Home › Rankings › Worst ROI Degrees

Worst ROI College Degrees in 2026

100 programs ranked · Updated 2026

Degrees that pay back the least relative to tuition cost. Know before you commit.

Programs Ranked

100

Avg Earnings

$25,515/yr

Avg DW Score

32/100

#1 Program

Anthropology

Eckerd College

Worst ROI College Degrees

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

#	Program	DW Score	Earnings	AI Risk	ROI
1	Anthropology Eckerd College · Saint Petersburg, FL	35 29–37	$20,191/yr	High	0.0x
2	Science, Technology and Society Vassar College · Poughkeepsie, NY	29 26–30	$27,215/yr	Moderate	0.0x
3	Graphic Design Cleveland Institute of Art · Cleveland, OH	20 16–22	$19,409/yr	High	0.0x
4	Ethnic & Cultural Minority DePaul University · Chicago, IL	21 14–25	$18,029/yr	Very High	0.0x
5	Fine Arts & Studio Art Berea College · Berea, KY	35 31–36	$20,036/yr	Moderate	0.0x
6	Music California Lutheran University · Thousand Oaks, CA	31 26–33	$20,650/yr	High	0.0x
7	Theater & Drama Augustana College · Rock Island, IL	30 26–32	$20,326/yr	Moderate	0.0x
8	Theater & Drama Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA	37 33–39	$32,967/yr	Moderate	0.0x
9	Physics New York University · New York, NY	30 25–33	$24,802/yr	Very High	0.0x
10	Journalism Widener University · Chester, PA	25 18–28	$22,058/yr	Very High	0.0x
11	Film & Photography Calvin University · Grand Rapids, MI	26 21–28	$15,906/yr	High	0.0x
12	English Ursinus College · Collegeville, PA	28 22–31	$24,373/yr	Very High	0.0x
13	English University of La Verne · La Verne, CA	27 20–30	$19,382/yr	Very High	0.0x
14	Romance Languages & Literatures Susquehanna University · Selinsgrove, PA	28 23–31	$23,699/yr	Very High	0.0x
15	Anthropology Boston University · Boston, MA	37 32–40	$26,934/yr	High	0.0x
16	Social Sciences, General Whittier College · Whittier, CA	42 37–44	$20,660/yr	High	0.0x
17	English Whitman College · Walla Walla, WA	28 22–31	$25,574/yr	Very High	0.0x
18	Film & Photography Syracuse University · Syracuse, NY	28 23–31	$26,331/yr	High	0.0x
19	Public Health Baylor University · Waco, TX	40 33–41	$23,096/yr	High	0.1x
20	Neuroscience Saint Louis University · Saint Louis, MO	27 21–29	$22,459/yr	High	0.1x
21	Music The New School · New York, NY	30 25–33	$12,109/yr	High	0.1x
22	Fine Arts & Studio Art Ohio Wesleyan University · Delaware, OH	35 31–37	$22,239/yr	Moderate	0.1x
23	Anthropology DePaul University · Chicago, IL	35 29–37	$18,950/yr	High	0.1x
24	Music Biola University · La Mirada, CA	31 26–33	$19,978/yr	High	0.1x
25	Ethnic & Cultural Minority University of Puget Sound · Tacoma, WA	23 16–27	$25,623/yr	Very High	0.1x
26	Education Boston University · Boston, MA	26 20–29	$27,891/yr	High	0.1x
27	Research and Experimental Psychology Albion College · Albion, MI	41 35–42	$23,906/yr	High	0.1x
28	Music Gettysburg College · Gettysburg, PA	33 29–36	$27,556/yr	High	0.1x
29	Natural Resources & Conservation Stetson University · DeLand, FL	28 22–30	$23,790/yr	High	0.1x
30	History Villanova University · Villanova, PA	41 36–44	$27,882/yr	High	0.1x
31	Visual & Performing Arts Northeastern University · Boston, MA	31 27–33	$27,246/yr	High	0.1x
32	Writing & Rhetoric Hamilton College · Clinton, NY	28 22–31	$28,442/yr	Very High	0.1x
