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Most Overpriced College Degrees in 2026

100 programs ranked · Updated 2026

Expensive degrees with poor earnings outcomes. High tuition, low returns.

Programs Ranked

100

Avg Earnings

$20,402/yr

Avg DW Score

22/100

#1 Program

Visual and Performing Arts, General

Northeastern University

Most Overpriced College Degrees

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

#	Program	DW Score	Earnings	Tuition (4yr)	ROI
1	Visual and Performing Arts, General Northeastern University · Boston, MA	21 17–22	$27,246/yr	0.1x	$252,564
2	History Villanova University · Villanova, PA	28 28–29	$27,882/yr	0.1x	$258,804
3	Natural Resources Conservation and Research Stetson University · DeLand, FL	17 16–18	$23,790/yr	0.1x	$220,880
4	Research and Experimental Psychology Albion College · Albion, MI	26 27–27	$23,906/yr	0.1x	$222,984
5	Education, General Boston University · Boston, MA	16 25–17	$27,891/yr	0.1x	$260,672
6	Ethnic & Cultural Minority University of Puget Sound · Tacoma, WA	15 11–15	$25,623/yr	0.1x	$239,600
7	Anthropology DePaul University · Chicago, IL	22 20–22	$18,950/yr	0.1x	$177,840
8	Neurobiology and Neurosciences Saint Louis University · Saint Louis, MO	16 15–16	$22,459/yr	0.1x	$212,976
9	Public Health Baylor University · Waco, TX	26 26–26	$23,096/yr	0.1x	$219,376
10	Film/Video and Photographic Arts Syracuse University · Syracuse, NY	19 14–19	$26,331/yr	0.0x	$252,244
11	Social Sciences, General Whittier College · Whittier, CA	29 31–30	$20,660/yr	0.0x	$199,456
12	Anthropology Boston University · Boston, MA	25 22–26	$26,934/yr	0.0x	$260,672
13	Romance Languages & Literatures Susquehanna University · Selinsgrove, PA	19 15–20	$23,699/yr	0.0x	$229,600
14	English Language and Literature, General Ursinus College · Collegeville, PA	19 16–19	$24,373/yr	0.0x	$236,784
15	Film/Video and Photographic Arts Calvin University · Grand Rapids, MI	14 12–15	$15,906/yr	0.0x	$154,680
16	Journalism Widener University · Chester, PA	16 14–17	$22,058/yr	0.0x	$214,552
17	Physics New York University · New York, NY	20 27–21	$24,802/yr	0.0x	$241,752
18	Music California Lutheran University · Thousand Oaks, CA	21 16–21	$20,650/yr	0.0x	$202,680
19	Ethnic & Cultural Minority DePaul University · Chicago, IL	13 10–13	$18,029/yr	0.0x	$177,840
20	Graphic Communications Cleveland Institute of Art · Cleveland, OH	15 12–15	$19,409/yr	0.0x	$191,520
21	Science, Technology and Society Vassar College · Poughkeepsie, NY	16 25–17	$27,215/yr	0.0x	$271,220
22	Anthropology Eckerd College · Saint Petersburg, FL	22 20–22	$20,191/yr	0.0x	$201,496
23	Nutrition Sciences New York University · New York, NY	23 23–23	$24,084/yr	-0.0x	$241,752
24	Graphic Communications Lynn University · Boca Raton, FL	19 17–20	$17,099/yr	-0.0x	$171,800
25	Political Science and Government Iona University · New Rochelle, NY	30 28–30	$18,148/yr	-0.0x	$183,520
26	Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies Syracuse University · Syracuse, NY	22 19–23	$24,935/yr	-0.0x	$252,244
27	Neurobiology and Neurosciences University of Notre Dame · Notre Dame, IN	21 22–22	$24,615/yr	-0.0x	$250,772
28	Natural Resources Conservation and Research University of Puget Sound · Tacoma, WA	22 21–23	$23,437/yr	-0.0x	$239,600
29	Sociology Vassar College · Poughkeepsie, NY	29 28–29	$26,356/yr	-0.0x	$271,220
30	Sociology and Anthropology Lewis & Clark College · Portland, OR	27 25–27	$24,098/yr	-0.0x	$249,400
31	Romance Languages & Literatures Centre College · Danville, KY	23 20–23	$19,503/yr	-0.0x	$202,200
32	Computer Software and Media Applications Berklee College of Music · Boston, MA	35 33–36	$19,370/yr	-0.0x	$201,080
