The private internal rate of return to investment is evaluated in two levels in each of the following four educational programs: computer science, nursing, nutrition, and social work. In these fields, a situation occurs in which many bachelor's degree graduates and community college vocational degree holders perform exactly the same work and receive different salaries. The monetary benefit returns to individuals are calculated by using the cost-benefit analysis method. The method is based on the assumption that the income that an average individual with a sepcific level of education in a given field will be earning years later can be estimated based on the average income currently being earned by people having the same characteristics. Returns to investment in a bachelor's degree versus a community college vocational degree range from 5.4 percent for nurses to 18 to 20 percent for computer science and social work graduates. It is suggested that these results will be useful not only to public employment agencies and educational institutions, but particularly to individual students who strive to acquire the most profitable level of education in the most economical way. (SW)