According to the Education Data Initiative (EDI), the average bachelor’s degree has a lifetime return on investment (ROI) of nearly 682% — but it takes a long time just to break even.
The average bachelor’s degree of arts has a negative ROI of -4.1% in the first decade in the workforce. It takes 11 years of employment to recoup the investment in higher education and enjoy the dividends the degree begins to pay — but some degrees pay much higher dividends than others.
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The following is a breakdown of the typical ROI for the degrees that pay back the most over the course of a 40-year career.
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Bachelor’s Degrees
The following bachelor’s degrees deliver the highest lifetime ROI after four decades in the workforce.
Finance
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Initial investment: $226,666
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Lifetime earnings for a 2025 graduate: $10.8 million
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Lifetime ROI: 1,842%
Computer and Information Science
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Initial investment: $238,858
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Lifetime earnings for a 2025 graduate: $10.7 million
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Lifetime ROI: 1,753%
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Computer Engineering
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Initial investment: $302,882
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Lifetime earnings for a 2025 graduate: $11.9 million
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Lifetime ROI: 1,744%
Engineering
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Initial investment: $368,237
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Lifetime earnings for a 2025 graduate: $10.4 million
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Lifetime ROI: 1,708%
Economics
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Initial investment: $243,252
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Lifetime earnings for a 2025 graduate: $10.8 million
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Lifetime ROI: 1,515%
Master’s Degrees
The EDI doesn’t break down master’s degrees — or any graduate degrees — by major or course of study. However, the average master’s degree granted in 2023 will pay lifetime degree-based earnings of $1,282,187 by 2063 for a 40-year ROI of 472.09%.
According to Forbes, these are the highest-paying master’s degrees to pursue in 2025:
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Master of business administration
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Master of science In nursing
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Master of economics/finance
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Master of science In computer science
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Master of science In machine learning
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Master’s degree in health informatics
Doctoral Degrees
The average doctoral degree pays $2,992,987 in lifetime earnings. By 2063, the 40-year ROI will be 623.59%.
According to Indeed.com, the highest paying doctoral degrees are Ph.Ds in:
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Organic chemistry
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Biology
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Environmental science
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Statistics
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Educational leadership
Professional Degrees
Nothing pays students back more than professional degrees like those in law, medicine and pharmacy. The average pays lifetime degree-based earnings of $4,764,219 for a total ROI of 2,248.68%.
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Sources
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Education Data Initiative, “College Degree Return on Investment”
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Forbes, “6 Highest-Paying Master’s Degrees To Pursue In 2025”
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Indeed.com, “20 of the Highest Paying PhD Degrees”
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 19 Degrees and Certifications With the Highest ROI
