | $36,536 | $20,317 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 35 |
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$215,778 | $36,311 | $20,317 | $15,356 | Full ROI → |
| 36 |
Biology, General.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$218,797 | $36,140 | $20,317 | $15,059 | Full ROI → |
| 37 |
Political Science and Government.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$247,760 | $34,634 | $20,317 | $14,202 | Full ROI → |
| 38 |
History.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$268,098 | $33,671 | $20,317 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 39 |
Design and Applied Arts.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$272,308 | $32,448 | $20,317 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 40 |
Psychology, General.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$282,798 | $32,801 | $20,317 | $13,000 | Full ROI → |
| 41 |
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$292,328 | $31,447 | $20,317 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 42 |
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$292,415 | $32,202 | $20,317 | $11,250 | Full ROI → |
| 43 |
Music.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$293,317 | $32,473 | $20,317 | $15,933 | Full ROI → |
| 44 |
English Language and Literature, General.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$308,668 | $31,845 | $20,317 | $18,000 | Full ROI → |
| 45 |
Fine and Studio Arts.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$311,298 | $31,511 | $20,317 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 46 |
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$312,178 | $31,467 | $20,317 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 47 |
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$335,058 | $30,323 | $20,317 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 48 |
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$339,123 | $30,313 | $20,317 | $17,863 | Full ROI → |
| 49 |
Anthropology.
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$342,990 | $30,112 | $20,317 | $17,750 | 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.