Explore rankings and figures for costs, acceptance rates, fields of study, salaries, and (most important of all) return on investment (ROI) for master’s degree programs in each state. | Explore rankings and figures for costs, acceptance rates, fields of study, salaries, and (most important of all) return on investment (ROI) for master’s degree programs in each state.
Author: Michael Hoffman, JD, MA
Expertise: Graduate EducationOnline LearningStudent SuccessEditor: Kristin Marino
- State Degree ROI
Master's Degree ROI by State: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
Read more - Best ROI
States with the Best Master's Degree ROI
Read more - Average ROI
States with an Average Master's Degree ROI
Read more - Lower ROI
States with a Lower Master's Degree ROI
Read more - Other States
Why Didn't My State Make the List?
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If you’re ready to earn your graduate degree, one practical question is likely top of mind: Will my investment of time and money pay off?
Essentially, you’re considering one of the most important but often overlooked factors when making the decision to earn a master’s degree — return on investment, or ROI. For this guide, ROI refers to the average earnings you can expect to make when compared against the cost of your educational investment.
This guide examines ROI for master’s students on a state-by-state basis to help you decide where you may want to study, as well what you want to study. We’ve factored into our calculations data on student debt, graduate salaries, and top fields of study for master’s students.
Ready to get started? Learn some of the best places to earn a degree and begin your lucrative career by reviewing the data below.
You’ll find data below on ROI for graduate students by state, starting with this interactive U.S. map. Simply hover over the state you’re interested in, and you’ll see key details on average master’s student debt, average salary after graduation, our calculated ROI, and top three fields of study in the state.
States with the Best Master’s Degree ROI
States with an Average Master’s Degree ROI
States with a Lower Master’s Degree ROI
Why Didn’t My State Make the List?
The following states were not included in this ranking, as there was not enough available data to accurately gauge the master’s degree ROI. We encourage you to research schools, tuition, salaries, and student loan debt on the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard if you are interested in earning your master’s degree in one of these states.
