2027 Best Degrees for Low Student Debt
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Which degree is worth pursuing if you want to keep student loans manageable? College Board reports that average published tuition and fees at public four-year colleges were $11,610 for in-state students in 2024-25, before housing, books, or aid. That makes the total cost to finish more useful than a tuition quote alone. This guide compares degree fields and credentials - not colleges - by their potential costs, career paths, and additional training requirements. It will help first-time and returning students identify lower-debt routes and know what to verify before enrolling.
Key Things You Should Know
- An associate degree or transfer pathway can reduce borrowing: College Board reports average published tuition and fees of $4,050 at public two-year colleges in 2024-25, though transfer and living costs still matter.
- Career pay matters, but it is not a graduate salary guarantee: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a May 2024 median wage of $133,080 for software developers, an occupation with multiple entry paths.
- The best low-debt choice is the least expensive complete, eligible path to your goal - not necessarily the cheapest first semester. Check aid, remaining credits, placement requirements, and licensing rules before borrowing.
Top 10 Best Degrees for Low Student Debt
Business Programs
A bachelor's degree in accounting or business can lead toward roles that often do not require graduate school; a master's in accounting or an MBA usually makes more sense for a specific career move than as an automatic next step. Compare public-school tuition, employer assistance, and required foundation courses before borrowing for a master's. Accounting students should also check their state's CPA education and experience rules: neither a business degree nor a master's automatically confers the license. A general MBA with substantial debt may offer less value to someone without a clear advancement plan.
Healthcare Programs
Healthcare spans associate, bachelor's, and specialized master's degrees with very different costs and entry requirements. A health administration master's may suit experienced professionals seeking management roles, while clinical master's programs can require prerequisites, placements, and professional eligibility. Before choosing a program, identify the exact job you want and whether it requires licensure. Include clinical travel, supplies, and reduced work hours in your budget; low tuition alone cannot make an ineligible program a good investment.
Information Technology Programs
Information technology (IT) degrees can prepare students for support, systems, networking, or security work. A lower-cost associate degree, bachelor's degree, or targeted certificate may be enough for some entry-level goals; an IT master's is more defensible when a particular role rewards advanced study. Compare hands-on labs, internships, and preparation for relevant industry certifications, which may carry separate fees. Employers also weigh practical skills and experience, so borrowing more for a higher credential is not automatically the better choice.
Computer Science Programs
Computer science bachelor's programs typically emphasize programming, algorithms, and mathematical foundations. A master's can support specialization or a carefully planned career change, but applicants may need prerequisite courses that increase total cost. For low debt, compare public options, paid internships, and employer-funded graduate study against the price of an intensive private program. Check whether a prospective job actually requires a master's; software-development roles commonly have a bachelor's-level entry path, and a degree alone does not secure one.
Nursing Programs
Eligible associate and bachelor's nursing programs offer routes toward registered-nurse licensure after graduates meet applicable examination and state requirements. An RN-to-BSN pathway may cost less for an already licensed nurse than starting another undergraduate program from scratch. Nursing master's programs serve different purposes, including advanced practice and leadership, and can require licensure, clinical placements, and state-specific approval. Compare the full sequence of credentials, fees, and clinical commitments - not just advertised tuition - before selecting a route.
Psychology Programs
A psychology bachelor's degree can develop research and communication skills but does not qualify someone to practice as a psychologist. Psychology master's degrees vary: some prepare students for research or related roles, while clinical or counseling pathways may have distinct accreditation and licensing rules. If independent clinical practice is your goal, confirm your state's required degree, supervised experience, and examinations first. Borrowing for a program that does not meet those requirements can leave you with debt and an incomplete career pathway.
Education Programs
An education bachelor's or alternative certification pathway may lead toward teaching, depending on state rules. An education master's can help an employed teacher pursue a defined specialization or pay-schedule opportunity, but the degree by itself does not ensure a raise or license. Ask districts about reimbursement and salary schedules before enrolling. Student teaching, fieldwork, and subject-area requirements can affect both work hours and costs, even when academic courses are online.
Criminal Justice Programs
A criminal justice associate or bachelor's degree can support broad study of law enforcement and corrections, but many related jobs have agency-specific hiring and training requirements. A master's may fit an experienced professional seeking policy or administrative work; it is rarely a substitute for confirming an employer's actual qualifications. Check background-screening rules and job postings before borrowing. Someone seeking a role that accepts several majors may find a lower-cost or more versatile degree a better fit.
Engineering Programs
An engineering bachelor's degree can provide a direct professional foundation, while a master's often supports specialization. Compare programs within the specific engineering discipline you want: laboratory access, internship opportunities, and ABET accreditation can matter more than a low headline price, especially for a future professional engineer. State licensure typically involves additional examination and experience. Graduate study may be economical when an employer funds it, but its value depends on the intended role.
