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Best Degrees Under $50K Tuition (2026)

91 programs ranked · Updated 2026

Top programs at schools charging under $50K for four years. Affordable excellence.

Programs Ranked

Avg Earnings

$76,228/yr

Avg DW Score

89/100

#1 Program

Building/Construction Finishing

Utah Valley University

Best Degrees Under $50K Tuition

Click any row for full AI scenario analysis, earnings projections, and career path breakdown.

#	Program	DW Score	Earnings	Tuition (4yr)	AI Risk	ROI
1	Building/Construction Finishing Utah Valley University · Orem, UT	92 90–92	$74,527/yr	Low	39.3x	$25,080
2	Building/Construction Finishing The University of Texas at San Antonio · San Antonio, TX	90 89–90	$71,202/yr	Low	24.8x	$35,964
3	Business Administration Bismarck State College · Bismarck, ND	96 90–98	$100,668/yr	High	61.8x	$20,780
4	Business Administration University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, NC	95 89–97	$85,618/yr	High	33.9x	$35,956
5	General Sales Western Governors University · Salt Lake City, UT	93 89–95	$93,151/yr	High	29.3x	$33,200
6	General Sales Bellevue University · Bellevue, NE	91 87–93	$75,543/yr	High	24.4x	$35,544
7	Business (General) The University of Texas at Austin · Austin, TX	95 89–95	$94,041/yr	High	19.1x	$46,712
8	Business Administration Brigham Young University · Provo, UT	93 87–95	$71,163/yr	High	37.3x	$25,984
9	General Sales Kennesaw State University · Kennesaw, GA	92 87–94	$72,092/yr	High	47.2x	$23,144
10	Business Administration California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo, CA	92 86–94	$71,876/yr	High	22.2x	$44,300
11	Public Administration California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA	93 87–95	$76,049/yr	High	25.8x	$28,380
12	Business (General) Indiana University-Bloomington · Bloomington, IN	91 85–93	$71,100/yr	High	21.4x	$47,160
13	Business Administration Great Basin College · Elko, NV	92 86–94	$64,807/yr	High	50.5x	$15,420
14	Finance Brigham Young University · Provo, UT	92 86–95	$83,876/yr	Very High	44.7x	$25,984
15	Health Administration Bellevue College · Bellevue, WA	92 86–95	$71,572/yr	High	40.6x	$17,220
16	Management Science & Analytics University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI	93 85–95	$83,260/yr	Very High	27.3x	$44,820
17	Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide · Daytona Beach, FL	86 86–84	$81,436/yr	Low	18.2x	$46,660
18	Nursing (RN/BSN) California State University-Stanislaus · Turlock, CA	91 85–91	$119,356/yr	High	38.2x	$31,304
19	Nursing (RN/BSN) California State University-San Bernardino · San Bernardino, CA	91 85–91	$93,142/yr	High	34.7x	$30,700
20	Nursing (RN/BSN) California State University-Chico · Chico, CA	91 85–91	$113,181/yr	High	36.4x	$32,256
21	Nursing (RN/BSN) California State University-Dominguez Hills · Carson, CA	91 85–92	$110,626/yr	High	42.5x	$28,256
22	Nursing (RN/BSN) California State University-Fresno · Fresno, CA	91 85–91	$96,890/yr	High	39.6x	$27,920
23	Criminal Justice Charter Oak State College · New Britain, CT	90 86–91	$68,956/yr	Moderate	19.3x	$34,024
24	Public Administration University of Maryland Global Campus · Adelphi, MD	92 87–94	$74,053/yr	High	22.2x	$31,968
25	Business (General) CUNY Graduate School and University Center · New York, NY	91 86–93	$65,520/yr	High	24.6x	$29,640
26	Pharmacy Southwestern Oklahoma State University · Weatherford, OK	92 86–94	$115,284/yr	High	33.7x	$33,180
27	Finance The University of Texas at Austin · Austin, TX	90 83–93	$81,844/yr	Very High	23.9x	$46,712
28	Management Science & Analytics Brigham Young University · Provo, UT	94 86–95	$79,777/yr	Very High	29.7x	$25,984
