Best Master's Degree Programs at Michigan State University by ROI
Every Master's Degree major at Michigan State University ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
28
Majors with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$514,803
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$30,528
Cost of attendance
| # | Major | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Business/Commerce, General.
Grad rate: 81.9% |
+$1,754,744 | $132,790 | $30,528 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Business Administration, Management and Operations.
Grad rate: 81.9% |
+$1,269,864 | $108,546 | $30,528 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Veterinary Medicine.
Grad rate: 81.9% |
+$1,196,684 | $104,887 | $30,528 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Human Resources Management and Services.
Grad rate: 81.9% |
+$1,129,164 | $101,511 | $30,528 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.
Grad rate: 81.9% |
+$1,108,784 | $100,492 | $30,528 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Educational Administration and Supervision.
Grad rate: 81.9% |
+$1,053,224 | $97,714 | $30,528 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods.
Grad rate: 81.9% |
+$945,264 | $92,316 | $30,528 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Food Science and Technology.
Grad rate: 81.9% |
+$894,164 | $89,761 | $30,528 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Pharmacology and Toxicology.
Grad rate: 81.9% |
+$693,404 | $79,723 | $30,528 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other.
Grad rate: 81.9% |
+$683,504 | $79,228 | $30,528 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Marketing.
Grad rate: 81.9% |
+$594,424 | $74,774 | $30,528 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Accounting and Related Services.
Grad rate: 81.9% |
+$582,664 | $74,186 | $30,528 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Law.
Grad rate: 81.9% |
+$466,524 | $68,379 | $30,528 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Medicine.
Grad rate: 81.9% |
+$416,044 | $65,855 | $30,528 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Criminal Justice and Corrections.
Grad rate: 81.9% |
+$382,344 | $64,170 | $30,528 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
Public Health.
Grad rate: 81.9% |
+$305,004 | $60,303 | $30,528 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services.
Grad rate: 81.9% |
+$269,104 | $58,508 | $30,528 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
Educational/Instructional Media Design.
Grad rate: 81.9% |
+$190,164 | $54,561 | $30,528 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services.
Grad rate: 81.9% |
+$170,184 | $53,562 | $30,528 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Special Education and Teaching.
Grad rate: 81.9% |
+$106,984 | $50,402 | $30,528 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
Curriculum and Instruction.
Grad rate: 81.9% |
+$91,104 | $49,608 | $30,528 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
Social Work.
Grad rate: 81.9% |
+$85,184 | $49,312 | $30,528 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Student Counseling and Personnel Services.
Grad rate: 81.9% |
+$68,724 | $48,489 | $30,528 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions.
Grad rate: 81.9% |
+$62,624 | $48,184 | $30,528 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
Education, General.
Grad rate: 81.9% |
+$58,884 | $47,997 | $30,528 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication.
Grad rate: 81.9% |
+$13,684 | $45,737 | $30,528 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Health and Physical Education/Fitness.
Grad rate: 81.9% |
-$3,796 | $44,863 | $30,528 | $0 | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Music.
Grad rate: 81.9% |
-$174,156 | $36,345 | $30,528 | $0 | 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.