College

Degree Earnings by Field of Study

Which bachelor's degrees earn the most?

By five-year median earnings in College Scorecard data: Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration leads the 182 published fields at $132,421, and the median field pays $45,010 at year one and $65,763 at year five. The full ranked table is below.

What the degree returns, measured by the federal government from tax records: median earnings at three horizons and median debt at graduation, for every bachelor's field with enough reporting programs to trust.

Updated November 5, 2026

What a bachelor's degree pays, field by field

The College branch prices what a degree costs; this page prices what it returns. The table below ranks 182 bachelor's fields of study by median earnings five years after graduation, from the Department of Education's College Scorecard field-of-study data (release of October 15, 2026). The top of the table is Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration at $132,421; the spread between the top and bottom fields is larger than the spread between most colleges, which is why the field decision usually matters more than the campus decision. Each field page carries the 1, 4, and 5 year medians, the median debt at graduation, the Pell and non-Pell split, and the highest-paying programs in the field.

How to use this table

Read a field's three horizons as a trajectory, not three separate numbers: the year-one median is the starting market, the five-year median is whether the field's early career actually compounds. Then put the debt column next to the earnings columns before you admire either one. The tools that finish the decision are the college ROI calculator, the college major ROI calculator, and the student loan payoff calculator; the cost side lives in the degree cost calculator and the net price estimator. Occupation-side pay for the jobs these degrees feed is in the Careers branch.

