Behavioral Sciences: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Behavioral Sciences graduates earn a median $48,673 four years after finishing — $313/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,906/yr net price ($67,624 over four years), that pays back in about 216.1 years. Federal data pools 63 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 1,800 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Kansas | KS | $58,883 |
| 2 | Northern Michigan University | MI | $57,325 |
| 3 | George Fox University | OR | $56,440 |
| 4 | University of California-Santa Cruz | CA | $54,606 |
| 5 | University of Houston-Clear Lake | TX | $51,151 |
| 6 | York College of Pennsylvania | PA | $50,634 |
| 7 | Wilmington University | DE | $50,081 |
| 8 | California Baptist University | CA | $48,922 |
| 9 | University of Phoenix-Arizona | AZ | $48,657 |
| 10 | Concordia University-Nebraska | NE | $48,215 |
| 11 | Saint Francis University | PA | $47,316 |
| 12 | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay | WI | $46,125 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.