Social Work Programs
A bachelor of social work can prepare students for some entry-level roles. A master of social work (MSW) is commonly needed for clinical social work and may offer an advanced-standing route to eligible BSW graduates; eligibility and remaining requirements vary by school. Choose a program with appropriate Council on Social Work Education accreditation and check your state's licensing rules. Practicum hours, supervision after graduation, and possible limits on paid work belong in the debt calculation alongside tuition.
What degrees typically lead to the lowest student debt?
There is no degree field that reliably produces the lowest debt for every student. Debt is the amount borrowed, not the price of a major: grants, household resources, living arrangements, transfer decisions, and time to completion all change the result. Community-college associate degrees, in-state public bachelor's degrees, and employer-funded graduate degrees are often useful routes to investigate, provided they meet the student's career requirements.
The comparison below shows where borrowing can arise. It is a planning guide, not a ranking of graduates' actual debt.
| Pathway | Potential debt advantage | Cost or eligibility risk |
| Associate degree or transfer | Lower published public two-year tuition; fewer costly university terms if credits apply | Lost credits, extra semesters, or a job that requires further education |
| In-state public bachelor's | Resident pricing and possible grant aid | Housing, program fees, and delayed completion |
| Employer-supported master's | Tuition assistance can reduce borrowing | Reimbursement limits, required employment, and uncovered prerequisites |
| Licensure-oriented degree | A clear link to a required credential can justify the expense | Clinical costs or a program that fails to meet state requirements |
Ask each school for an estimate covering all remaining semesters, not just the first year. For advanced degrees, compare that estimate with the career you already have and the roles you realistically seek.
Which degrees offer the best salary-to-debt ratio?
A strong salary-to-debt ratio means manageable borrowing relative to plausible earnings in the occupation you intend to enter. It is not a property of a major alone. Accounting, computer science, engineering, and qualifying nursing routes merit comparison because they can connect to identifiable occupations without necessarily requiring an expensive graduate degree for entry. Actual opportunities depend on location, experience, hiring conditions, and credentials.
Calculate the amount you expect to borrow through completion, then estimate monthly payments using your likely loan terms. Compare that payment with a cautious entry-level pay estimate - not an occupation-wide median - and leave room for taxes and living expenses. A graduate degree deserves the same test: explore graduate degrees that are worth it only in light of your target role, employer support, and added borrowing. Occupational medians are useful context, not predictions of a new graduate's earnings.
Are certificate programs cheaper than college degrees?
Certificates are often shorter than degrees, but not necessarily cheaper for the job you want. Compare the price of a certificate with the full cost of the degree or credentials you would still need afterward. A certificate may be a sensible low-debt choice for a specific skill or an employer-recognized qualification. It is a poor substitute when an occupation requires an accredited degree, supervised practice, or licensure.
Check whether certificate credits will apply to a later degree before paying for them; admission to a stackable pathway does not guarantee every credit will transfer. Be especially wary of unusually quick credential claims. For example, searches for 1 year PhD programs online free should prompt careful checks of funding, admissions eligibility, research requirements, and actual completion time rather than an assumption that a doctorate is a cheap shortcut.
How do online and campus programs affect total college costs?
Online study can lower commuting or relocation costs, but it does not automatically lower tuition or total borrowing. An online student may still pay technology fees, arrange local clinical or student-teaching placements, or attend scheduled live classes. Campus study may cost more in travel or housing while offering access to equipment, placements, or a schedule that helps a student finish sooner.
Compare the formats using the same remaining-credit plan and financial-aid estimate. Ask about mandatory in-person activities, course availability, residency-based tuition, and the time you can realistically study while working. If speed is part of your cost plan, review the transfer-credit assumptions behind claims about a bachelor degree online in 2 years; short courses alone do not establish a two-year completion timeline.
What accreditation should low-debt degree programs have?
Start with institutional accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. It is relevant to federal student-aid eligibility and may affect transfer and graduate-school options, although acceptance of credits is never automatic. Then check programmatic accreditation when your intended occupation or next credential makes it important - for example, appropriate nursing, social work, engineering, or counseling program approval.
Do not confuse accreditation with licensure eligibility. Ask the program and the licensing board in the state where you plan to work whether that specific program and delivery format meet current educational requirements. An inexpensive program that cannot support the required license may be the costliest choice of all.
What coursework do affordable, high-value degree programs include?
Coursework should match the occupation, not just sound relevant. A lower-cost accounting degree might include financial reporting and auditing; computer science emphasizes programming and algorithms; nursing includes supervised clinical learning; and social work may require substantial field education. Graduate degrees can add prerequisites, specializations, a capstone, research, or supervised practice. These requirements can change both completion time and the ability to keep working.