33	Sustainability Studies Chatham University · Pittsburgh, PA	26 22–29	$18,954/yr	High	0.1x
34	English Lewis & Clark College · Portland, OR	29 23–32	$26,998/yr	Very High	0.1x
35	Theater & Drama The New School · New York, NY	30 26–32	$17,113/yr	Moderate	0.1x
36	Communications & Media Studies Pacific University · Forest Grove, OR	30 24–33	$23,879/yr	High	0.1x
37	Research and Experimental Psychology Grinnell College · Grinnell, IA	43 37–45	$28,507/yr	High	0.1x
38	Fine Arts & Studio Art Otis College of Art and Design · Los Angeles, CA	34 30–36	$11,590/yr	Moderate	0.1x
39	International Relations Allegheny College · Meadville, PA	33 28–35	$24,303/yr	High	0.1x
40	Biology The University of the South · Sewanee, TN	34 30–36	$23,932/yr	High	0.1x
41	Film & Photography New York Film Academy · Burbank, CA	26 21–28	$16,415/yr	High	0.1x
42	Theater & Drama Long Island University · Brookville, NY	30 26–32	$18,671/yr	Moderate	0.1x
43	Theater & Drama University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA	31 26–32	$21,473/yr	Moderate	0.1x
44	Romance Languages & Literatures Ohio Wesleyan University · Delaware, OH	28 23–31	$23,537/yr	Very High	0.1x
45	Writing & Rhetoric Brown University · Providence, RI	30 23–33	$30,741/yr	Very High	0.1x
46	Chemistry Duke University · Durham, NC	42 36–44	$29,748/yr	High	0.1x
47	Research and Experimental Psychology Union College · Schenectady, NY	44 39–46	$30,061/yr	High	0.1x
48	Writing & Rhetoric Macalester College · Saint Paul, MN	29 22–32	$29,487/yr	Very High	0.1x
49	Literature The New School · New York, NY	25 18–29	$25,618/yr	Very High	0.1x
50	Natural Resources & Conservation Macalester College · Saint Paul, MN	31 25–33	$29,559/yr	High	0.1x
51	Ethnic & Cultural Minority Loyola Marymount University · Los Angeles, CA	24 16–28	$26,868/yr	Very High	0.1x
52	Marketing Saint Peter's University · Jersey City, NJ	38 32–41	$18,709/yr	Very High	0.1x
53	Political Science Carleton College · Northfield, MN	41 36–44	$29,858/yr	Very High	0.1x
54	Philosophy The College of Wooster · Wooster, OH	25 18–28	$27,174/yr	Very High	0.1x
55	Communications & Media Studies Centenary University · Hackettstown, NJ	29 23–32	$17,274/yr	High	0.1x
56	English Reed College · Portland, OR	26 20–29	$15,790/yr	Very High	0.1x
57	Film & Photography Wheaton College (Massachusetts) · Norton, MA	30 25–32	$28,498/yr	High	0.1x
58	Fine Arts & Studio Art School of Visual Arts · New York, NY	35 31–37	$21,344/yr	Moderate	0.1x
59	Music Jacksonville University · Jacksonville, FL	31 26–34	$21,219/yr	High	0.1x
60	Sociology Franklin and Marshall College · Lancaster, PA	39 34–41	$31,444/yr	High	0.1x
61	Fine Arts & Studio Art Dartmouth College · Hanover, NH	39 35–41	$30,246/yr	Moderate	0.2x
62	Dance DeSales University · Center Valley, PA	26 23–26	$20,611/yr	Low	0.2x
63	Writing & Rhetoric Aquinas College · Grand Rapids, MI	25 18–28	$17,827/yr	Very High	0.2x
64	Film & Photography Champlain College · Burlington, VT	27 22–29	$21,092/yr	High	0.2x
65	History Stetson University · DeLand, FL	40 35–42	$25,696/yr	High	0.2x
66	Cognitive Science Case Western Reserve University · Cleveland, OH	38 36–39	$30,198/yr	Moderate	0.2x
67	Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences Skidmore College · Saratoga Springs, NY	34 28–35	$30,632/yr	High	0.2x
