Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

College majors, ranked by what they pay

202 bachelor's fields ranked by median earnings four years after finishing — federal field-of-study data. The $48,360 line is high-school-diploma earnings; anything above it is the degree's premium. (Scorecard, 2026.)

#MajorEarnings, 4 yrsPremiumGrads/yr
1Operations Research$122,531$74,171547
2Mathematics and Computer Science$118,943$70,583949
3Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration$116,539$68,1792,386
4Computer Engineering$109,015$60,65512,191
5Computer Science$107,009$58,64941,338
6Systems Engineering$105,185$56,825677
7Petroleum Engineering$104,823$56,463710
8Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$100,647$52,28716,288
9Industrial Engineering$98,442$50,0825,542
10Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering$98,207$49,8475,941
11Chemical Engineering$98,158$49,7989,377
12Construction Engineering$97,303$48,943608
13Construction Management$95,124$46,7642,909
14Engineering, Other$93,989$45,629867
15Construction Engineering Technology/Technician$93,843$45,4832,750
16Engineering Science$93,782$45,422541
17Biomedical/Medical Engineering$93,451$45,0918,583
18Statistics$92,425$44,0655,232
19Computer and Information Sciences, General$92,374$44,01441,968
20Mechanical Engineering$92,135$43,77535,272
21Applied Mathematics$91,532$43,1724,661
22Materials Engineering$91,449$43,0891,527
23Engineering-Related Fields$89,619$41,2591,845
24Architectural Engineering$89,406$41,046813
25Engineering, General$89,359$40,9992,538
26Engineering Physics$89,154$40,794647
27Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$88,910$40,550144,114
28Insurance$88,472$40,1121,398
29Manufacturing Engineering$88,451$40,091515
30Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology$86,713$38,353660
31Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians$86,525$38,1651,578
32Civil Engineering$86,517$38,15714,658
33Fire Protection$86,436$38,0761,319
34Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods$86,176$37,81610,673
35Air Transportation$85,825$37,4655,969
36Information Science/Studies$85,294$36,9349,369
37Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management$85,063$36,7039,837
38Real Estate$84,821$36,4611,848
39Agricultural Engineering$84,624$36,2641,042
40Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians$84,599$36,2391,349
41Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians$84,304$35,944529
42Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians$83,742$35,382859
43Computer Programming$83,439$35,0792,296
44Finance and Financial Management Services$83,343$34,98347,433
45Management Information Systems and Services$83,290$34,9308,600
46Economics$82,686$34,32637,460
47Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians$82,073$33,7132,579
48Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other$81,678$33,318868
49Cognitive Science$81,496$33,1362,728
50Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering$81,171$32,8111,911
51Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians$80,890$32,5302,438
52Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General$80,526$32,1661,574
53Computer Systems Analysis$78,929$30,569870
54Business/Managerial Economics$77,981$29,6214,745
55Physics$76,786$28,4267,751
56Accounting and Related Services$76,194$27,83445,711
57Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions$75,975$27,6153,656
58Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations$75,803$27,4431,304
59General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations$75,399$27,0392,502
60Public Policy Analysis$73,721$25,3612,557
61Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications$73,587$25,2271,004
62International Business$73,201$24,8415,567
63Food Science and Technology$70,873$22,5131,183
64Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions$70,786$22,4267,591
65Homeland Security$70,193$21,8332,671
66Architectural Sciences and Technology$70,074$21,7142,746
67Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other$69,830$21,4702,667
68Mathematics$69,562$21,20220,126
69Marketing$69,303$20,94343,214
70Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services$68,559$20,199898
71Business/Commerce, General$68,407$20,04724,113
72Astronomy and Astrophysics$68,333$19,973949
73Business Administration, Management and Operations$68,257$19,897155,630
74Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other$68,245$19,8854,129
75Human Resources Management and Services$68,069$19,70910,647
76Dental Support Services and Allied Professions$68,061$19,7012,225
77Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other$67,934$19,574793
78Science, Technology and Society$67,452$19,092830
79Biotechnology$67,097$18,737998
80Architecture$66,914$18,5543,698
81City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning$66,874$18,514679
82Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences$66,697$18,3374,692
83Agricultural Business and Management$66,647$18,2874,825
84International Relations and National Security Studies$66,596$18,2368,410
85Landscape Architecture$66,387$18,027562
86Genetics$66,076$17,716787
87Business/Corporate Communications$65,784$17,424605
88Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other$65,681$17,3211,494
89Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology$65,466$17,10612,054
90Chemistry$65,120$16,76013,771
91Public Administration$65,093$16,7332,675
92Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services$64,926$16,566515
93Human Biology$64,732$16,3721,852
94Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication$63,560$15,20016,690
95Political Science and Government$63,293$14,93341,679
96Microbiological Sciences and Immunology$62,582$14,2223,374
97Urban Studies/Affairs$62,532$14,172982
98Neurobiology and Neurosciences$62,451$14,09111,040
99Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences$62,172$13,8126,558
100Non-Professional Legal Studies$61,959$13,5993,030
101Health/Medical Preparatory Programs$61,911$13,5513,458
102Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General$61,296$12,93618,114
103Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations$61,027$12,6673,793
104Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology$60,997$12,637723
105Interior Architecture$60,369$12,009583
106Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences$60,190$11,8305,334
107Nutrition Sciences$60,053$11,6933,769
108International/Globalization Studies$59,972$11,6125,443
109Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations$59,631$11,2712,252
110Communication Disorders Sciences and Services$58,928$10,56811,565
111Computer Software and Media Applications$58,894$10,5343,907
112Biological and Physical Sciences$58,891$10,5312,446
113Public Health$58,808$10,44819,251
114Forestry$58,784$10,4241,095
115Health and Medical Administrative Services$58,716$10,35617,469
116Natural Sciences$57,935$9,575868
117Sustainability Studies$57,887$9,5271,434
118Geography and Cartography$57,853$9,4934,011
119Security Science and Technology$57,805$9,4453,148
120Apparel and Textiles$57,640$9,2802,447
121Environmental Design$57,461$9,101606
122Biology, General$57,214$8,85484,576
123Social Sciences, Other$56,812$8,4521,416
124Hospitality Administration/Management$56,726$8,3669,088
125Area Studies$56,625$8,2653,880
126Plant Sciences$56,567$8,2071,920
127Communication and Media Studies$56,359$7,99948,983
128Journalism$56,278$7,91810,526
129Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy$56,185$7,8251,335
130Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions$55,792$7,4323,960
131Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services$55,753$7,3932,845
132Research and Experimental Psychology$55,695$7,33516,469
133Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other$55,693$7,33320,892
134Criminology$55,556$7,1969,212
135Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$55,459$7,099788
136Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other$55,384$7,024625
137Criminal Justice and Corrections$55,378$7,01848,669
138Natural Resources Conservation and Research$55,012$6,65216,674
139Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$55,000$6,6409,820
140Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services$54,945$6,5852,401
141Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$54,562$6,20246,321
142Philosophy$54,455$6,0957,789
143Agricultural Public Services$54,152$5,792628
144Agriculture, General$53,676$5,3161,883
145Agricultural Production Operations$53,588$5,228533
146Social Sciences, General$53,366$5,0065,311
147Legal Support Services$53,266$4,906995
148Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies$53,262$4,9021,065
149Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$53,072$4,71236,936
150Sociology$52,657$4,29727,244
151Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions$52,119$3,7592,883
152Community Organization and Advocacy$51,936$3,5761,574
153Social Work$51,790$3,43020,379
154Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies$51,710$3,3505,327
155East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$51,642$3,2821,532
156Design and Applied Arts$51,490$3,13018,050
157Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$51,389$3,02919,287
158Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies$50,983$2,6232,248
159Psychology, General$50,706$2,346111,960
160History$50,680$2,32023,441
161Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General$50,532$2,1727,128
162Human Computer Interaction$50,526$2,166813
163Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology$50,523$2,1633,918
164Special Education and Teaching$50,499$2,1398,935
165Radio, Television, and Digital Communication$50,497$2,13711,500
166Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management$50,468$2,1082,133
167Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services$49,984$1,6245,051
168Education, General$49,808$1,4486,130
169Animal Sciences$49,634$1,2747,084
170Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$49,429$1,0691,075
171Education, Other$49,113$7531,716
172Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology$48,842$4824,012
173Behavioral Sciences$48,673$3131,800
174Human Services, General$48,597$2375,439
175English Language and Literature, General$48,590$23028,158
176Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services$48,568$20811,600
177Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies$48,471$1116,187
178Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General$48,460$1002,299
179Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management$48,240$-1202,823
180Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research$47,700$-6601,906
181Educational Administration and Supervision$47,433$-927505
182Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$47,382$-97850,282
183Sociology and Anthropology$46,959$-1,401503
184Anthropology$46,676$-1,6848,374
185English Language and Literature/Letters, Other$46,634$-1,726634
186Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management$45,338$-3,0221,635
187American Sign Language$45,044$-3,316524
188Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians$44,889$-3,4711,239
189Theological and Ministerial Studies$44,535$-3,8251,397
190Bible/Biblical Studies$44,533$-3,827975
191Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians$44,115$-4,245504
192Zoology/Animal Biology$44,055$-4,3052,383
193Film/Video and Photographic Arts$43,765$-4,59511,600
194Religious Education$43,633$-4,727567
195Graphic Communications$43,283$-5,0773,029
196Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries$42,915$-5,445674
197Music$42,892$-5,46814,343
198Visual and Performing Arts, General$41,688$-6,6723,720
199Religion/Religious Studies$41,390$-6,9703,959
200Fine and Studio Arts$41,367$-6,99323,266
201Dance$39,980$-8,3802,536
202Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$39,775$-8,58512,062

College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), bachelor's, national medians · premium and ranking are our math.