Is college worth it?
It depends on the major and the debt load. For high-earning programs with modest debt — Computer Science, Nursing, Accounting — the data consistently shows a positive return within 5–8 years. For lower-earning programs or programs with high debt, break-even can stretch past 15 years. The honest answer is that “college” is not one decision — it is hundreds of decisions by field and credential level. Use the calculator to look up your specific program, not national averages.
How do I compare college major salaries?
Search any major using the search panel and the major card will show median earnings at 1, 4, and 5 years after graduation. To do a college major salary comparison side by side, add up to three programs to the comparison drawer using the “Add to Compare” button, then click “Compare” to see a full table of earnings, debt, monthly payments, and break-even timelines across all three.
What is a break-even timeline?
Break-even is the first year in which your cumulative earnings — after subtracting loan payments — exceed what you would have earned without a degree. The chart plots both paths over 15 years. Crossing the no-college baseline earlier means the degree paid off faster.
What is student loan ROI, and how is it calculated here?
Student loan ROI measures whether the extra earnings from a degree exceed its cost. Degree Payoff calculates this by comparing cumulative earnings with the degree (minus amortized loan payments at 5.5% federal interest) against cumulative earnings on a no-college path. A positive ROI within the 15-year window means the degree earned more than it cost. The debt figures come from actual federal loan data for each program — not tuition sticker prices.
Which majors have the lowest debt burden?
Debt burden depends on the ratio of debt to first-year earnings, not just the raw debt amount. A program with $60,000 in debt and $80,000 starting salary has a lower burden than one with $40,000 in debt and $32,000 starting salary. Each major card shows a debt-to-income badge — green under 1.5×, yellow at 1.5–2.5×, red above 2.5×. Search and compare programs to find the combination of earnings and debt that works for your situation.
Where does the earnings data come from?
All figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which is derived from federal tax records and student loan data — not self-reported salaries. Each program represents the median outcome across at least 10 institutions, filtered to remove programs with insufficient reporting.