College Degrees That Pay for Themselves in Under 2 Years
Which degrees have the fastest break-even point? These programs cost so little relative to salary gains that they pay for themselves in under 24 months.
Not all college degrees deliver the same return on investment. Here are the key findings from our analysis of U.S. Department of Education salary data.
Degrees That Pay for Themselves in Under 2 Years
- 1. Computer Science at in-state public universities
- 2. Nursing (BSN) at community college to state university pipeline
- 3. Engineering at land-grant universities
- 4. Data Science at state flagship schools
- 5. Cybersecurity at public universities
What This Means for You
The fastest-payoff degrees share two traits: high starting salary and low net cost. Attending a state school in your home state is the single biggest factor in achieving a fast break-even.
Want to see the data for your specific school and major? Search on Ask Kinsley to get your personalized Value Score.
Methodology
All salary figures are median earnings 1 year after graduation from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Rankings reflect bachelor's degree programs only. For full methodology, see our methodology page.
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