33	Natural Resources Conservation and Research Luther College · Decorah, IA	21 20–22	$19,239/yr	-0.0x	$201,280
34	Biology, General Reed College · Portland, OR	27 28–28	$25,596/yr	-0.0x	$268,080
35	Dance Pace University · New York, NY	19 16–19	$19,614/yr	-0.0x	$205,696
36	Linguistic & Comparative Reed College · Portland, OR	27 22–27	$25,561/yr	-0.0x	$268,080
37	Visual and Performing Arts, Other Elon University · Elon, NC	13 10–13	$18,903/yr	-0.0x	$178,144
38	Dance Berklee College of Music · Boston, MA	15 12–16	$22,993/yr	-0.1x	$201,080
39	Dance University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA	22 18–23	$25,653/yr	-0.1x	$272,948
40	English Language and Literature, General Occidental College · Los Angeles, CA	24 21–24	$23,605/yr	-0.1x	$253,784
41	Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies University of Puget Sound · Tacoma, WA	21 19–22	$22,251/yr	-0.1x	$239,600
42	Neurobiology and Neurosciences Barnard College · New York, NY	21 22–22	$24,569/yr	-0.1x	$264,984
43	Social Sciences, General Bard College · Annandale-On-Hudson, NY	34 38–35	$23,302/yr	-0.1x	$254,448
44	Chemistry University of Richmond · University of Richmond, VA	31 32–31	$22,881/yr	-0.1x	$250,400
45	Film/Video and Photographic Arts Oberlin College · Oberlin, OH	22 19–23	$23,519/yr	-0.1x	$258,584
46	Music University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA	18 16–19	$12,947/yr	-0.1x	$272,948
47	Philosophy John Carroll University · University Heights, OH	18 16–19	$17,813/yr	-0.1x	$196,400
48	Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology University of Miami · Coral Gables, FL	22 23–22	$21,666/yr	-0.1x	$239,704
49	Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies Cornell College · Mount Vernon, IA	20 18–21	$18,241/yr	-0.1x	$202,536
50	Biochemistry & Biophysics and Molecular Biology Syracuse University · Syracuse, NY	22 23–22	$22,693/yr	-0.1x	$252,244
51	Political Science and Government Sacred Heart University · Fairfield, CT	30 28–30	$17,262/yr	-0.1x	$193,840
52	Social Sciences, Other Mount Holyoke College · South Hadley, MA	27 33–28	$22,829/yr	-0.1x	$256,568
53	Music Stevens Institute of Technology · Hoboken, NJ	27 21–27	$21,623/yr	-0.1x	$243,808
54	Biology, General Oberlin College · Oberlin, OH	26 26–27	$22,684/yr	-0.1x	$258,584
55	Germanic Languages & Literatures University of Puget Sound · Tacoma, WA	23 20–24	$20,916/yr	-0.1x	$239,600
56	Dance American Musical and Dramatic Academy · New York, NY	17 16–18	$15,881/yr	-0.1x	$182,240
57	Communication and Media Studies Brown University · Providence, RI	25 22–25	$23,738/yr	-0.1x	$272,920
58	Public Health Muhlenberg College · Allentown, PA	31 30–31	$20,900/yr	-0.1x	$240,960
59	Natural Resources Conservation and Research Pitzer College · Claremont, CA	22 20–22	$21,570/yr	-0.1x	$250,768
60	Communication and Media Studies Vassar College · Poughkeepsie, NY	25 22–25	$23,270/yr	-0.1x	$271,220
61	Area Studies Vassar College · Poughkeepsie, NY	19 19–19	$22,741/yr	-0.2x	$271,220
62	Education, General University of Puget Sound · Tacoma, WA	20 23–22	$20,039/yr	-0.2x	$239,600
63	Film/Video and Photographic Arts Drexel University · Philadelphia, PA	20 18–21	$19,758/yr	-0.2x	$242,652
64	Sociology and Anthropology University of Puget Sound · Tacoma, WA	25 24–26	$19,495/yr	-0.2x	$239,600
65	Visual and Performing Arts, General Bennington College · Bennington, VT	17 15–18	$20,809/yr	-0.2x	$258,576
66	Sociology Hobart William Smith Colleges · Geneva, NY	26 25–27	$20,228/yr	-0.2x	$253,072
