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Worst ROI Trade Programs in 2026

100 programs ranked · Updated 2026

Trade programs that pay back the least relative to tuition cost. Know before you enroll.

Programs Ranked

100

Avg Earnings

$27,882/yr

Avg TSW Score

43/100

#1 Program

Parks & Recreation Management

Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale

Worst ROI Trade Programs

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

#	Program	TSW Score	Earnings	AI-Proof	ROI
1	Parks & Recreation Management Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale, FL	55 51–56	$29,471/yr	Resilient	6.0x
2	Business Administration Generations College · Chicago, IL	49 43–51	$17,776/yr	Moderate	6.0x
3	Film & Photography California College of ASU · Los Angeles, CA	29 23–31	$19,982/yr	Moderate	6.0x
4	Human Development & Family Studies Campbellsville University · Campbellsville, KY	57 53–59	$37,685/yr	Moderate	6.0x
5	Veterinary Technology Harcum College · Bryn Mawr, PA	45 40–45	$39,288/yr	Resilient	6.0x
6	Allied Health Professions Sacred Heart University · Fairfield, CT	53 49–54	$58,251/yr	Resilient	6.0x
7	Apparel & Textiles FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising · Los Angeles, CA	40 34–42	$28,863/yr	Moderate	5.8x
8	Cosmetology Douglas Education Center · Monessen, PA	36 32–37	$19,347/yr	Resilient	5.8x
9	Health Administration Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe · Tempe, AZ	57 51–60	$35,519/yr	Moderate	5.8x
10	Health Administration Berkeley College-Woodland Park · Woodland Park, NJ	61 55–63	$41,752/yr	Moderate	5.7x
11	Hospitality Management Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach · Virginia Beach, VA	51 46–54	$28,789/yr	Moderate	5.7x
12	Allied Health Professions St Catherine University · Saint Paul, MN	53 49–54	$57,845/yr	Resilient	5.7x
13	Health Administration Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale, FL	53 46–55	$28,742/yr	Moderate	5.7x
14	Criminal Justice South College · Knoxville, TN	49 45–51	$24,095/yr	Resilient	5.7x
15	Business Administration Remington College-Shreveport Campus · Shreveport, LA	54 48–56	$26,287/yr	Moderate	5.7x
16	Agricultural Business Stautzenberger College-Maumee · Maumee, OH	46 41–48	$22,309/yr	Moderate	5.7x
17	Agricultural Business Stautzenberger College-Brecksville · Brecksville, OH	46 41–48	$22,309/yr	Moderate	5.7x
18	Agricultural Business Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College · Rockford, IL	46 41–48	$22,309/yr	Moderate	5.7x
19	Business Administration Remington College-Dallas Campus · Dallas, TX	54 48–56	$26,287/yr	Moderate	5.6x
20	Audio & Video Technology California College of ASU · Los Angeles, CA	24 19–27	$14,613/yr	Moderate	5.6x
21	Design and Applied Arts New England Institute of Technology · East Greenwich, RI	36 32–39	$26,282/yr	Moderate	5.6x
22	Biology Davidson College · Davidson, NC	46 41–48	$39,602/yr	Moderate	5.6x
23	Criminal Justice Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion · Marion, IN	59 55–61	$38,495/yr	Resilient	5.5x
24	Criminal Justice Remington College-Shreveport Campus · Shreveport, LA	51 47–53	$26,952/yr	Resilient	5.5x
25	Massage Therapy ECPI University · Virginia Beach, VA	33 29–33	$23,638/yr	Resilient	5.5x
26	Subject-Area Teaching Derech Hachaim Seminary · Monroe, NY	44 39–46	$14,293/yr	Moderate	5.5x
27	Hospitality Management Bryant & Stratton College-Buffalo · Buffalo, NY	51 46–53	$28,789/yr	Moderate	5.5x
28	Criminal Justice Remington College-Dallas Campus · Dallas, TX	51 47–53	$26,952/yr	Resilient	5.5x
29	Film & Photography Academy of Art University · San Francisco, CA	36 31–38	$30,178/yr	Moderate	5.5x
30	Hospitality Management Bryant & Stratton College-Syracuse North · Liverpool, NY	51 46–53	$28,789/yr	Moderate	5.4x
