If you have an idea what you’d like to study, but you’re not sure where to go to school, this scorecard from the U.S. Department of Education can help. A few clicks and you can see average salaries for graduates in your field, and what the graduation rates for your school look like.
If you or your kid are choosing between schools, this tool helps you decide which one has the best chance of getting you a decent salary for your major. You can search by state or region, and see average salaries for graduates ten years after they started at the school, your major’s graduation rate, the annual average cost, typical debt, and the percentage of students receiving federal aid. With all this information, you’ll be able to see which schools are likely to give you the most return on your (or your parents’) investment.
Of course, you should consider more than your potential earnings when choosing a school. But it doesn’t hurt to keep in mind how much you’ll make after graduating, when you have to start repaying those student loans.
College Scorecard | U.S. Department of Education