All 182 fields, ranked by five-year median earnings

Field of study (bachelor's)Median, 1 yearMedian, 4 yearsMedian, 5 yearsMedian debtPrograms reporting (1yr)
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration$60,086$122,474$132,421$22,41914
Computer Engineering$85,528$112,269$120,186$21,675183
Computer Science$81,807$108,934$119,818$19,500379
Petroleum Engineering$96,207$103,421$116,694$17,73813
Construction Engineering$79,703$102,312$107,473$20,87513
Industrial Engineering$79,514$98,765$105,216$20,50093
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$82,356$99,542$105,202$21,229254
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician$79,485$95,019$104,011$20,36344
Chemical Engineering$80,780$97,324$102,595$21,500158
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering$78,794$95,552$101,725$22,75062
Information Science/Studies$68,240$91,671$101,568$23,500137
Biomedical/Medical Engineering$72,751$95,682$100,258$21,500125
Construction Management$74,821$93,908$100,149$19,62559
Air Transportation$64,220$90,495$99,660$20,50068
Applied Mathematics$63,684$95,719$99,039$20,45445
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$89,974$96,132$98,387$21,6561,055
Statistics$68,458$90,388$98,009$17,50062
Engineering, Other$72,063$94,278$97,669$21,29512
Insurance$69,528$92,555$97,318$18,84622
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management$71,646$90,628$96,720$25,802143
Engineering-Related Fields$74,839$91,035$96,473$22,47527
Computer and Information Sciences, General$69,663$87,020$96,454$22,250457
Architectural Engineering$78,568$91,336$96,182$24,54015
Mechanical Engineering$75,796$90,768$95,975$21,406334
Materials Engineering$76,070$92,070$94,983$20,37635
Engineering, General$74,573$88,104$93,327$24,25061
Management Information Systems and Services$67,958$87,041$92,753$19,535140
Manufacturing Engineering$76,612$88,995$92,450$19,82314
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians$74,494$83,322$92,362$20,55334
Agricultural Engineering$71,101$86,306$91,160$21,50022
Finance and Financial Management Services$63,018$84,956$90,733$19,753438
Fire Protection$82,625$88,735$90,568$20,25123
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians$75,296$87,710$90,429$25,00021
Civil Engineering$72,540$85,133$90,385$21,500237
Economics$60,469$81,881$88,456$18,500342
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians$71,604$81,835$87,414$26,73015
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other$66,436$81,077$86,833$22,09913
Business/Managerial Economics$57,503$80,588$86,694$19,50067
Real Estate$63,536$80,900$86,150$19,50035
Cognitive Science$46,650$81,160$85,575$13,79921
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians$71,043$82,821$85,449$22,69660
Physics$54,120$78,569$85,413$19,50074
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering$68,347$80,855$85,102$22,30049
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other$44,357$81,617$84,900$25,00016
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General$67,295$81,554$84,256$19,50035
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians$65,931$79,501$84,011$29,34125
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods$63,116$84,313$83,075$20,500151
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians$70,583$81,852$82,606$20,00047
Computer Programming$69,872$78,404$82,542$20,50025
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations$58,551$76,565$81,609$19,04330
Biotechnology$50,718$78,735$81,453$18,16718
International Business$55,318$74,145$79,058$20,10081
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions$68,822$75,952$78,486$21,500103
Accounting and Related Services$60,125$74,888$78,466$22,618667
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications$65,000$73,884$78,370$48,22036
Biological and Physical Sciences$40,786$69,102$78,287$23,60139
Computer Systems Analysis$61,471$71,675$77,838$42,72421
Public Policy Analysis$52,170$71,723$76,951$19,00037
Mathematics$54,422$72,318$76,867$19,000244
Architectural Sciences and Technology$58,424$69,776$76,256$25,00038
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other$53,815$72,002$76,079$17,15231
Marketing$54,132$70,776$75,085$20,500507
Homeland Security$62,578$71,014$74,972$22,00044
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences$44,764$69,849$74,590$17,67938
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions$71,252$75,481$74,535$22,375171
Food Science and Technology$54,906$70,571$74,423$18,67324
City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning$55,101$68,163$74,002$19,54613
Agricultural Business and Management$54,078$67,425$73,931$15,34079
International Relations and National Security Studies$47,319$68,262$73,069$19,709102
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology$44,074$66,885$72,234$19,500140
Human Resources Management and Services$56,434$68,274$72,054$23,250190
Chemistry$48,360$67,006$72,034$19,500199
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication$49,501$66,709$71,697$19,916172
Landscape Architecture$59,043$68,795$71,657$20,00014
Urban Studies/Affairs$44,874$59,261$71,108$18,50022
Political Science and Government$44,063$64,270$70,944$19,361519
Architecture$55,083$67,122$70,789$22,00058
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology$42,913$64,428$70,530$18,98148
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other$52,084$64,914$70,475$18,75012
Business Administration, Management and Operations$58,346$68,235$70,460$24,3381,232
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions$70,434$68,609$70,257$20,00076
Neurobiology and Neurosciences$37,279$63,720$70,226$19,500114
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences$36,093$60,556$68,886$19,50066
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other$42,610$64,046$67,607$23,22646
Legal Professions and Studies, Other$40,560$57,249$67,497$21,62210
Area Studies$42,873$58,245$67,465$16,70654
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations$50,148$59,809$67,447$22,50077
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other$38,911$62,608$67,287$23,00017
Biology, General$37,351$59,151$66,905$20,375847
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology$45,356$63,104$66,076$24,00011
Public Administration$50,689$66,834$65,826$16,30439
Business/Commerce, General$56,302$64,016$65,700$42,374267
Non-Professional Legal Studies$43,920$63,487$65,626$20,00037
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs$39,127$55,778$65,388$20,75033
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General$41,022$60,839$64,868$19,500172
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences$45,317$61,632$64,859$20,60086
Apparel and Textiles$44,580$58,647$64,787$20,75553