67	English Language and Literature, General Carleton College · Northfield, MN	23 20–23	$20,780/yr	-0.2x	$261,828
68	Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies Pratt Institute-Main · Brooklyn, NY	21 18–21	$18,842/yr	-0.2x	$238,732
69	Human Biology Johns Hopkins University · Baltimore, MD	20 20–21	$19,916/yr	-0.2x	$253,360
70	Fine and Studio Arts Grinnell College · Grinnell, IA	27 25–27	$20,111/yr	-0.2x	$259,448
71	Anthropology Mount Holyoke College · South Hadley, MA	27 25–28	$19,655/yr	-0.2x	$256,568
72	Publishing Susquehanna University · Selinsgrove, PA	18 15–18	$17,585/yr	-0.2x	$229,600
73	English Language and Literature, General Oberlin College · Oberlin, OH	22 20–23	$19,734/yr	-0.2x	$258,584
74	Fine and Studio Arts Bard College · Annandale-On-Hudson, NY	27 25–27	$19,327/yr	-0.2x	$254,448
75	Biology, General Pepperdine University · Malibu, CA	26 25–26	$20,031/yr	-0.2x	$266,968
76	Ethnic & Cultural Minority Syracuse University · Syracuse, NY	18 15–19	$18,854/yr	-0.3x	$252,244
77	Visual and Performing Arts, General Pacific Northwest College of Art · Portland, OR	21 19–21	$13,895/yr	-0.3x	$188,504
78	Music Syracuse University · Syracuse, NY	25 21–25	$18,574/yr	-0.3x	$252,244
79	Fine and Studio Arts Bard College at Simon's Rock · Great Barrington, MA	27 25–27	$19,327/yr	-0.3x	$266,376
80	Fine and Studio Arts Mount Holyoke College · South Hadley, MA	26 25–27	$18,420/yr	-0.3x	$256,568
81	English Language and Literature, General Furman University · Greenville, SC	22 20–23	$16,583/yr	-0.3x	$233,248
82	Literature Bennington College · Bennington, VT	19 17–20	$18,152/yr	-0.3x	$258,576
83	Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft University of Miami · Coral Gables, FL	23 20–23	$16,561/yr	-0.3x	$239,704
84	Ecology & Evolution St Lawrence University · Canton, NY	23 22–23	$17,443/yr	-0.3x	$255,480
85	Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft University of Puget Sound · Tacoma, WA	22 20–23	$16,310/yr	-0.3x	$239,600
86	English Language and Literature/Letters Bard College · Annandale-On-Hudson, NY	18 16–18	$17,237/yr	-0.3x	$254,448
87	International/Global Studies University of Puget Sound · Tacoma, WA	18 19–19	$16,037/yr	-0.3x	$239,600
88	Anthropology Syracuse University · Syracuse, NY	27 25–27	$16,844/yr	-0.3x	$252,244
89	Ethnic & Cultural Minority Washington University in St Louis · Saint Louis, MO	18 15–19	$16,635/yr	-0.3x	$251,928
90	Music Johns Hopkins University · Baltimore, MD	24 21–25	$16,479/yr	-0.3x	$253,360
91	Ethnic & Cultural Minority Brown University · Providence, RI	18 15–19	$17,527/yr	-0.4x	$272,920
92	Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Bennington College · Bennington, VT	23 20–23	$16,579/yr	-0.4x	$258,576
93	Natural Resources Conservation and Research Colorado College · Colorado Springs, CO	21 19–22	$17,372/yr	-0.4x	$271,728
94	History University of Rochester · Rochester, NY	30 29–31	$16,253/yr	-0.4x	$257,392
95	Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Skidmore College · Saratoga Springs, NY	22 20–23	$16,417/yr	-0.4x	$260,120
96	Dance The Juilliard School · New York, NY	17 16–18	$14,220/yr	-0.4x	$226,200
97	Apparel and Textiles Rhode Island School of Design · Providence, RI	29 27–30	$14,537/yr	-0.4x	$239,040
98	Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies Oberlin College · Oberlin, OH	20 18–21	$15,501/yr	-0.4x	$258,584
99	Fine and Studio Arts Laguna College of Art and Design · Laguna Beach, CA	25 24–26	$8,482/yr	-0.4x	$142,600
100	Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Oberlin College · Oberlin, OH	22 20–22	$12,441/yr	-0.5x	$258,584

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.