31	Teacher Education Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach · Virginia Beach, VA	47 44–49	$23,210/yr	Moderate	5.3x
32	Human Services Harcum College · Bryn Mawr, PA	37 33–38	$26,558/yr	Resilient	5.3x
33	Criminal Justice Indiana Institute of Technology · Fort Wayne, IN	56 52–58	$34,328/yr	Resilient	5.3x
34	Hospitality Management Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa · Wauwatosa, WI	51 46–53	$28,789/yr	Moderate	5.2x
35	Design and Applied Arts FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising · Los Angeles, CA	35 31–37	$24,393/yr	Moderate	5.2x
36	Human-Computer Interaction Full Sail University · Winter Park, FL	42 34–43	$32,253/yr	Moderate	5.1x
37	Medical Assisting University of Charleston · Charleston, WV	54 50–55	$39,938/yr	Resilient	5.1x
38	Teacher Education Bryant & Stratton College-Buffalo · Buffalo, NY	47 44–48	$23,210/yr	Moderate	5.1x
39	Pastoral Counseling Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion · Marion, IN	42 40–43	$35,736/yr	Resilient	5.0x
40	Industrial Production Technology New England Institute of Technology · East Greenwich, RI	45 42–46	$41,970/yr	Resilient	4.9x
41	Teacher Education Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa · Wauwatosa, WI	47 44–48	$23,210/yr	Moderate	4.8x
42	Medical Assisting Widener University · Chester, PA	60 56–61	$61,990/yr	Resilient	4.8x
43	Audio & Video Technology Full Sail University · Winter Park, FL	31 26–34	$27,597/yr	Moderate	4.8x
44	Specialized Sales & Marketing The New School · New York, NY	61 56–63	$41,562/yr	Moderate	4.7x
45	Health Sciences University of the Incarnate Word · San Antonio, TX	42 36–43	$40,386/yr	Moderate	4.7x
46	Biblical Studies Lancaster Bible College · Lancaster, PA	30 25–33	$25,662/yr	Moderate	4.7x
47	Health Sciences Berkeley College-Woodland Park · Woodland Park, NJ	41 36–43	$39,059/yr	Moderate	4.6x
48	Massage Therapy Dorsey College · Madison Heights, MI	30 25–30	$16,914/yr	Resilient	4.6x
49	Health Administration New England Institute of Technology · East Greenwich, RI	56 49–58	$33,559/yr	Moderate	4.6x
50	Film & Photography Colegio de Cinematografia Artes y Television · Bayamon, PR	26 21–28	$7,907/yr	Moderate	4.5x
51	Software Development Academy of Art University · San Francisco, CA	49 40–52	$30,273/yr	Exposed	4.4x
52	Culinary Arts Culinary Institute of America · Hyde Park, NY	56 53–57	$28,049/yr	AI-Proof	4.4x
53	Cosmetology Dorsey College · Madison Heights, MI	34 30–34	$10,878/yr	Resilient	4.4x
54	Cosmetology Dorsey College-Roseville · Roseville, MI	34 30–34	$10,878/yr	Resilient	4.4x
55	Human Services Monroe College · Bronx, NY	32 29–33	$19,164/yr	Resilient	4.3x
56	Business Administration Colorado Christian University · Lakewood, CO	64 58–66	$41,841/yr	Moderate	4.3x
57	Rehabilitation & Therapy Thomas Jefferson University · Philadelphia, PA	49 44–49	$46,768/yr	Resilient	4.3x
58	Rhetoric & Writing Full Sail University · Winter Park, FL	32 26–36	$28,090/yr	Exposed	4.3x
59	Culinary Arts Dorsey College · Madison Heights, MI	51 49–52	$21,367/yr	AI-Proof	4.3x
60	Design and Applied Arts Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale, FL	33 28–35	$20,360/yr	Moderate	4.3x
61	Visual & Performing Arts Full Sail University · Winter Park, FL	34 30–37	$27,720/yr	Moderate	4.2x
62	Dental Assisting New York University · New York, NY	51 48–52	$57,035/yr	Resilient	4.2x
63	Culinary Arts Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science · Paul Smiths, NY	59 56–60	$32,023/yr	AI-Proof	4.0x
64	Design and Applied Arts The New School · New York, NY	48 43–50	$44,640/yr	Moderate	4.0x
65	Biblical Studies Colorado Christian University · Lakewood, CO	39 34–42	$39,106/yr	Moderate	4.0x
66	Human Development & Family Studies Harcum College · Bryn Mawr, PA	52 49–54	$30,963/yr	Moderate	3.9x
