Ranking

Highest-paying bachelor's majors

Typical median earnings five years after a bachelor's degree, by field.

261 rows · click a column to sort
#FieldEarnings, 1 yrEarnings, 5 yrsTypical debtPrograms
1Operations Research$102,318$154,509—11
2Mathematics and Computer Science$78,758$140,068$14,87554
3Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration$53,359$129,303$20,16967
4Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology$58,376$120,262$16,08664
5Marine Transportation$109,483$116,841$25,0007
6Computer Engineering$81,533$115,326$21,666335
7Petroleum Engineering$89,188$113,666$25,00025
8Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering$110,585$110,017$26,94911
9Computer Science$73,638$108,513$22,000742
10Construction Engineering$79,049$108,134$21,67133
11Systems Engineering$78,987$106,560$19,50027
12Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering$76,979$106,072$24,84134
13Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$81,706$104,754$22,500388
14Industrial Engineering$77,946$102,795$22,190129
15Chemical Engineering$80,269$101,538$22,292184
16Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering$78,794$101,457$21,66574
17Nuclear Engineering$77,236$101,306$23,45822
18Mathematics and Statistics, Other$72,642$100,568$19,91126
19Construction Management$74,821$99,430$22,12388
20Mining and Mineral Engineering$83,900$99,390$26,00014
21Biomedical/Medical Engineering$71,150$99,147$21,125192
22Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other$62,339$98,371—16
23Engineering, Other$70,183$97,855$21,05044
24Construction Engineering Technology/Technician$75,373$97,519$21,33763
25Materials Engineering$75,832$97,394$20,88562
26Engineering Mechanics—$97,355—5
27Applied Mathematics$63,684$96,433$20,500229
28Engineering Science$75,522$96,233$19,62544
29Mechanical Engineering$75,796$96,217$22,345401
30Metallurgical Engineering—$95,989$25,7239
31Engineering-Related Fields$75,934$94,762$23,25072
32Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$55,715$94,569$19,500197
33Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection$74,340$94,333$20,0009
34Ocean Engineering$76,449$93,338$24,1258
35Engineering, General$72,468$92,793$25,531191
36Computer and Information Sciences, General$66,524$92,749$22,531828
37Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians$72,168$92,362$24,440109
38Manufacturing Engineering$76,612$91,807$21,38629
39Polymer/Plastics Engineering$74,572$91,578$27,0009
40Information Science/Studies$66,430$91,142$25,000237
41Engineering Physics$71,186$90,876$24,25092
42Air Transportation$53,749$90,799$22,466103
43Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians$71,487$90,429$25,54629
44Civil Engineering$72,633$89,879$23,456309
45Human Computer Interaction$66,505$89,809$25,03719
46Agricultural Engineering$72,121$89,799$22,20132
47Architectural Engineering$76,714$89,564$23,65430
48Statistics$67,602$89,380$17,681189
49Real Estate$61,645$89,083$20,50056
50Biological/Biosystems Engineering$65,759$88,807$21,37518
51Science, Technology and Society$57,125$88,766$20,00035
52Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians$73,612$87,414$26,25051
53Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$80,718$87,377$27,0001,203
54Management Information Systems and Services$63,426$87,204$22,125285
55Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations$60,506$86,897$21,43635
56Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services$41,670$86,795$21,42531
57Economics$58,734$86,761$19,500696
58Fire Protection$70,923$86,598$15,79936
59Surveying Engineering—$86,406—9
60Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management$62,778$85,974$25,985359
61Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering$68,174$85,605$22,875122
62Insurance$62,910$85,359$19,70044
63Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods$66,366$85,190$21,125317
64Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians$70,643$85,013$24,86890
65Physics$54,230$84,353$20,375677
66Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians$65,931$84,011$28,33756
67Finance and Financial Management Services$59,997$83,701$21,300729
68Business/Managerial Economics$57,382$83,514$20,370203
69Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians$71,642$82,994—24
70Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other$63,137$82,641$24,76728
71Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians$67,067$82,529$22,37797
72Human Biology$35,600$82,464$16,39032
73Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General$64,722$82,310$25,00067
74Computer Programming$71,441$82,259$25,02493
75Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians$77,491$81,760$13,29014
76Biotechnology$50,374$81,453$19,50083
77Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other$44,209$81,398$26,00056
78Cognitive Science$52,547$80,293$15,17861
79General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations$59,171$80,212$19,59669
80Physical Sciences, General—$80,103$18,56041
81Geological/Geophysical Engineering$66,717$79,716—15
82International Business$58,020$79,449$20,355314
83Computer Systems Analysis$61,471$79,327$47,69535
84Pharmacology and Toxicology—$78,813$14,00018
85Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians$65,353$78,730$23,43723
86Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications$65,000$78,370$24,93559
87Accounting and Related Services$59,097$77,352$23,1721,133
88Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs$34,875$77,289$23,49924
89Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics—$77,034—83
90Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians$64,087$76,578$26,00019
91Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions$69,265$76,549$24,414238
92Biology/Biotechnology Technologies/Technicians$61,604$76,480$20,0008
93Systems Science and Theory$59,681$76,198$21,50017
94Agricultural Mechanization$61,751$76,154$18,75016
95Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences$41,859$76,119$27,0007
96Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians$55,803$75,640$27,00012
97Data Processing—$75,514—11
98Mathematics$53,660$75,121$19,9161,087
99Medical Illustration and Informatics$53,823$74,778$27,00030
100Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences$44,304$74,590$18,28676
101Food Science and Technology$54,336$73,733$19,50068
102Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians—$73,440$23,00012
103Homeland Security$55,462$73,105$21,601108
104Science Technologies/Technicians, Other$66,256$72,962$26,75010
105Public Policy Analysis$49,429$72,658$19,25096
106City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning$53,697$71,755$19,17938
107International Relations and National Security Studies$45,574$71,734$19,500294
108Marketing$50,680$71,160$22,250807
109Urban Studies/Affairs$44,690$71,108$24,56277
110Neurobiology and Neurosciences$37,947$71,019$20,375286
111Chemistry$48,530$70,989$20,5001,028
112Architecture$54,218$70,989$25,000108
113Landscape Architecture$59,148$70,859$21,60843
114Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology$43,571$70,833$20,500647
115Human Resources Management and Services$56,072$70,804$25,250348
116Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other$55,623$70,686$22,50018
117Agricultural Business and Management$51,918$70,664$19,061128
118Architectural Sciences and Technology$56,848$70,558$25,75078
119Microbiological Sciences and Immunology$42,823$70,501$20,500106
120Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other$43,497$70,015$25,500110
121Dental Support Services and Allied Professions$69,975$69,646$23,23795
122Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution$45,554$69,632$20,81249
123Housing and Human Environments$46,844$69,467$27,00013
124Biological and Physical Sciences$40,786$69,379$24,268103
125Genetics$39,703$69,265$20,00026
126Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences$36,093$68,886$22,595151
127Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other$58,453$68,866$24,90375
128Business/Commerce, General$52,236$68,820$24,937387
129Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations$50,148$68,377$21,500271
130Political Science and Government$43,207$68,223$20,9921,051
131Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other$47,833$68,064$16,7429
132Business Administration, Management and Operations$51,573$67,779$24,5001,555
133Area Studies$42,038$67,465$18,937324
134Soil Sciences$51,787$67,279$18,74817
135Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions$69,860$66,568$25,000379
136Health/Medical Preparatory Programs$36,870$66,494$22,814156
137Legal Professions and Studies, Other$42,168$66,012$26,75027
138Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology$43,756$65,842$24,12571
139Public Administration$50,167$65,826$20,590122
140Non-Professional Legal Studies$44,185$65,626$23,000141
141Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication$47,537$65,550$22,500380
142Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other$48,985$65,378$19,96018
143Interior Architecture$48,836$65,195$25,08138
144Biology, General$37,360$64,793$22,9821,350
145Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General$40,340$64,236$25,000421
146Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services$52,966$64,201$21,50029
147Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences$45,793$63,878$22,000407
148Forestry$46,652$63,583$20,50048
149Sustainability Studies$44,761$63,252$21,164115
150Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services$47,829$62,963$20,50011
151Environmental Design$51,087$62,848$21,24425
152Nutrition Sciences$36,231$62,655$20,343111
153Philosophy$38,197$62,448$20,000664
154Health and Medical Administrative Services$49,492$61,968$28,174508
155Architecture and Related Services, Other—$61,783$25,0007
156Geography and Cartography$45,212$61,512$20,713257
157Communication Disorders Sciences and Services$33,210$61,507$20,019294
158Computer Software and Media Applications$41,139$61,095$25,000141
159Public Health$43,165$60,768$23,724479
160Research and Experimental Psychology$39,658$60,698$20,500208
161Business/Corporate Communications$39,635$60,499$27,00042
162Apparel and Textiles$44,266$60,459$22,83275
163International/Globalization Studies$42,133$60,229$18,578277
164Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$40,871$60,206$19,500713
165Criminology$42,196$60,189$23,827214
166Security Science and Technology$44,768$60,046$24,998166
167Social Sciences, Other$43,514$59,962$23,07970
168Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other$38,911$59,625$23,75056
169Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services$36,867$59,459$22,355129
170Natural Resources Conservation and Research$41,042$59,310$20,500724
171Hospitality Administration/Management$45,928$59,222$21,470239
172Funeral Service and Mortuary Science$51,033$58,936$26,00011
173Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services$40,049$58,401$25,73684
174Journalism$41,407$58,361$20,628324
175Plant Sciences$43,856$58,185$19,51785
176Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations$45,847$58,118$24,25075
177Agricultural Public Services$46,367$57,736$17,32232
178Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy$43,021$57,655$21,75074
179Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$37,407$57,313$24,500927
180Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other$46,542$57,309$23,973482
181Communication and Media Studies$42,087$57,294$22,5841,036
182Visual and Performing Arts, Other$36,292$57,224$23,25038
183Botany/Plant Biology$30,721$57,192$21,50037
184East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$35,335$57,084$19,037130
185Animal Sciences$37,728$56,994$20,673101
186Design and Applied Arts$39,169$56,942$25,125602
187Criminal Justice and Corrections$42,575$56,840$25,000902
188Psychology, Other$40,293$56,759$27,00029
189Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education$56,145$56,532—21
190Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies$45,128$56,265$19,75122
191Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies$40,510$55,782$20,168393
192Legal Support Services$43,370$55,693$33,43770
193Sociology$40,670$55,403$22,551891
194Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions$38,749$55,300$25,000225
195Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services$33,555$55,185$20,232295
196Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other—$55,118$20,92024
197Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions$40,910$54,879$27,00098
198Agriculture, General$44,412$54,778$20,50078
199Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$42,487$54,734$26,000926
200Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology$41,319$54,732$25,000166
201Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology$34,656$54,720$21,500210
202Social Sciences, General$43,530$54,198$24,081214
203Community Organization and Advocacy$45,518$54,127$29,22350
204Radio, Television, and Digital Communication$37,718$53,931$22,192318
205History$37,830$53,799$21,7231,169
206Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General$42,947$53,756$25,000275
207Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services, Other—$53,734—7
208Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management$40,251$53,720$24,91895
209Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies$38,994$53,677$22,82095
210Psychology, General$37,312$53,293$24,0001,330
211Social Work$41,465$53,160$24,986595
212Literature$34,133$53,018$21,72055
213Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$45,721$52,317$24,000824
214Agricultural Production Operations$42,350$52,092$20,26256
215Gerontology—$51,925—31
216Special Education and Teaching$46,718$51,906$25,000481
217Human Services, General$42,472$51,471$31,000182
218Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management$34,955$51,157$22,21857
219Education, General$43,246$51,124$23,237302
220English Language and Literature, General$36,768$51,077$21,9671,176
221Sociology and Anthropology$34,476$50,792$23,87548
222Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management$36,700$50,621$23,945150
223Education, Other$38,339$50,251$25,00064
224Anthropology$33,633$50,125$21,500434
225Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services$38,751$49,939$23,004286
226American Sign Language$39,409$49,922$22,83348
227Theological and Ministerial Studies$37,280$49,874$24,317181
228Behavioral Sciences$38,662$49,813$26,62550
229Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management$39,669$49,649$22,33915
230Zoology/Animal Biology$33,418$48,618$23,27489
231Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$44,394$48,374$24,4991,136
232Culinary Arts and Related Services$37,680$48,360$27,00027
233Film/Video and Photographic Arts$31,401$48,122$23,000375
234Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General$37,431$47,592$26,48273
235Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies$35,359$47,586$22,374393
236Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology, Other—$47,573$20,6849
237Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians$34,345$47,556$23,25045
238Natural Resources and Conservation, Other$30,975$47,525—7
239Bible/Biblical Studies$37,704$47,364$25,950145
240English Language and Literature/Letters, Other$35,062$47,045$18,75034
241Religious Education$39,250$46,683$26,00038
242Educational Administration and Supervision$42,610$46,675$29,65125
243Natural Sciences$38,655$46,624$24,50056
244Graphic Communications$28,397$46,567$26,000119
245Religion/Religious Studies$25,696$46,418$24,139505
246Music$34,409$46,274$24,375968
247Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems$33,605$45,853$40,28910
248Visual and Performing Arts, General$30,968$45,518$24,250231
249Theology and Religious Vocations, Other$38,091$45,120$26,00033
250Communications Technologies/Technicians$29,205$44,920$21,6779
251Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language$37,619$44,517$21,63557
252Fine and Studio Arts$31,083$44,104$23,401993
253Dance$28,543$43,758$24,142245
254Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services$31,294$43,619$23,32626
255Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians$38,660$43,109$23,98028
256Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$29,607$43,013$23,250775
257Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries$33,735$42,886$24,177123
258Religious Music and Worship—$41,158—75
259Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology$34,945$40,069—57
260Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants$18,423$31,982$15,0006
261Business Operations Support and Assistant Services—$25,601—23

Typical = median across programs. Source: College Scorecard field of study data.