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CollegeROIData

Arts & Humanities Majors, ROI Rankings (2026)

27 arts & humanities majors across 745 school-major combinations analyzed for debt, earnings, and job market outlook.

27
Majors
63/100
Avg ROI Score
$28K
Avg Median Debt
$46K
Avg Year 1 Earnings

Arts & Humanities Majors by Average ROI

#MajorAvg ROI Score
1Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies83/100
2Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences78/100
3Geography and Cartography73/100
4Data Visualization70/100
5Digital Humanities and Textual Studies69/100
6Philosophy and Religious Studies68/100
7Philosophy67/100
8History66/100
9Classics and Classical Languages66/100
10Audiovisual Communications Technologies65/100
11Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other65/100
12Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies64/100
13English Language and Literature64/100
14English Language and Literature/Letters, Other64/100
15Literature64/100
16Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities63/100
17Educational/Instructional Media Design62/100
18Visual and Performing Arts, Other62/100
19Film/Video and Photographic Arts61/100
20Music61/100
21Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft60/100
22Design and Applied Arts60/100
23Visual and Performing Arts60/100
24Fine and Studio Arts60/100
25Dance60/100
26Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management60/100
27Religious/Sacred Music59/100

Top 50 Arts & Humanities Programs by ROI

#SchoolMajorROI Score
1College for Creative StudiesDrafting/Design Engineering Technologies83/100
2Academy of Art UniversityDrafting/Design Engineering Technologies82/100
3Carleton CollegeGeological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences81/100
4Bowdoin CollegeGeological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences79/100
5Colorado CollegeGeological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences79/100
6Commonwealth University of PennsylvaniaGeological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences79/100
7Albion CollegeGeological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences78/100
8Allegheny CollegeGeological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences78/100
9Beloit CollegeGeological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences78/100
10California Institute of TechnologyGeological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences78/100
11California State Polytechnic University-HumboldtGeological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences78/100
12California State University Maritime AcademyGeological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences78/100
13Concord UniversityGeological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences77/100
14Colgate UniversityGeography and Cartography73/100
15Bard College at Simon's RockGeography and Cartography72/100
16College of Coastal GeorgiaData Visualization71/100
17Centre CollegeData Visualization70/100
18Alice Lloyd CollegeHistory69/100
19Berea CollegeEnglish Language and Literature69/100
20Boston CollegePhilosophy69/100
21Boston CollegeHistory69/100
22Brandeis UniversityHistory69/100
23Carleton CollegeHistory69/100
24Chadron State CollegeHistory69/100
25Claremont McKenna CollegePhilosophy69/100
26Claremont McKenna CollegeHistory69/100
27Clark UniversityDigital Humanities and Textual Studies69/100
28Amherst CollegeHistory68/100
29Amherst CollegePhilosophy68/100
30Antioch CollegeHistory68/100
31Baptist University of the AmericasLiberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities68/100
32Bates CollegeHistory68/100
33Bates CollegePhilosophy68/100
34Berry CollegePhilosophy and Religious Studies68/100
35Bridgewater State UniversityHistory68/100
36Brown UniversityHistory68/100
37Bryan College-DaytonHistory68/100
38City University of SeattleData Visualization68/100
39Colgate UniversityHistory68/100
40Colgate UniversityPhilosophy68/100
41College of Staten Island CUNYHistory68/100
42College of the Holy CrossHistory68/100
43College of the Holy CrossPhilosophy68/100
44Adrian CollegeAudiovisual Communications Technologies67/100
45Alabama A & M UniversityAudiovisual Communications Technologies67/100
46Albright CollegeHistory67/100
47Alice Lloyd CollegeEnglish Language and Literature67/100
48American UniversityHistory67/100
49Anderson UniversityHistory67/100
50Angelo State UniversityHistory67/100

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Frequently Asked Questions

CollegeROIData tracks 27 arts & humanities majors across 745 school-major combinations with detailed debt and earnings data.

The average ROI Score for arts & humanities programs is 63/100. Average median debt is $28K with average first-year earnings of $46K.

Among arts & humanities majors, Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies has the highest average ROI Score at 83/100. The best individual program is College for Creative Studies in Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies with a score of 83/100.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Bureau of Labor Statistics
Last updated:

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.