Best Bachelor's Degree Programs at Southern Methodist University by ROI
Every Bachelor's Degree major at Southern Methodist University ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
28
Majors with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$16,405
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$82,532
Cost of attendance
| # | Major | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Business Administration, Management and Operations.
Grad rate: 82.8% |
+$909,827 | $105,314 | $82,532 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.
Grad rate: 82.8% |
+$604,172 | $88,715 | $82,532 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Finance and Financial Management Services.
Grad rate: 82.8% |
+$595,767 | $89,611 | $82,532 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Operations Research.
Grad rate: 82.8% |
+$588,577 | $89,319 | $82,532 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Computer Science.
Grad rate: 82.8% |
+$555,632 | $88,043 | $82,532 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Accounting and Related Services.
Grad rate: 82.8% |
+$364,494 | $77,801 | $82,532 | $15,850 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Mechanical Engineering.
Grad rate: 82.8% |
+$256,806 | $72,542 | $82,532 | $17,708 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Economics.
Grad rate: 82.8% |
+$242,847 | $71,965 | $82,532 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Mathematics.
Grad rate: 82.8% |
+$187,622 | $69,305 | $82,532 | $21,000 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Marketing.
Grad rate: 82.8% |
+$142,557 | $67,018 | $82,532 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Design and Applied Arts.
Grad rate: 82.8% |
-$45,128 | $56,250 | $82,532 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.
Grad rate: 82.8% |
-$57,788 | $55,617 | $82,532 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication.
Grad rate: 82.8% |
-$58,990 | $56,890 | $82,532 | $19,750 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Health and Physical Education/Fitness.
Grad rate: 82.8% |
-$61,989 | $56,789 | $82,532 | $20,475 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Political Science and Government.
Grad rate: 82.8% |
-$108,043 | $54,488 | $82,532 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Communication and Media Studies.
Grad rate: 82.8% |
-$169,488 | $50,032 | $82,532 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
History.
Grad rate: 82.8% |
-$192,955 | $50,428 | $82,532 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
English Language and Literature, General.
Grad rate: 82.8% |
-$201,533 | $49,746 | $82,532 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Journalism.
Grad rate: 82.8% |
-$237,802 | $47,929 | $82,532 | $19,448 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Public Policy Analysis.
Grad rate: 82.8% |
-$244,208 | $47,620 | $82,532 | $19,615 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Fine and Studio Arts.
Grad rate: 82.8% |
-$253,188 | $45,847 | $82,532 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Grad rate: 82.8% |
-$280,083 | $45,834 | $82,532 | $19,730 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Biology, General.
Grad rate: 82.8% |
-$302,296 | $44,885 | $82,532 | $22,125 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Psychology, General.
Grad rate: 82.8% |
-$380,536 | $41,053 | $82,532 | $23,310 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Sociology.
Grad rate: 82.8% |
-$469,128 | $35,050 | $82,532 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Film/Video and Photographic Arts.
Grad rate: 82.8% |
-$482,708 | $34,371 | $82,532 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Music.
Grad rate: 82.8% |
-$679,390 | $25,780 | $82,532 | $18,417 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Grad rate: 82.8% |
-$682,408 | $26,006 | $82,532 | $24,000 | 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.