Best Bachelor's Degree Programs at Virginia Commonwealth University by ROI
Every Bachelor's Degree major at Virginia Commonwealth University ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
44
Majors with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$103,454
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$34,346
Cost of attendance
| # | Major | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
+$634,416 | $82,210 | $34,346 | $24,000 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Computer and Information Sciences, General.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
+$572,918 | $78,801 | $34,346 | $19,050 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Chemical Engineering.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
+$415,286 | $71,456 | $34,346 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Mechanical Engineering.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
+$380,118 | $69,376 | $34,346 | $22,235 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
+$364,858 | $68,862 | $34,346 | $25,924 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
+$272,678 | $64,275 | $34,346 | $26,250 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
+$256,836 | $63,533 | $34,346 | $26,992 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Information Science/Studies.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
+$250,184 | $63,023 | $34,346 | $24,364 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Business/Managerial Economics.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
+$177,551 | $59,198 | $34,346 | $21,500 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Biomedical/Medical Engineering.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
+$167,916 | $58,885 | $34,346 | $24,000 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
+$104,020 | $55,730 | $34,346 | $24,589 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Accounting and Related Services.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
+$60,023 | $53,514 | $34,346 | $24,350 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
+$53,371 | $52,989 | $34,346 | $21,500 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Business/Commerce, General.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
+$5,213 | $50,733 | $34,346 | $23,750 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Real Estate.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
+$656 | $48,902 | $34,346 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Security Science and Technology.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$7,224 | $50,263 | $34,346 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Mathematics.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$110,614 | $45,161 | $34,346 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Political Science and Government.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$127,461 | $43,939 | $34,346 | $21,376 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Criminal Justice and Corrections.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$139,091 | $43,484 | $34,346 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Urban Studies/Affairs.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$150,465 | $43,129 | $34,346 | $26,416 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$170,822 | $42,024 | $34,346 | $25,125 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Marketing.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$181,629 | $41,239 | $34,346 | $21,500 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Communication and Media Studies.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$196,044 | $40,687 | $34,346 | $24,000 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Chemistry.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$216,371 | $39,527 | $34,346 | $21,872 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Sociology.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$235,128 | $38,887 | $34,346 | $26,285 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Natural Resources Conservation and Research.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$242,469 | $38,332 | $34,346 | $23,500 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Social Work.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$254,274 | $37,843 | $34,346 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$254,460 | $37,962 | $34,346 | $26,901 | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
Religion/Religious Studies.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$257,904 | $35,974 | $34,346 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
Biology, General.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$276,435 | $36,513 | $34,346 | $21,712 | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
Psychology, General.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$282,442 | $36,313 | $34,346 | $23,199 | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
History.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$293,826 | $35,781 | $34,346 | $23,750 | Full ROI → |
| 33 |
Biological and Physical Sciences.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$331,800 | $34,100 | $34,346 | $26,975 | Full ROI → |
| 34 |
English Language and Literature, General.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$334,516 | $33,679 | $34,346 | $22,750 | Full ROI → |
| 35 |
Design and Applied Arts.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$335,798 | $33,830 | $34,346 | $25,937 | Full ROI → |
| 36 |
Film/Video and Photographic Arts.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$337,624 | $33,743 | $34,346 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 37 |
Area Studies.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$342,689 | $33,321 | $34,346 | $23,500 | Full ROI → |
| 38 |
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$352,795 | $32,706 | $34,346 | $21,875 | Full ROI → |
| 39 |
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$389,244 | $31,162 | $34,346 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 40 |
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$412,884 | $29,980 | $34,346 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 41 |
Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$481,189 | $26,126 | $34,346 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 42 |
Anthropology.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$503,538 | $24,637 | $34,346 | $13,996 | Full ROI → |
| 43 |
Fine and Studio Arts.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$517,678 | $24,563 | $34,346 | $23,374 | Full ROI → |
| 44 |
Music.
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$531,614 | $24,111 | $34,346 | $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.