Best Bachelor's Degree Programs at University of Southern California by ROI
Every Bachelor's Degree major at University of Southern California ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
46
Majors with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$2,324
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$84,678
Cost of attendance
| # | Major | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Computer Science.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
+$979,467 | $109,271 | $84,678 | $20,178 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Computer Software and Media Applications.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
+$949,763 | $108,010 | $84,678 | $23,500 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Computer Engineering.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
+$822,683 | $100,711 | $84,678 | $9,500 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
+$778,893 | $99,264 | $84,678 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Engineering, General.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
+$716,835 | $94,963 | $84,678 | $2,750 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Industrial Engineering.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
+$679,550 | $94,145 | $84,678 | $18,250 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
+$623,449 | $91,535 | $84,678 | $21,140 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Civil Engineering.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
+$529,939 | $85,981 | $84,678 | $8,125 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Biomedical/Medical Engineering.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
+$500,913 | $84,960 | $84,678 | $14,500 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Accounting and Related Services.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
+$373,213 | $78,710 | $84,678 | $16,500 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Mechanical Engineering.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
+$373,143 | $78,774 | $84,678 | $17,500 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
+$361,620 | $79,126 | $84,678 | $31,250 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Chemical Engineering.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
+$339,238 | $76,775 | $84,678 | $13,000 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
+$274,925 | $72,935 | $84,678 | $3,750 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Business Administration, Management and Operations.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
+$215,131 | $70,865 | $84,678 | $17,375 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Applied Mathematics.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
+$209,929 | $70,259 | $84,678 | $12,251 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
+$77,268 | $62,799 | $84,678 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Economics.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
+$59,748 | $62,868 | $84,678 | $14,000 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Architecture.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
+$37,148 | $60,793 | $84,678 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
History.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$3,293 | $59,624 | $84,678 | $12,638 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$113,625 | $54,630 | $84,678 | $20,380 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$122,590 | $54,173 | $84,678 | $20,251 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Journalism.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$130,449 | $53,510 | $84,678 | $16,250 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
International Relations and National Security Studies.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$134,154 | $53,157 | $84,678 | $13,765 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Communication and Media Studies.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$147,989 | $52,731 | $84,678 | $17,702 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Natural Resources Conservation and Research.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$154,928 | $51,875 | $84,678 | $10,160 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Area Studies.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$173,792 | $50,246 | $84,678 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Political Science and Government.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$224,885 | $48,560 | $84,678 | $12,869 | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$228,259 | $47,742 | $84,678 | $3,250 | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
Visual and Performing Arts, General.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$237,112 | $47,080 | $84,678 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
Social Sciences, General.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$260,972 | $45,887 | $84,678 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
Neurobiology and Neurosciences.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$276,554 | $46,171 | $84,678 | $15,750 | Full ROI → |
| 33 |
Psychology, General.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$298,412 | $44,960 | $84,678 | $14,000 | Full ROI → |
| 34 |
Fine and Studio Arts.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$350,870 | $42,818 | $84,678 | $21,125 | Full ROI → |
| 35 |
Design and Applied Arts.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$362,845 | $42,026 | $84,678 | $18,262 | Full ROI → |
| 36 |
Public Health.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$371,799 | $41,375 | $84,678 | $15,250 | Full ROI → |
| 37 |
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$377,957 | $41,354 | $84,678 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 38 |
Sociology.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$382,869 | $40,489 | $84,678 | $10,324 | Full ROI → |
| 39 |
Film/Video and Photographic Arts.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$395,629 | $40,618 | $84,678 | $21,687 | Full ROI → |
| 40 |
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$498,672 | $35,352 | $84,678 | $20,000 | Full ROI → |
| 41 |
Human Biology.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$529,607 | $33,434 | $84,678 | $14,500 | Full ROI → |
| 42 |
Biology, General.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$547,777 | $31,918 | $84,678 | $5,500 | Full ROI → |
| 43 |
Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$587,879 | $30,976 | $84,678 | $21,250 | Full ROI → |
| 44 |
English Language and Literature, General.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$617,263 | $28,604 | $84,678 | $7,875 | Full ROI → |
| 45 |
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$630,452 | $28,223 | $84,678 | $12,000 | Full ROI → |
| 46 |
Music.
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$849,129 | $17,895 | $84,678 | $20,976 | 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.