68	Sociology and Anthropology Knox College · Galesburg, IL	34 29–37	$26,350/yr	High	0.2x
69	Sociology Ithaca College · Ithaca, NY	35 30–37	$24,026/yr	High	0.2x
70	Natural Resources & Conservation Canisius University · Buffalo, NY	27 21–29	$15,681/yr	High	0.2x
71	East Asian Languages St Olaf College · Northfield, MN	30 24–33	$27,328/yr	Very High	0.2x
72	Neuroscience Syracuse University · Syracuse, NY	31 25–33	$30,259/yr	High	0.2x
73	Kinesiology & Exercise Science Saint Peter's University · Jersey City, NJ	38 35–39	$19,735/yr	Moderate	0.2x
74	Biology Bates College · Lewiston, ME	38 33–40	$30,613/yr	High	0.2x
75	Sociology Wheaton College (Massachusetts) · Norton, MA	38 33–40	$29,953/yr	High	0.2x
76	Philosophy Columbia University in the City of New York · New York, NY	41 35–44	$52,668/yr	Very High	0.2x
77	Romance Languages & Literatures Pacific Lutheran University · Tacoma, WA	29 23–32	$24,773/yr	Very High	0.2x
78	Ethnic & Cultural Minority Dartmouth College · Hanover, NH	27 20–31	$31,967/yr	Very High	0.2x
79	Psychology Reed College · Portland, OR	42 36–44	$32,634/yr	High	0.2x
80	Area Studies Washington University in St Louis · Saint Louis, MO	27 22–30	$30,716/yr	Very High	0.2x
81	Design & Applied Arts Cleveland Institute of Art · Cleveland, OH	33 29–35	$23,358/yr	High	0.2x
82	Area Studies University of Puget Sound · Tacoma, WA	26 21–29	$29,232/yr	Very High	0.2x
83	International & Global Studies Saint Mary's College · Notre Dame, IN	25 23–26	$25,164/yr	Moderate	0.2x
84	Writing & Rhetoric Franklin and Marshall College · Lancaster, PA	32 25–35	$33,476/yr	Very High	0.2x
85	Communications & Media Studies University of Puget Sound · Tacoma, WA	33 27–36	$29,477/yr	High	0.2x
86	Cognitive Science Washington University in St Louis · Saint Louis, MO	39 37–40	$30,996/yr	Moderate	0.2x
87	Ecology & Evolution University of Dayton · Dayton, OH	30 25–32	$23,609/yr	High	0.2x
88	Ethnic & Cultural Minority St Olaf College · Northfield, MN	25 17–29	$28,288/yr	Very High	0.2x
89	Anthropology Wellesley College · Wellesley, MA	41 35–43	$31,973/yr	High	0.2x
90	Liberal Arts & General Studies Pace University · New York, NY	28 30–28	$25,595/yr	Low	0.2x
91	Natural Resources & Conservation Lake Forest College · Lake Forest, IL	29 24–32	$26,998/yr	High	0.2x
92	History University of Puget Sound · Tacoma, WA	43 38–45	$29,909/yr	High	0.2x
93	Public Relations & Advertising Tulane University of Louisiana · New Orleans, LA	43 37–45	$32,879/yr	High	0.3x
94	Geology & Earth Sciences Columbia University in the City of New York · New York, NY	32 27–34	$34,658/yr	High	0.3x
95	Cognitive Science University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA	42 40–43	$34,295/yr	Moderate	0.3x
96	Neuroscience The College of Wooster · Wooster, OH	31 25–33	$29,942/yr	High	0.3x
97	Anthropology Northwestern University · Evanston, IL	42 36–44	$33,208/yr	High	0.3x
98	Security Science and Technology Syracuse University · Syracuse, NY	49 43–50	$31,750/yr	High	0.3x
99	Psychology Furman University · Greenville, SC	40 33–42	$29,395/yr	High	0.3x
100	International Relations Goucher College · Baltimore, MD	33 28–36	$25,868/yr	High	0.3x

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.