Best Bachelor's Degree Programs at University of Colorado Boulder by ROI
Every Bachelor's Degree major at University of Colorado Boulder ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
41
Majors with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$2,996
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$33,466
Cost of attendance
| # | Major | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Computer Engineering.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
+$728,606 | $86,676 | $33,466 | $23,000 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Computer Science.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
+$710,431 | $85,563 | $33,466 | $19,974 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
+$661,217 | $83,132 | $33,466 | $20,414 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
+$642,593 | $82,513 | $33,466 | $25,039 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Architectural Engineering.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
+$596,543 | $79,544 | $33,466 | $15,165 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Chemical Engineering.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
+$541,861 | $77,440 | $33,466 | $24,500 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Mechanical Engineering.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
+$430,361 | $71,595 | $33,466 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Biochemical Engineering.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
+$426,586 | $71,035 | $33,466 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Civil Engineering.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
+$388,821 | $69,518 | $33,466 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Business Administration, Management and Operations.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
+$295,791 | $64,934 | $33,466 | $21,500 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
+$294,387 | $64,819 | $33,466 | $20,836 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
+$171,156 | $57,251 | $33,466 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Economics.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
+$138,785 | $56,788 | $33,466 | $17,119 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Mathematics.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
+$114,900 | $55,853 | $33,466 | $20,960 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
+$59,426 | $53,352 | $33,466 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Journalism.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
+$49,673 | $52,240 | $33,466 | $15,750 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Communication and Media Studies.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
+$24,571 | $51,103 | $33,466 | $17,500 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Physics.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
+$12,218 | $50,697 | $33,466 | $20,635 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Political Science and Government.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
-$65,769 | $46,721 | $33,466 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Environmental Design.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
-$88,859 | $45,846 | $33,466 | $23,641 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
-$133,581 | $43,521 | $33,466 | $22,324 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
-$154,664 | $40,960 | $33,466 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
International/Global Studies.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
-$173,704 | $41,196 | $33,466 | $17,600 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Sociology.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
-$173,719 | $41,210 | $33,466 | $17,819 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Geography and Cartography.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
-$178,196 | $41,255 | $33,466 | $21,802 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
-$191,713 | $40,470 | $33,466 | $20,185 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
-$215,349 | $39,298 | $33,466 | $20,330 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Psychology, General.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
-$216,459 | $39,254 | $33,466 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
Natural Resources Conservation and Research.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
-$230,014 | $38,610 | $33,466 | $21,000 | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
Philosophy.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
-$249,148 | $37,938 | $33,466 | $25,218 | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
-$293,074 | $35,322 | $33,466 | $19,000 | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
Neurobiology and Neurosciences.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
-$299,629 | $35,190 | $33,466 | $21,900 | Full ROI → |
| 33 |
Film/Video and Photographic Arts.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
-$315,244 | $34,281 | $33,466 | $20,000 | Full ROI → |
| 34 |
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
-$329,084 | $32,239 | $33,466 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 35 |
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
-$332,440 | $33,646 | $33,466 | $23,331 | Full ROI → |
| 36 |
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
-$368,114 | $31,495 | $33,466 | $17,889 | Full ROI → |
| 37 |
English Language and Literature, General.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
-$369,638 | $31,529 | $33,466 | $19,522 | Full ROI → |
| 38 |
Anthropology.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
-$373,184 | $31,384 | $33,466 | $20,000 | Full ROI → |
| 39 |
History.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
-$393,395 | $30,232 | $33,466 | $17,905 | Full ROI → |
| 40 |
Fine and Studio Arts.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
-$474,389 | $26,425 | $33,466 | $21,500 | Full ROI → |
| 41 |
Music.
Grad rate: 74.9% |
-$545,702 | $22,575 | $33,466 | $17,288 | 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.