29	Health Administration University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire · Eau Claire, WI	91 84–92	$71,692/yr	High	21.5x	$37,108
30	Criminal Justice Columbia Southern University · Orange Beach, AL	89 85–90	$60,461/yr	Moderate	25.5x	$23,232
31	Health Administration Charter Oak State College · New Britain, CT	90 84–91	$69,160/yr	High	21.4x	$34,024
32	Fire Protection & Safety University of Florida · Gainesville, FL	87 83–88	$86,740/yr	Moderate	33.0x	$25,524
33	Finance University of Florida · Gainesville, FL	90 84–93	$70,663/yr	Very High	38.9x	$25,524
34	Finance University of Maryland-College Park · College Park, MD	89 82–93	$75,689/yr	Very High	24.3x	$46,020
35	Management Science & Analytics University of Nebraska-Lincoln · Lincoln, NE	92 84–94	$75,137/yr	Very High	26.0x	$40,432
36	Finance Binghamton University · Vestal, NY	89 82–93	$73,598/yr	Very High	27.0x	$41,452
37	Business (General) University of Houston-Clear Lake · Houston, TX	90 83–92	$56,494/yr	High	26.6x	$30,984
38	General Sales Weber State University · Ogden, UT	88 83–90	$57,451/yr	High	30.9x	$25,564
39	Management Science & Analytics Central Washington University · Ellensburg, WA	93 86–94	$81,377/yr	Very High	21.1x	$36,768
40	General Sales Purdue University-Main Campus · West Lafayette, IN	87 83–90	$62,580/yr	High	22.1x	$39,968
41	Fire Protection & Safety University of Florida-Online · Gainesville, FL	87 83–88	$86,740/yr	Moderate	54.9x	$15,504
42	Management Science & Analytics Florida State University · Tallahassee, FL	90 83–92	$62,578/yr	Very High	42.9x	$22,624
43	Computer & Information Science University of Florida · Gainesville, FL	91 81–93	$90,651/yr	Very High	49.2x	$25,524
44	Computer & Information Science Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus · Atlanta, GA	91 80–93	$105,137/yr	Very High	32.0x	$47,056
45	Criminal Justice University of Maryland Global Campus · Adelphi, MD	87 83–87	$55,479/yr	Moderate	20.5x	$31,968
46	Computer & Information Science University of New Mexico-Main Campus · Albuquerque, NM	91 81–93	$89,498/yr	Very High	34.8x	$32,460
47	Health Administration CUNY New York City College of Technology · Brooklyn, NY	89 83–90	$63,667/yr	High	22.3x	$29,328
48	Computer & Information Science Stony Brook University · Stony Brook, NY	90 80–93	$90,673/yr	Very High	32.0x	$42,240
49	Business (General) Empire State University · Saratoga Springs, NY	89 84–90	$57,225/yr	High	21.2x	$30,520
50	Public Administration Western Carolina University · Cullowhee, NC	89 83–91	$56,445/yr	High	32.8x	$18,128
51	Computer & Information Science The University of Texas at Austin · Austin, TX	91 81–92	$111,587/yr	Very High	27.4x	$46,712
52	IT Management Brigham Young University · Provo, UT	90 81–93	$83,533/yr	Very High	31.1x	$25,984
53	IT Management Western Governors University · Salt Lake City, UT	90 81–93	$92,416/yr	Very High	26.8x	$33,200
54	IT Management University of Arkansas Grantham · LIttle Rock, AR	90 81–92	$86,607/yr	Very High	25.1x	$33,120
55	Criminal Justice American Public University System · Charles Town, WV	87 83–87	$57,409/yr	Moderate	19.8x	$33,600
56	Fire Protection & Safety Columbia Southern University · Orange Beach, AL	87 82–88	$82,718/yr	Moderate	36.8x	$23,232
57	Criminal Justice Colorado State University Global · Aurora, CO	88 85–88	$61,786/yr	Moderate	18.9x	$33,600
58	Allied Health & Diagnostic Professions California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA	86 82–86	$100,724/yr	Moderate	36.4x	$28,380
59	Teacher Education (General) Miami Dade College · Miami, FL	85 82–86	$51,545/yr	High	44.4x	$11,352
60	Applied Horticulture Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College · Tifton, GA	82 79–84	$44,751/yr	Moderate	44.3x	$12,780
61	IT Management University of Maryland Global Campus · Adelphi, MD	88 79–91	$73,797/yr	Very High	31.2x	$31,968
