Annual Report
State of Student Debt ROI 2026
Which Degrees Are Worth It
0% of school-major combinations are rated AVOID — but 98% are a STRONG BUY.
Published April 2026 · College Scorecard data through 2025
Executive Summary
After analyzing 30,224 school-major combinations across 2202 institutions, this report finds that the answer to "is college worth it?" depends entirely on what you study and where. 98% of combinations earn a STRONG BUY verdict — where expected earnings justify the debt — while 0% are rated AVOID, meaning graduates face debt burdens disproportionate to their earning potential.
The average median student debt across all programs is $26K, with first-year median earnings of $58K. But these averages conceal enormous variation. The top ROI combinations see graduates earning multiples of their debt within the first year, while the worst see graduates taking on five or more years of income in debt for majors with limited earning potential.
The public vs. private divide remains significant: public university graduates carry average debt of $25K vs. $27K at private institutions. However, the major chosen matters more than the institution type. A computer science degree at a public university consistently outperforms a low-demand liberal arts degree at an expensive private school on pure ROI terms.
Highest-ROI Majors (Averaged Across Schools)
| Major | Avg Debt | Avg 1yr Earnings | Avg 5yr Earnings | Avg ROI Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information Science/Studies | $21K | $95K | $147K | 89/100 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | $23K | $95K | $147K | 88/100 |
| Computer Programming | $23K | $95K | $147K | 88/100 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | $147K | 88/100 |
| Computer Science | $22K | $95K | $147K | 88/100 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $24K | $95K | $147K | 88/100 |
| Statistics | $21K | $78K | $126K | 88/100 |
| Computer Systems Analysis | $24K | $95K | $147K | 88/100 |
Lowest-ROI Majors
| Major | Avg Debt | Avg 1yr Earnings | Debt-to-Income | Avg ROI Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funeral Service and Mortuary Science | $28K | $35K | 0.8x | 36/100 |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | $25K | $35K | 0.7x | 39/100 |
| Religious/Sacred Music | $27K | $40K | 0.7x | 41/100 |
| Theology and Religious Vocations, Other | $28K | $40K | 0.7x | 41/100 |
| Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries | $27K | $40K | 0.7x | 42/100 |
| Religious Education | $26K | $40K | 0.7x | 42/100 |
| Theology and Religious Vocations | $27K | $40K | 0.7x | 42/100 |
| Bible/Biblical Studies | $26K | $40K | 0.6x | 42/100 |
Public vs. Private: The Value Divide
Public Universities
Private Universities
Top 10 Best School-Major Combinations
| School | Major | Debt | 1yr Earnings | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capitol Technology University | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $4K | $95K | STRONG BUY |
| Capitol Technology University | Computer and Information Sciences | $4K | $95K | STRONG BUY |
| Capitol Technology University | Computer Programming | $4K | $95K | STRONG BUY |
| Strayer University-District of Columbia | Computer and Information Sciences | $5K | $95K | STRONG BUY |
| Strayer University-District of Columbia | Information Science/Studies | $5K | $95K | STRONG BUY |
| Strayer University-Florida | Computer and Information Sciences | $4K | $95K | STRONG BUY |
| Strayer University-Georgia | Computer and Information Sciences | $4K | $95K | STRONG BUY |
| Strayer University-Georgia | Information Science/Studies | $4K | $95K | STRONG BUY |
| Strayer University-Global Region | Computer and Information Sciences | $4K | $95K | STRONG BUY |
| Strayer University-Global Region | Information Science/Studies | $4K | $95K | STRONG BUY |
Methodology
This report analyzes U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data covering 2202 institutions and 30,224 school-major combinations. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. major national average (10%). Verdicts map to score ranges: STRONG BUY (75+), BUY (55-74), CAUTION (35-54), AVOID (0-34). See our full methodology.
Cite This Report
CollegeDebt. "State of Student Debt ROI 2026: Which Degrees Are Worth It." collegeroidata.com, April 2026. https://collegeroidata.com/report/student-debt-roi-2026
Frequently Asked Questions
0% of the 30,224 school-major combinations in our dataset have debt-to-income ratios high enough to warrant an AVOID rating. This means the median graduate's debt burden is disproportionate to their first-year earnings, making the degree a poor financial investment at that specific institution.
Information Science/Studies, Computer Software and Media Applications, Computer Programming consistently rank as the highest-ROI majors across institutions. These fields combine moderate debt loads with strong first-year earnings and positive job market outlooks. However, the specific school matters enormously — the same major can be a STRONG BUY at one school and AVOID at another.
On average, public university graduates carry $25K in median debt compared to $27K at private institutions. Public school graduates earn $59K in their first year vs. $57K for private. The debt difference is significant, but earnings vary substantially by major and institution selectivity.
The ROI Score (0-100, graded A-F) weights five factors: debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium vs. high school graduates (25%), job market outlook growth (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average for that major (10%). The verdict (STRONG BUY, BUY, CAUTION, AVOID) maps to score ranges.
Across all school-major combinations in our dataset, the average median debt is $26K. However, this varies dramatically by institution type and major. STEM and healthcare fields at public universities tend toward the lower end, while graduate-level programs at private institutions anchor the high end.
/methodology