Best Bachelor's Degree Programs at Duke University by ROI
Every Bachelor's Degree major at Duke University ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
22
Majors with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$240,462
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$82,749
Cost of attendance
| # | Major | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Computer Science.
Grad rate: 96.2% |
+$1,501,619 | $134,542 | $82,749 | $13,500 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Computer Engineering.
Grad rate: 96.2% |
+$1,154,669 | $117,262 | $82,749 | $14,500 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Statistics.
Grad rate: 96.2% |
+$1,087,859 | $113,854 | $82,749 | $13,500 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Economics.
Grad rate: 96.2% |
+$1,063,784 | $112,646 | $82,749 | $13,437 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Mechanical Engineering.
Grad rate: 96.2% |
+$618,564 | $90,153 | $82,749 | $10,000 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Mathematics.
Grad rate: 96.2% |
+$506,034 | $84,729 | $82,749 | $13,000 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
History.
Grad rate: 96.2% |
+$490,314 | $83,943 | $82,749 | $13,000 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Biomedical/Medical Engineering.
Grad rate: 96.2% |
+$469,187 | $82,947 | $82,749 | $13,894 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Public Policy Analysis.
Grad rate: 96.2% |
+$227,029 | $70,610 | $82,749 | $10,500 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.
Grad rate: 96.2% |
+$186,554 | $69,835 | $82,749 | $29,000 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Political Science and Government.
Grad rate: 96.2% |
+$179,702 | $68,481 | $82,749 | $14,016 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Anthropology.
Grad rate: 96.2% |
+$147,324 | $65,916 | $82,749 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Grad rate: 96.2% |
+$21,084 | $59,604 | $82,749 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Neurobiology and Neurosciences.
Grad rate: 96.2% |
-$76,806 | $55,563 | $82,749 | $12,645 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
International and Comparative Education.
Grad rate: 96.2% |
-$142,936 | $51,943 | $82,749 | $8,000 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services.
Grad rate: 96.2% |
-$165,416 | $50,279 | $82,749 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Natural Resources Conservation and Research.
Grad rate: 96.2% |
-$182,467 | $50,228 | $82,749 | $11,875 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Sociology.
Grad rate: 96.2% |
-$214,936 | $47,803 | $82,749 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Psychology, General.
Grad rate: 96.2% |
-$327,966 | $43,192 | $82,749 | $15,415 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences.
Grad rate: 96.2% |
-$398,456 | $39,437 | $82,749 | $12,000 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
English Language and Literature, General.
Grad rate: 96.2% |
-$408,214 | $39,176 | $82,749 | $15,362 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Biology, General.
Grad rate: 96.2% |
-$446,351 | $37,076 | $82,749 | $12,500 | 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.