Undergraduate tuition, possible graduate degrees and room and board all add up — especially for students taking out loans. This can leave a potential student wondering, “Is this a wise investment?”
Read on to find out if college is a good investment for you based on typical average education costs versus estimated annual salaries.
Estimated loan payments based on degree and occupation* |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Occupation | Minimum required years in college, graduate school and professional programs | Estimated annual salary | Estimated education costs | Monthly loan payments under 10-year repayment plan | Percentage of monthly income put toward loans |
| Accountant | 4 | $81,660 | $42,960 | $455 | 6.69% |
| Advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations specialist | 4 | $148,740 | $42,960 | $455 | 3.67% |
| Civil engineer | 4 | $95,440 | $42,960 | $455 | 5.72% |
| Dentist | 8 | $186,300 | $194,468 | $2,062 | 13.28% |
| Economist | 4 | $120,880 | $42,960 | $455 | 4.52% |
| English language/literature teacher, postsecondary | 6 | $81,340 | $67,780 | $718 | 10.59% |
| Lawyer | 7 | $148,910 | $130,182 | $1,380 | 11.12% |
| Librarian | 6 | $54,400 | $67,780 | $718 | 15.84% |
| Market research analyst | 4 | $73,970 | $42,960 | $455 | 7.38% |
| Marriage and family therapist | 6 | $56,890 | $67,780 | $718 | 15.15% |
| Microbiologist | 4 | $91,840 | $42,960 | $455 | 5.95% |
| News analyst, reporter, correspondent | 4 | $66,000 | $42,960 | $455 | 8.27% |
| Pharmacist | 6 | $125,460 | $83,960 | $890 | 8.51% |
| Physician: family/general practitioner | 8 | $214,310 | $204,448 | $2,168 | 12.14% |
| Political science teacher, postsecondary | 6 | $100,970 | $67,780 | $718 | 8.53% |
| Political scientist | 6 | $124,100 | $67,780 | $718 | 6.94% |
| Public relations specialist | 4 | $71,940 | $42,960 | $455 | 7.59% |
| Teacher (elementary and middle school) | 4 | $65,300 | $42,960 | $455 | 8.36% |
| Veterinarian | 8 | $108,350 | $198,255 | $2,102 | 23.28% |
| Zoologist, wildlife biologist | 6 | $70,510 | $67,780 | $718 | 12.22% |
Sources: Occupational employment statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics; average undergraduate tuition costs from College Board; average graduate school tuition costs from the National Center for Education Statistics; average medical school costs from Shemmassian Academic Consulting; average pharmacy school costs from Vocational Training; average dentistry school costs and average law school costs from College Ave Student Loans; average veterinary school costs from the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges.
*Education costs are based on the tuition and fees for in-state, public schools with no scholarships. The chart above assumes 5 percent student loan interest on a standard 10-year repayment plan, with loan amounts for the full cost of education. These numbers will vary based on the individual and are to be used solely as an informational tool. To see how much you could pay per month based on your loan amount, interest rate and repayment terms, check out Bankrate’s student loan calculator.
In-state vs. out-of-state
The main consideration to make when deciding between an in-state and an out-of-state school is the cost. In-state schools tend to be much less expensive than out-of-state and private institutions.
| Type of college |
Average published yearly tuition and fees |
| Public two-year (in-district) | $3,800 |
| Public four-year (in-state) | $10,740 |
| Public four-year (out-of-state) | $27,560 |
| Private four-year | $38,070 |
Source: College Board
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