67	Health Administration Colorado Christian University · Lakewood, CO	59 52–61	$37,801/yr	Moderate	3.8x
68	Clinical Laboratory Science George Washington University · Washington, DC	46 42–46	$40,630/yr	Resilient	3.8x
69	Arts & Media Management Full Sail University · Winter Park, FL	37 31–39	$25,184/yr	Moderate	3.8x
70	Teacher Education Liberty University · Lynchburg, VA	46 43–48	$21,998/yr	Moderate	3.7x
71	Film & Photography Full Sail University · Winter Park, FL	31 26–34	$24,679/yr	Moderate	3.7x
72	Animal Sciences Harcum College · Bryn Mawr, PA	36 31–38	$27,932/yr	Moderate	3.7x
73	Medical Assisting University of Evansville · Evansville, IN	54 50–54	$39,815/yr	Resilient	3.7x
74	Fine and Studio Arts Full Sail University · Winter Park, FL	35 31–37	$24,491/yr	Resilient	3.6x
75	Cosmetology Campbellsville University · Campbellsville, KY	34 30–34	$12,486/yr	Resilient	3.6x
76	Medical Assisting St Catherine University · Saint Paul, MN	54 50–55	$40,149/yr	Resilient	3.6x
77	Culinary Arts Johnson & Wales University-Providence · Providence, RI	56 53–56	$27,514/yr	AI-Proof	3.6x
78	Culinary Arts Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	56 53–56	$27,514/yr	AI-Proof	3.6x
79	Missionary Studies Southeastern University · Lakeland, FL	34 31–36	$28,779/yr	Moderate	3.5x
80	Design and Applied Arts Full Sail University · Winter Park, FL	34 30–36	$23,719/yr	Moderate	3.5x
81	Sociology Davidson College · Davidson, NC	36 32–39	$26,303/yr	Moderate	3.4x
82	Music Full Sail University · Winter Park, FL	33 28–35	$23,018/yr	Moderate	3.4x
83	Medical Assisting Mercyhurst University · Erie, PA	50 45–50	$32,656/yr	Resilient	3.4x
84	Theological Studies Southeastern University · Lakeland, FL	34 31–35	$27,591/yr	Resilient	3.3x
85	Business Operations Support Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus · San Juan, PR	40 34–44	$6,012/yr	Exposed	3.3x
86	Massage Therapy Swedish Institute a College of Health Sciences · New York, NY	34 30–34	$25,015/yr	Resilient	2.9x
87	Teacher Education Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion · Marion, IN	47 44–49	$23,523/yr	Moderate	2.8x
88	Computer Science Full Sail University · Winter Park, FL	44 34–46	$19,693/yr	Exposed	2.7x
89	Theater & Drama American Academy of Dramatic Arts-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA	28 24–30	$14,335/yr	Resilient	2.6x
90	Liberal Arts & Humanities Harvard University · Cambridge, MA	42 42–42	$40,995/yr	AI-Proof	2.5x
91	Health & Physical Education Monroe College · Bronx, NY	33 30–34	$11,749/yr	Resilient	2.3x
92	Theater & Drama New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts · New York, NY	29 25–31	$15,997/yr	Resilient	2.1x
93	Liberal Arts & Humanities Southeastern University · Lakeland, FL	28 28–28	$19,475/yr	AI-Proof	2.1x
94	Communications Technology Full Sail University · Winter Park, FL	23 19–25	$14,274/yr	Moderate	1.7x
95	Theater & Drama American Academy of Dramatic Arts-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA	28 24–30	$12,445/yr	Resilient	1.4x
96	Theater & Drama American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York · New York, NY	28 24–30	$12,445/yr	Resilient	1.4x
97	Liberal Arts & Humanities Bard College · Annandale-On-Hudson, NY	26 26–26	$13,221/yr	AI-Proof	0.8x
98	Theater & Drama American Musical and Dramatic Academy · New York, NY	29 25–31	$15,909/yr	Resilient	0.7x
99	Liberal Arts & Humanities Bard College at Simon's Rock · Great Barrington, MA	26 26–26	$13,221/yr	AI-Proof	0.7x
100	Liberal Arts & Humanities University of St Thomas · Saint Paul, MN	26 26–26	$14,747/yr	AI-Proof	0.4x

Methodology

Programs are ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook 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.