62	IT Management University of Nebraska at Omaha · Omaha, NE	89 80–91	$79,671/yr	Very High	22.8x	$33,480
63	Allied Health & Diagnostic Professions CUNY New York City College of Technology · Brooklyn, NY	85 81–86	$92,818/yr	Moderate	30.6x	$29,328
64	Computer Science Brigham Young University · Provo, UT	90 80–92	$90,625/yr	Very High	47.1x	$25,984
65	Entrepreneurship Brigham Young University · Provo, UT	89 83–91	$64,061/yr	High	28.9x	$25,984
66	Teacher Education (General) Pierce College District · Lakewood, WA	86 83–87	$55,849/yr	High	28.8x	$18,744
67	Computer Science Purdue University-Main Campus · West Lafayette, IN	89 79–92	$94,786/yr	Very High	36.4x	$39,968
68	Health Administration Western Governors University · Salt Lake City, UT	90 83–91	$66,651/yr	High	19.1x	$33,200
69	Allied Health & Diagnostic Professions Columbia Southern University · Orange Beach, AL	85 81–86	$83,927/yr	Moderate	35.1x	$23,232
70	Fire Protection & Safety Purdue University Global · West Lafayette, IN	86 82–87	$89,622/yr	Moderate	20.6x	$40,440
71	Computer Science California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo, CA	89 79–91	$111,141/yr	Very High	24.1x	$44,300
72	Computer Science California State University-Chico · Chico, CA	89 78–92	$81,021/yr	Very High	37.8x	$32,256
73	Accounting California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA	87 80–90	$68,904/yr	Very High	30.8x	$28,380
74	Teacher Education (General) College of Central Florida · Ocala, FL	84 81–85	$48,537/yr	High	44.0x	$10,840
75	Teacher Education (General) Florida SouthWestern State College · Fort Myers, FL	85 82–86	$51,448/yr	High	35.7x	$13,604
76	Teacher Education (General) Indian River State College · Fort Pierce, FL	84 81–85	$48,612/yr	High	43.0x	$11,056
77	International Business University of Georgia · Athens, GA	88 80–91	$67,371/yr	Very High	23.8x	$44,720
78	Pharmacy University of Hawaii at Hilo · Hilo, HI	88 81–90	$63,776/yr	High	44.1x	$31,352
79	Computer Science Boise State University · Boise, ID	89 79–92	$85,596/yr	Very High	32.5x	$35,128
80	Accounting Binghamton University · Vestal, NY	87 79–90	$74,151/yr	Very High	22.9x	$41,452
81	Allied Health & Diagnostic Professions Stony Brook University · Stony Brook, NY	85 81–84	$92,165/yr	Moderate	22.2x	$42,240
82	Fire Protection & Safety Fayetteville State University · Fayetteville, NC	84 80–85	$67,586/yr	Moderate	50.4x	$15,876
83	Pharmacy North Carolina Central University · Durham, NC	88 81–90	$62,022/yr	High	34.4x	$26,168
84	Accounting Brigham Young University · Provo, UT	87 80–90	$68,393/yr	Very High	40.3x	$25,984
85	International Business University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI	87 80–90	$66,591/yr	Very High	22.0x	$44,820
86	Teacher Education (Subject-Specific) Florida Atlantic University · Boca Raton, FL	86 81–87	$53,524/yr	High	27.3x	$19,516
87	Security Science and Technology Florida State University · Tallahassee, FL	87 81–88	$58,249/yr	High	24.7x	$22,624
88	Accounting University of Florida · Gainesville, FL	86 79–89	$65,144/yr	Very High	33.7x	$25,524
89	Allied Health & Diagnostic Professions Valencia College · Orlando, FL	83 79–84	$68,564/yr	Moderate	81.3x	$9,896
90	Teacher Education (Subject-Specific) Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College · Tifton, GA	85 81–88	$50,429/yr	High	38.5x	$12,780
91	Teacher Education (Subject-Specific) CUNY Queens College · Queens, NY	86 82–87	$58,894/yr	High	22.1x	$30,152

Methodology

Programs are ranked by DegreeWorth Score (0–100), combining graduate earnings, AI automation resilience, job market demand, and tuition ROI. Earnings data is from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Last updated 2025.