Best Bachelor's Degree Programs at Western Carolina University by ROI
Every Bachelor's Degree major at Western Carolina University ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
42
Majors with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$138,398
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$19,057
Cost of attendance
| # | Major | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Computer Science.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
+$494,662 | $72,367 | $19,057 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Construction Engineering Technologies.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
+$334,002 | $64,334 | $19,057 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Engineering Technology, General.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
+$313,104 | $63,171 | $19,057 | $25,250 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
+$192,561 | $57,003 | $19,057 | $23,163 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Security Science and Technology.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
+$132,987 | $53,912 | $19,057 | $21,500 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Management Information Systems and Services.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
+$122,662 | $53,497 | $19,057 | $23,000 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Public Administration.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
+$122,385 | $53,171 | $19,057 | $18,375 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Finance and Financial Management Services.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
+$21,078 | $48,460 | $19,057 | $23,625 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
+$8,014 | $47,821 | $19,057 | $23,835 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Accounting and Related Services.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$13,068 | $46,508 | $19,057 | $20,000 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Public Health.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$59,251 | $44,627 | $19,057 | $26,343 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Marketing.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$74,363 | $43,680 | $19,057 | $23,508 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Design and Applied Arts.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$81,547 | $43,753 | $19,057 | $29,911 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Criminal Justice and Corrections.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$101,220 | $42,199 | $19,057 | $21,461 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$107,705 | $41,863 | $19,057 | $21,287 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Business Administration, Management and Operations.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$115,866 | $41,604 | $19,057 | $23,495 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$141,015 | $40,330 | $19,057 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Music.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$158,778 | $39,695 | $19,057 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$173,513 | $38,857 | $19,057 | $25,500 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Philosophy.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$179,428 | $36,840 | $19,057 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Communication and Media Studies.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$192,463 | $37,437 | $19,057 | $18,500 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Special Education and Teaching.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$204,922 | $36,948 | $19,057 | $20,485 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$211,591 | $36,900 | $19,057 | $24,714 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Hospitality Administration/Management.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$229,828 | $36,075 | $19,057 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Sociology.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$230,855 | $35,838 | $19,057 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Health and Physical Education/Fitness.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$244,318 | $35,283 | $19,057 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Natural Resources Management and Policy.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$246,536 | $34,967 | $19,057 | $21,962 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Mathematics.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$248,198 | $35,224 | $19,057 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
Social Work.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$252,354 | $34,939 | $19,057 | $25,857 | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
Natural Resources Conservation and Research.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$276,588 | $31,982 | $19,057 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
Anthropology.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$279,091 | $33,382 | $19,057 | $22,595 | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$296,129 | $32,686 | $19,057 | $24,905 | Full ROI → |
| 33 |
Political Science and Government.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$299,618 | $32,518 | $19,057 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 34 |
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$300,828 | $32,390 | $19,057 | $24,000 | Full ROI → |
| 35 |
History.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$301,613 | $32,351 | $19,057 | $24,004 | Full ROI → |
| 36 |
Biology, General.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$304,677 | $32,335 | $19,057 | $26,037 | Full ROI → |
| 37 |
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$314,548 | $31,839 | $19,057 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 38 |
Psychology, General.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$341,295 | $30,316 | $19,057 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 39 |
English Language and Literature, General.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$344,958 | $30,251 | $19,057 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 40 |
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$361,528 | $29,237 | $19,057 | $22,252 | Full ROI → |
| 41 |
Fine and Studio Arts.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$424,188 | $26,357 | $19,057 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 42 |
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication.
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$442,318 | $25,383 | $19,057 | $25,000 | 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.