Best Bachelor's Degree Programs at West Virginia University by ROI
Every Bachelor's Degree major at West Virginia University 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
+$25,068
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$23,678
Cost of attendance
| # | Major | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Petroleum Engineering.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
+$625,828 | $79,782 | $23,678 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Industrial Engineering.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
+$587,218 | $77,798 | $23,678 | $25,207 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Chemical Engineering.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
+$579,909 | $77,273 | $23,678 | $22,843 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Computer Science.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
+$554,642 | $76,022 | $23,678 | $23,026 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
+$552,611 | $76,205 | $23,678 | $27,242 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Mining and Mineral Engineering.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
+$524,928 | $74,663 | $23,678 | $24,903 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
+$521,473 | $74,328 | $23,678 | $22,500 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Mechanical Engineering.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
+$506,581 | $73,836 | $23,678 | $26,242 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Computer Engineering.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
+$378,973 | $67,338 | $23,678 | $24,500 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Management Information Systems and Services.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
+$375,601 | $66,967 | $23,678 | $21,501 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Civil Engineering.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
+$347,415 | $65,746 | $23,678 | $24,291 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
+$300,596 | $63,380 | $23,678 | $23,920 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
+$293,588 | $63,170 | $23,678 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Chemistry.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
+$251,727 | $60,966 | $23,678 | $24,356 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
+$230,924 | $60,045 | $23,678 | $26,121 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Accounting and Related Services.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
+$225,438 | $59,621 | $23,678 | $23,903 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Finance and Financial Management Services.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
+$203,338 | $58,590 | $23,678 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
+$153,260 | $56,157 | $23,678 | $26,050 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Business/Managerial Economics.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
+$148,196 | $55,748 | $23,678 | $23,742 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Marketing.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
+$109,927 | $53,842 | $23,678 | $23,852 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Business/Commerce, General.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
+$96,024 | $53,321 | $23,678 | $26,432 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Security Science and Technology.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
+$83,010 | $52,528 | $23,678 | $24,324 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Business Administration, Management and Operations.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
+$71,531 | $52,016 | $23,678 | $25,242 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Landscape Architecture.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
+$49,848 | $49,228 | $23,678 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$5,359 | $47,902 | $23,678 | $21,250 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Design and Applied Arts.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$5,717 | $48,171 | $23,678 | $25,500 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Criminal Justice and Corrections.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$44,512 | $44,510 | $23,678 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Geography and Cartography.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$54,202 | $45,584 | $23,678 | $23,089 | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$60,802 | $45,383 | $23,678 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
Health and Physical Education/Fitness.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$105,842 | $43,131 | $23,678 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
Journalism.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$113,029 | $42,721 | $23,678 | $24,250 | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$120,619 | $42,274 | $23,678 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 33 |
Criminology.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$131,552 | $40,158 | $23,678 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 34 |
Forestry.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$157,462 | $40,440 | $23,678 | $23,371 | Full ROI → |
| 35 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$157,728 | $40,553 | $23,678 | $25,242 | Full ROI → |
| 36 |
Agricultural Business and Management.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$167,366 | $39,992 | $23,678 | $24,070 | Full ROI → |
| 37 |
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$182,422 | $39,302 | $23,678 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 38 |
History.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$202,249 | $38,125 | $23,678 | $22,250 | Full ROI → |
| 39 |
Political Science and Government.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$210,899 | $37,760 | $23,678 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 40 |
Animal Sciences.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$217,407 | $37,249 | $23,678 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 41 |
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$227,962 | $37,025 | $23,678 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 42 |
Social Work.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$237,282 | $36,559 | $23,678 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 43 |
Psychology, General.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$274,424 | $34,589 | $23,678 | $23,328 | Full ROI → |
| 44 |
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$289,808 | $33,657 | $23,678 | $20,916 | Full ROI → |
| 45 |
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$301,847 | $33,297 | $23,678 | $24,500 | Full ROI → |
| 46 |
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$325,508 | $32,164 | $23,678 | $25,242 | Full ROI → |
| 47 |
English Language and Literature, General.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$332,459 | $31,547 | $23,678 | $21,250 | Full ROI → |
| 48 |
Sociology.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$336,293 | $31,556 | $23,678 | $24,223 | Full ROI → |
| 49 |
Plant Sciences.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$346,302 | $31,108 | $23,678 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 50 |
Biology, General.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$359,343 | $30,327 | $23,678 | $23,090 | Full ROI → |
| 51 |
Fine and Studio Arts.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$430,455 | $26,841 | $23,678 | $24,121 | Full ROI → |
| 52 |
Music.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$476,962 | $24,575 | $23,678 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 53 |
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Grad rate: 61.7% |
-$568,169 | $19,656 | $23,678 | $19,687 | 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.