Best Bachelor's Degree Programs at University of Kentucky by ROI
Every Bachelor's Degree major at University of Kentucky ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
53
Majors with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$106,491
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$32,291
Cost of attendance
| # | Major | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Mining and Mineral Engineering.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
+$693,396 | $83,128 | $32,291 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Computer Engineering.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
+$531,811 | $76,500 | $32,291 | $21,500 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
+$453,106 | $72,801 | $32,291 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Computer and Information Sciences, General.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
+$437,938 | $71,857 | $32,291 | $22,250 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Chemical Engineering.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
+$436,570 | $71,995 | $32,291 | $25,308 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Mechanical Engineering.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
+$428,166 | $71,554 | $32,291 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Finance and Financial Management Services.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
+$182,809 | $59,109 | $32,291 | $22,375 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Civil Engineering.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
+$168,662 | $58,486 | $32,291 | $23,625 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Accounting and Related Services.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
+$150,768 | $57,566 | $32,291 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
+$129,326 | $56,747 | $32,291 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
+$98,308 | $54,943 | $32,291 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Business/Managerial Economics.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
+$86,821 | $54,183 | $32,291 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Agricultural Engineering.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
+$85,771 | $54,063 | $32,291 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
+$50,036 | $52,715 | $32,291 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Business/Commerce, General.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
+$42,111 | $52,120 | $32,291 | $23,055 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Marketing.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
+$21,772 | $51,182 | $32,291 | $24,225 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Architecture.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
+$11,927 | $50,683 | $32,291 | $24,125 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Forestry.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$68,904 | $45,013 | $32,291 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Mathematics.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$76,659 | $46,144 | $32,291 | $22,500 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Economics.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$88,915 | $45,831 | $32,291 | $26,942 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Chemistry.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$103,059 | $44,824 | $32,291 | $22,500 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Design and Applied Arts.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$111,034 | $44,729 | $32,291 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Agricultural Business and Management.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$119,131 | $44,071 | $32,291 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Hospitality Administration/Management.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$124,417 | $43,696 | $32,291 | $21,610 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$138,327 | $43,204 | $32,291 | $24,625 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Political Science and Government.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$153,934 | $42,224 | $32,291 | $21,667 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Communication and Media Studies.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$179,875 | $41,076 | $32,291 | $23,875 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Agricultural Production Operations.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$220,891 | $38,848 | $32,291 | $21,250 | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
International/Global Studies.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$225,250 | $38,908 | $32,291 | $25,368 | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$236,194 | $38,471 | $32,291 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
English Language and Literature, General.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$239,771 | $37,904 | $32,291 | $21,250 | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
Special Education and Teaching.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$240,219 | $38,236 | $32,291 | $26,500 | Full ROI → |
| 33 |
Journalism.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$258,364 | $37,295 | $32,291 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 34 |
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$261,208 | $37,036 | $32,291 | $24,270 | Full ROI → |
| 35 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$261,931 | $36,931 | $32,291 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 36 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$264,366 | $36,860 | $32,291 | $24,002 | Full ROI → |
| 37 |
Apparel and Textiles.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$274,754 | $36,273 | $32,291 | $23,000 | Full ROI → |
| 38 |
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$284,364 | $34,240 | $32,291 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 39 |
History.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$285,359 | $35,574 | $32,291 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 40 |
Animal Sciences.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$301,531 | $34,951 | $32,291 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 41 |
Agricultural Public Services.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$303,384 | $34,774 | $32,291 | $22,000 | Full ROI → |
| 42 |
Psychology, General.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$312,794 | $34,506 | $32,291 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 43 |
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$327,334 | $33,772 | $32,291 | $24,897 | Full ROI → |
| 44 |
Social Work.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$335,385 | $33,503 | $32,291 | $26,875 | Full ROI → |
| 45 |
Natural Resources Conservation and Research.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$353,314 | $32,480 | $32,291 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 46 |
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$388,971 | $30,849 | $32,291 | $27,250 | Full ROI → |
| 47 |
Anthropology.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$395,690 | $30,192 | $32,291 | $22,494 | Full ROI → |
| 48 |
Music.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$403,194 | $29,851 | $32,291 | $23,000 | Full ROI → |
| 49 |
Sociology.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$425,084 | $28,959 | $32,291 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 50 |
Biology, General.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$444,651 | $27,795 | $32,291 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 51 |
Fine and Studio Arts.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$445,242 | $27,790 | $32,291 | $23,614 | Full ROI → |
| 52 |
Biotechnology.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$463,617 | $26,842 | $32,291 | $23,180 | Full ROI → |
| 53 |
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$536,214 | $23,470 | $32,291 | $27,000 | 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.