Request a degree audit that identifies remaining general education, major, elective, and experiential requirements. If you have prior college credit or professional preparation, ask which requirements it actually satisfies. Credits accepted only as electives may reduce the advertised number of credits remaining without shortening the sequence that controls graduation.
What admission requirements apply to low-cost degree programs?
Admission requirements vary by credential and sometimes within the same institution. Undergraduate applicants may need a high school credential and program-specific prerequisites; transfer applicants need a review of previous coursework. Master's applicants generally need a bachelor's degree and may face minimum grades, prerequisite classes, professional experience, licensure, or a portfolio. Nursing, engineering, and clinical programs can have separate selective admission even when the college's general admissions process is accessible.
Before paying an application fee, ask whether your record meets program requirements, whether prerequisites add terms, and when transfer decisions become official. Do not assume that the absence of a published test requirement means admission is automatic - or that admission to the college guarantees entry to a limited-capacity major.
What careers and salaries can low-debt degrees lead to?
Occupational wages help put potential borrowing in context, but they are not salaries promised to degree holders. The BLS May 2024 median wages below cover workers across experience levels. Use them to identify careers worth researching, then look at local entry-level openings and the qualifications those employers request.
| Occupation | May 2024 U.S. median annual wage | Education or credential caution |
| Software developers | $133,080 | A computer science degree is one path; skills and hiring requirements vary. |
| Registered nurses | $93,600 | An eligible nursing education and state licensure are required. |
| Accountants and auditors | $81,680 | A bachelor's degree is typical; CPA licensure has additional requirements. |
| Social workers | $61,330 | Education and licensing requirements differ by role and state. |
The highest occupational median does not identify the cheapest degree. Compare realistic entry requirements, your likely debt, and whether you want the work itself. A lower-paying role reached with little borrowing may be a better financial fit than a higher-paying goal requiring costly additional credentials.
How can you compare programs by job outlook and licensing requirements?
Start with the occupation rather than the program brochure. BLS employment projections can show the national direction of demand, but local openings, experience requirements, and the availability of placements matter too. Licensing boards - not school marketing - are the authority on regulated practice. This is particularly important when comparing online programs across state lines or considering an advanced degree for a role with no graduate-degree requirement.
Use this sequence before committing to a program or a loan:
- Find current job postings in your intended location and note the degree level, experience, and license they request.
- Check the relevant state board's education, examination, background-review, and supervised-practice rules where applicable.
- Ask the school to document program eligibility, required placements, total remaining credits, fees, and a realistic completion schedule.
- Compare your estimated borrowing and payment with cautious entry-level earnings and a lower-cost alternative.
If a past conviction could affect your plans, distinguish school admission from occupational licensing. Guidance on online degrees for felons can help frame the education search, but obtain occupation-specific guidance from the applicable state board before borrowing for a licensed career.
Other Things You Should Know About
No. It may lower initial tuition, but additional credentials or credits that do not transfer can increase the final bill. Compare the full route to your intended job.
Not necessarily. Graduate study may make sense when a target role requires it or an employer pays for it. Check prerequisites, total cost, and the qualifications in actual job postings first.
They can reduce the amount you need to borrow if you qualify. Compare each school's aid offer with tuition, fees, books, and living costs; grants and scholarships are not the same as loans.
Choosing on advertised tuition alone. A delayed graduation, unaccepted transfer credits, or a program that does not meet licensing rules can outweigh a low initial price.
References
- Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/2025-economic-well-being-of-us-households-in-2024-higher-education-and-student-loans.htm
- 2: Undergraduate Students - UC Accountability Report https://accountability.universityofcalifornia.edu/2015/chapters/chapter-2.html
- 5 facts about student loans | Pew Research Center https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/09/18/facts-about-student-loans/
- Net Price - Urban Institute - Understanding College Affordability https://collegeaffordability.urban.org/prices-and-expenses/net-price
- Which Graduate Degree Gets You Out of Debt Quickly? | earnest.com https://www.earnest.com/blog/which-graduate-degree-gets-you-out-of-debt-the-fastest
- 10 College Majors That Leave Graduates With the Most Student Loan Debt | investopedia.com https://www.investopedia.com/10-college-majors-that-leave-graduates-with-the-most-student-loan-debt-12062009
- Major decisions: Graduates' earnings growth and debt repayment - The Hamilton Project https://www.hamiltonproject.org/publication/paper/major-decisions-graduates-earnings-growth-and-debt-repayment/
- What is the typical debt load for graduates of four-year public universities - APLU https://www.aplu.org/our-work/publicuvalues/student-debt/
- What Majors Have the Highest Student Loan Debt? | sofi.com https://www.sofi.com/learn/content/student-debt-by-majors/
