Best Bachelor's Degree Programs at Portland State University by ROI
Every Bachelor's Degree major at Portland State University ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
45
Majors with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$105,011
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$22,449
Cost of attendance
| # | Major | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Computer Science.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
+$898,934 | $93,529 | $22,449 | $31,000 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Physics.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
+$696,139 | $83,259 | $22,449 | $29,070 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
+$666,253 | $81,800 | $22,449 | $29,593 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Mechanical Engineering.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
+$473,181 | $72,114 | $22,449 | $29,113 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Civil Engineering.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
+$345,274 | $65,846 | $22,449 | $31,000 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Finance and Financial Management Services.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
+$215,534 | $58,655 | $22,449 | $20,570 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Business Administration, Management and Operations.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
+$150,014 | $55,678 | $22,449 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Accounting and Related Services.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
+$122,074 | $54,686 | $22,449 | $31,000 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Design and Applied Arts.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
+$99,700 | $53,297 | $22,449 | $26,995 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Marketing.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
+$60,419 | $50,827 | $22,449 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Mathematics.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
+$15,356 | $49,045 | $22,449 | $26,480 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Human Resources Management and Services.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
+$8,373 | $48,627 | $22,449 | $25,460 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Economics.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$51,817 | $45,583 | $22,449 | $24,949 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Chemistry.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$71,479 | $44,588 | $22,449 | $24,773 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$77,384 | $44,249 | $22,449 | $24,125 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$96,630 | $43,272 | $22,449 | $23,907 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$111,353 | $42,289 | $22,449 | $20,250 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Social Work.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$115,508 | $42,444 | $22,449 | $25,624 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Architecture.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$139,126 | $41,221 | $22,449 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Communication and Media Studies.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$155,521 | $40,373 | $22,449 | $24,582 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Biological and Physical Sciences.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$171,121 | $39,790 | $22,449 | $27,500 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Criminal Justice and Corrections.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$179,081 | $39,334 | $22,449 | $26,641 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$194,436 | $38,343 | $22,449 | $23,334 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Public Health.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$199,986 | $38,313 | $22,449 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Community Organization and Advocacy.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$211,553 | $37,414 | $22,449 | $22,250 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$229,431 | $36,132 | $22,449 | $16,500 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Sociology.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$241,486 | $36,103 | $22,449 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Social Sciences, General.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$242,706 | $36,447 | $22,449 | $31,000 | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
Natural Resources Conservation and Research.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$247,703 | $36,079 | $22,449 | $29,250 | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
Geography and Cartography.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$252,611 | $35,648 | $22,449 | $26,500 | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
Psychology, General.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$263,029 | $34,992 | $22,449 | $24,499 | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
Biology, General.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$289,558 | $33,750 | $22,449 | $25,750 | Full ROI → |
| 33 |
Philosophy.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$298,813 | $33,174 | $22,449 | $24,072 | Full ROI → |
| 34 |
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$310,231 | $32,767 | $22,449 | $26,500 | Full ROI → |
| 35 |
International Relations and National Security Studies.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$313,953 | $32,429 | $22,449 | $24,250 | Full ROI → |
| 36 |
Anthropology.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$324,621 | $31,845 | $22,449 | $23,500 | Full ROI → |
| 37 |
Political Science and Government.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$341,250 | $31,035 | $22,449 | $23,818 | Full ROI → |
| 38 |
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$358,287 | $29,886 | $22,449 | $19,416 | Full ROI → |
| 39 |
English Language and Literature, General.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$384,973 | $28,898 | $22,449 | $24,546 | Full ROI → |
| 40 |
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$399,653 | $28,549 | $22,449 | $30,250 | Full ROI → |
| 41 |
Film/Video and Photographic Arts.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$403,546 | $28,000 | $22,449 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 42 |
History.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$407,006 | $28,232 | $22,449 | $31,000 | Full ROI → |
| 43 |
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$407,009 | $28,824 | $22,449 | $39,773 | Full ROI → |
| 44 |
Fine and Studio Arts.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$425,074 | $27,607 | $22,449 | $35,125 | Full ROI → |
| 45 |
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services.
Grad rate: 52.9% |
-$560,811 | $20,452 | $22,449 | $29,671 | 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.