Best Bachelor's Degree Programs at University of California-Berkeley by ROI
Every Bachelor's Degree major at University of California-Berkeley ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
42
Majors with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$178,631
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$42,708
Cost of attendance
| # | Major | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Computer Science.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
+$2,198,383 | $161,399 | $42,708 | $13,900 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
+$2,182,998 | $160,666 | $42,708 | $14,437 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Applied Mathematics.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
+$1,020,320 | $102,543 | $42,708 | $14,598 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Business Administration, Management and Operations.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
+$872,844 | $95,007 | $42,708 | $12,195 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Chemical Engineering.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
+$793,358 | $91,435 | $42,708 | $18,155 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Economics.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
+$718,178 | $87,328 | $42,708 | $13,000 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Mechanical Engineering.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
+$690,448 | $85,955 | $42,708 | $13,200 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Statistics.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
+$652,445 | $84,255 | $42,708 | $16,165 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Civil Engineering.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
+$579,398 | $80,483 | $42,708 | $14,392 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Social Sciences, Other.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
+$428,898 | $72,999 | $42,708 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Cognitive Science.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
+$415,355 | $72,251 | $42,708 | $13,950 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Geography and Cartography.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
+$264,188 | $63,751 | $42,708 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Urban Studies/Affairs.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
+$235,628 | $63,298 | $42,708 | $14,444 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Communication and Media Studies.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
+$197,235 | $61,158 | $42,708 | $11,180 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Natural Resources Conservation and Research.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
+$197,094 | $61,273 | $42,708 | $12,988 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Area Studies.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
+$158,935 | $59,499 | $42,708 | $14,972 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Architecture.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
+$97,878 | $56,448 | $42,708 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Physics.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
+$71,912 | $55,184 | $42,708 | $15,508 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Social Work.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
+$45,787 | $53,757 | $42,708 | $13,719 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Sociology.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
+$45,161 | $53,686 | $42,708 | $13,131 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
-$11,142 | $50,767 | $42,708 | $11,593 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Political Science and Government.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
-$18,422 | $50,498 | $42,708 | $13,000 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Public Health.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
-$41,086 | $49,279 | $42,708 | $11,729 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate).
Grad rate: 93.5% |
-$47,618 | $49,087 | $42,708 | $13,723 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Psychology, General.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
-$47,652 | $48,159 | $42,708 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
-$88,512 | $46,116 | $42,708 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
-$96,752 | $45,704 | $42,708 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
-$100,407 | $46,500 | $42,708 | $14,500 | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
-$103,641 | $46,422 | $42,708 | $15,740 | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
Biology, General.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
-$115,852 | $45,694 | $42,708 | $14,000 | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
English Language and Literature, General.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
-$178,117 | $42,547 | $42,708 | $13,500 | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
-$184,321 | $42,273 | $42,708 | $14,037 | Full ROI → |
| 33 |
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
-$228,952 | $40,039 | $42,708 | $14,000 | Full ROI → |
| 34 |
Nutrition Sciences.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
-$236,937 | $39,787 | $42,708 | $16,182 | Full ROI → |
| 35 |
History.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
-$255,233 | $38,662 | $42,708 | $13,068 | Full ROI → |
| 36 |
Anthropology.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
-$257,373 | $38,547 | $42,708 | $12,949 | Full ROI → |
| 37 |
Chemistry.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
-$266,454 | $37,973 | $42,708 | $11,172 | Full ROI → |
| 38 |
Philosophy.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
-$374,053 | $32,816 | $42,708 | $14,475 | Full ROI → |
| 39 |
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
-$405,932 | $31,190 | $42,708 | $14,000 | Full ROI → |
| 40 |
Film/Video and Photographic Arts.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
-$409,817 | $31,110 | $42,708 | $15,693 | Full ROI → |
| 41 |
Fine and Studio Arts.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
-$445,344 | $29,169 | $42,708 | $13,254 | Full ROI → |
| 42 |
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Grad rate: 93.5% |
-$450,293 | $29,047 | $42,708 | $15,112 | 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.