Best Bachelor's Degree Programs at Northern Illinois University by ROI
Every Bachelor's Degree major at Northern Illinois University ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
44
Majors with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$44,510
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$27,214
Cost of attendance
| # | Major | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Mechanical Engineering.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
+$500,754 | $74,168 | $27,214 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
+$500,414 | $74,151 | $27,214 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
+$444,114 | $71,741 | $27,214 | $31,000 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Computer Science.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
+$399,959 | $68,991 | $27,214 | $22,966 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Industrial Engineering.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
+$380,181 | $68,055 | $27,214 | $23,750 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Engineering Technology, General.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
+$308,304 | $64,699 | $27,214 | $27,274 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Accounting and Related Services.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
+$306,589 | $64,021 | $27,214 | $18,500 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Finance and Financial Management Services.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
+$227,419 | $60,130 | $27,214 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Business Administration, Management and Operations.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
+$189,269 | $58,425 | $27,214 | $22,500 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Geography and Cartography.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
+$178,644 | $56,375 | $27,214 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
+$174,061 | $57,749 | $27,214 | $23,750 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
+$144,064 | $54,646 | $27,214 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Economics.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
+$133,667 | $55,873 | $27,214 | $25,879 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
+$119,984 | $54,900 | $27,214 | $21,600 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
+$82,029 | $53,333 | $27,214 | $26,500 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Marketing.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
+$51,052 | $51,607 | $27,214 | $23,875 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Apparel and Textiles.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
+$34,384 | $49,162 | $27,214 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Chemistry.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
-$1,717 | $48,911 | $27,214 | $23,023 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Mathematics.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
-$43,665 | $46,950 | $27,214 | $25,044 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Special Education and Teaching.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
-$48,176 | $46,482 | $27,214 | $21,452 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
-$95,508 | $44,749 | $27,214 | $30,839 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Communication and Media Studies.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
-$126,206 | $42,955 | $27,214 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
-$127,171 | $43,096 | $27,214 | $29,804 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Political Science and Government.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
-$139,546 | $42,288 | $27,214 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Biology, General.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
-$145,616 | $41,757 | $27,214 | $23,630 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Natural Resources Conservation and Research.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
-$145,939 | $41,943 | $27,214 | $26,625 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
-$161,883 | $41,154 | $27,214 | $26,746 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
-$173,466 | $40,592 | $27,214 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
History.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
-$177,051 | $40,109 | $27,214 | $22,500 | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
-$202,683 | $39,013 | $27,214 | $25,250 | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
-$247,911 | $36,566 | $27,214 | $22,500 | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
-$251,103 | $36,322 | $27,214 | $21,250 | Full ROI → |
| 33 |
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
-$254,786 | $36,526 | $27,214 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 34 |
Sociology.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
-$274,786 | $35,526 | $27,214 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 35 |
English Language and Literature, General.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
-$275,432 | $35,384 | $27,214 | $25,375 | Full ROI → |
| 36 |
Health and Physical Education/Fitness.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
-$280,830 | $35,252 | $27,214 | $27,418 | Full ROI → |
| 37 |
Psychology, General.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
-$283,977 | $34,877 | $27,214 | $24,194 | Full ROI → |
| 38 |
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
-$294,686 | $34,801 | $27,214 | $31,000 | Full ROI → |
| 39 |
Fine and Studio Arts.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
-$320,640 | $33,151 | $27,214 | $25,781 | Full ROI → |
| 40 |
Human Services, General.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
-$328,206 | $32,855 | $27,214 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 41 |
Journalism.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
-$332,598 | $32,551 | $27,214 | $25,750 | Full ROI → |
| 42 |
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
-$334,606 | $32,535 | $27,214 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 43 |
Anthropology.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
-$470,636 | $23,911 | $27,214 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 44 |
Music.
Grad rate: 51.3% |
-$594,506 | $19,675 | $27,214 | $29,000 | 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.