Lowest ROI College Degrees in 2026: Degrees to Think Twice About

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.

Lowest ROI College Degrees

1. 1. Fine Arts (Studio Art) — $32,000 median salary
2. 2. Music Performance — $30,000 median
3. 3. Philosophy (without grad school) — $38,000 median
4. 4. Sociology — $40,000 median
5. 5. Criminal Justice (at expensive private schools) — $42,000 median
6. 6. Communications (general) — $42,000 median
7. 7. Psychology (bachelor's only) — $38,000 median
8. 8. Liberal Arts (general studies) — $36,000 median

What This Means for You

Low ROI doesn't mean don't study it — it means be smart about cost. A philosophy degree from a $12K/yr state school is very different from the same degree at a $60K/yr private school. The major matters, but the price tag matters more.

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.