Philosophy$39,593$58,891$64,700$18,00090
International/Globalization Studies$44,663$60,976$64,111$17,60977
Social Sciences, Other$43,588$56,628$63,529$18,37530
Geography and Cartography$45,760$58,593$63,401$19,96975
Nutrition Sciences$36,414$62,087$63,372$19,25045
Journalism$43,230$58,454$63,023$19,896169
Public Health$43,165$58,520$62,420$20,500233
Sustainability Studies$44,647$59,660$62,349$19,00027
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services$33,606$59,050$61,941$19,500115
Plant Sciences$44,702$57,950$61,570$19,33349
Forestry$46,652$58,499$61,542$19,00025
Research and Experimental Psychology$37,442$57,378$61,485$18,490114
Security Science and Technology$46,138$60,464$61,228$23,37553
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$40,497$56,041$60,587$19,500181
Communication and Media Studies$43,991$56,968$60,586$19,500609
Business/Corporate Communications$39,635$55,840$60,499$25,00021
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$37,878$55,288$60,484$21,354531
Criminology$42,101$56,659$60,473$20,500121
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$41,178$55,805$60,365$19,288274
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations$46,968$61,055$59,993$23,62535
Hospitality Administration/Management$46,372$56,667$59,895$19,750135
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services$43,941$55,134$59,394$22,46040
Agricultural Public Services$46,367$54,017$58,622$15,82215
Social Sciences, General$44,163$56,257$58,102$19,50067
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies$40,216$53,809$57,987$19,21352
Design and Applied Arts$39,579$53,543$57,987$23,833326
Animal Sciences$38,523$50,491$57,898$19,50080
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy$42,930$52,941$57,893$20,25032
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies$38,729$52,625$57,749$20,919115
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies$40,138$55,088$57,622$16,25089
Criminal Justice and Corrections$42,948$56,662$57,372$24,180668
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other$48,106$56,155$57,309$19,500181
Sociology$40,718$53,524$57,111$19,000406
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$35,335$51,826$57,030$18,11619
Agriculture, General$44,432$53,547$57,022$19,50044
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$43,139$53,833$56,190$20,745424
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services$32,556$51,416$56,160$18,41076
Education, Other$42,331$51,781$55,658$20,87525
Health and Medical Administrative Services$51,349$54,365$55,612$30,140286
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication$38,757$49,951$55,440$21,500146
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management$42,520$54,302$55,180$22,50047
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology$42,317$52,771$55,077$27,00069
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions$40,244$51,502$55,054$26,28645
History$38,779$52,505$55,010$19,532393
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$45,820$52,410$54,736$21,060354
Psychology, General$37,593$50,549$54,626$20,500963
Community Organization and Advocacy$43,603$54,080$54,309$35,50018
Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies$41,245$50,074$54,107$19,75015
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology$34,272$49,821$53,995$20,17565
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions$38,413$51,635$53,917$23,37558
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General$38,145$50,361$53,457$20,00033
Social Work$41,622$51,859$53,349$21,057324
Legal Support Services$42,476$52,657$53,295$28,50124
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General$42,757$51,708$53,119$19,58176
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management$38,224$50,112$52,813$21,50050
Agricultural Production Operations$36,821$51,582$52,075$20,37512
Special Education and Teaching$47,786$51,258$51,998$23,635176
English Language and Literature, General$36,108$49,804$51,613$19,437470
Anthropology$34,545$47,348$51,512$19,827169
Zoology/Animal Biology$35,530$45,501$51,382$20,91654
Education, General$43,747$49,646$51,190$18,95568
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services$42,057$50,571$50,840$25,00027
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management$34,499$45,348$50,551$20,71937
Human Services, General$43,618$47,742$50,301$25,00080
American Sign Language$38,125$45,619$49,765$22,00018
Behavioral Sciences$39,798$48,657$49,748$19,50016
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services$38,150$46,966$49,623$22,000169
Culinary Arts and Related Services$45,406$55,056$49,323$27,00010
Theological and Ministerial Studies$37,894$46,072$48,871$21,84321
Film/Video and Photographic Arts$30,985$44,829$48,612$21,500154
Religion/Religious Studies$20,979$43,377$48,482$28,37434
English Language and Literature/Letters, Other$32,549$47,677$48,323$21,50014
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$44,402$47,389$48,305$21,540722
Computer Software and Media Applications$41,435$47,440$47,780$23,61164
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians$36,952$44,222$47,556$36,27919
Graphic Communications$28,397$43,058$47,454$24,00060
Bible/Biblical Studies$37,000$44,862$47,064$23,05934
Educational Administration and Supervision$45,145$46,541$46,675$38,88115
Fine and Studio Arts$30,936$42,362$45,885$21,000409
Visual and Performing Arts, General$31,197$42,731$45,592$22,25074
Music$34,264$43,388$45,069$23,750221
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$30,064$40,351$44,362$22,375258
Dance$28,555$39,716$43,162$24,14260
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians$36,997$40,839$43,109$22,02214
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries$33,735$44,733$43,093$23,55517

Method, stated once and applied everywhere

Scorecard publishes medians per program. National figures here are medians of program medians weighted by graduates counted, with the unweighted median program printed beside them on every field page. A field is published only if at least 10 of its programs report median earnings at every horizon and at least 5 report median debt: 210 of the 392 bachelor's fields in the file did not clear that bar and are not published, because a national median resting on a handful of programs would be a guess wearing a uniform.

Sources and data: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, release of October 15, 2026 (Most-Recent-Cohorts-Field-of-Study_10152026), downloaded November 5, 2026 from collegescorecard.ed.gov. Earnings cover federal-aid graduates who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year. See also our data methodology. Figures are estimates for planning, not financial advice.