Best Bachelor's Degree Programs at Purdue University-Main Campus by ROI
Every Bachelor's Degree major at Purdue University-Main Campus ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
52
Majors with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$175,997
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$22,567
Cost of attendance
| # | Major | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Computer Science.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$938,115 | $94,727 | $22,567 | $19,375 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Computer Engineering.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$757,682 | $85,950 | $22,567 | $23,000 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Industrial Engineering.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$637,385 | $79,694 | $22,567 | $19,427 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$630,582 | $79,325 | $22,567 | $19,000 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Chemical Engineering.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$624,187 | $79,174 | $22,567 | $21,500 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Mechanical Engineering.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$610,137 | $78,366 | $22,567 | $19,937 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$580,947 | $77,012 | $22,567 | $21,500 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Computer and Information Sciences, General.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$578,012 | $76,763 | $22,567 | $19,985 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Biomedical/Medical Engineering.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$519,947 | $73,827 | $22,567 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$510,988 | $73,297 | $22,567 | $18,284 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$495,676 | $72,738 | $22,567 | $21,345 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$488,797 | $72,254 | $22,567 | $19,270 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Statistics.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$459,987 | $70,829 | $22,567 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$453,557 | $70,575 | $22,567 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Civil Engineering.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$418,727 | $68,766 | $22,567 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Agricultural Engineering.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$387,832 | $67,255 | $22,567 | $20,000 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$369,964 | $66,581 | $22,567 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Accounting and Related Services.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$360,947 | $65,877 | $22,567 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$326,475 | $64,426 | $22,567 | $23,538 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Business Administration, Management and Operations.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$324,707 | $64,065 | $22,567 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$277,299 | $61,688 | $22,567 | $19,402 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Air Transportation.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$258,684 | $60,882 | $22,567 | $21,250 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$256,457 | $60,717 | $22,567 | $20,455 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Engineering Technology, General.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$249,712 | $58,999 | $22,567 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Economics.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$174,647 | $56,913 | $22,567 | $24,700 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Finance and Financial Management Services.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$172,719 | $56,657 | $22,567 | $22,335 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Agricultural Mechanization.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$159,047 | $55,834 | $22,567 | $20,270 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Agricultural Business and Management.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$98,607 | $52,625 | $22,567 | $17,500 | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
Hospitality Administration/Management.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$49,598 | $50,305 | $22,567 | $19,432 | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$28,432 | $47,935 | $22,567 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
Psychology, General.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
+$1,852 | $46,606 | $22,567 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
Chemistry.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
-$6,513 | $47,504 | $22,567 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 33 |
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
-$16,633 | $46,998 | $22,567 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 34 |
Biology, General.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
-$28,581 | $46,460 | $22,567 | $20,380 | Full ROI → |
| 35 |
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
-$30,510 | $46,355 | $22,567 | $20,254 | Full ROI → |
| 36 |
Public Health.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
-$51,493 | $45,390 | $22,567 | $21,500 | Full ROI → |
| 37 |
Design and Applied Arts.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
-$59,285 | $44,916 | $22,567 | $20,250 | Full ROI → |
| 38 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
-$75,313 | $44,064 | $22,567 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 39 |
Political Science and Government.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
-$77,728 | $43,977 | $22,567 | $20,000 | Full ROI → |
| 40 |
Communication and Media Studies.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
-$100,323 | $42,746 | $22,567 | $18,500 | Full ROI → |
| 41 |
Sociology.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
-$116,163 | $42,089 | $22,567 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 42 |
Computer Software and Media Applications.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
-$119,575 | $41,969 | $22,567 | $21,250 | Full ROI → |
| 43 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
-$120,060 | $41,769 | $22,567 | $18,646 | Full ROI → |
| 44 |
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
-$180,833 | $38,788 | $22,567 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 45 |
Animal Sciences.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
-$192,103 | $38,292 | $22,567 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 46 |
Research and Experimental Psychology.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
-$208,873 | $37,386 | $22,567 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 47 |
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
-$210,548 | $37,019 | $22,567 | $15,304 | Full ROI → |
| 48 |
History.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
-$220,071 | $37,061 | $22,567 | $22,980 | Full ROI → |
| 49 |
Health and Physical Education/Fitness.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
-$252,743 | $35,260 | $22,567 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 50 |
English Language and Literature, General.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
-$274,953 | $34,082 | $22,567 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 51 |
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
-$333,819 | $31,175 | $22,567 | $20,038 | Full ROI → |
| 52 |
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management.
Grad rate: 83.1% |
-$373,743 | $29,210 | $22,567 | $20,500 | 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.