Highest-Paying Colleges by Major
Which colleges do best by their graduates in each field? These 158 rankings compare U.S. colleges by what graduates of one specific major earn four years after finishing, using College Scorecard field-of-study data. Pick a major to see every school that qualifies, with sample sizes, debt, net price and payback.
How to read these rankings
Each ranking compares the median earnings of graduates in one four-digit CIP field at one credential level, four years after completing, in 2024 dollars. The national median on each card is the Department of Education’s figure for that field across all schools.
Only schools with at least 25 graduates in the earnings sample are ranked, and a major gets a page only when at least 20 schools qualify. That leaves 131 bachelor’s and 27 associate-degree rankings. Certificates, graduate degrees and smaller programs are not ranked.
Earnings describe graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled in school, measured for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 completers. A school’s earnings reflect who it enrolls and where it is located as well as what it teaches, so use the lists as a starting point for comparison, not a verdict.
Business and Marketing · 18 rankings
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Bachelor's
Construction Management
National median: $95,124
Top school earns $118,331
46 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Management Science
National median: $86,176
Top school earns $158,559
84 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Finance
National median: $83,343
Top school earns $202,069
344 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Management Information Systems
National median: $83,290
Top school earns $138,263
118 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Business Economics
National median: $77,981
Top school earns $129,425
54 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Accounting
National median: $76,194
Top school earns $141,931
552 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Sales and Retail Merchandising
National median: $75,399
Top school earns $125,167
21 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
International Business
National median: $73,201
Top school earns $159,452
66 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Marketing
National median: $69,303
Top school earns $112,596
396 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Business (General)
National median: $68,407
Top school earns $142,113
172 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Business Administration
National median: $68,257
Top school earns $160,783
944 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Human Resources Management
National median: $68,069
Top school earns $112,713
127 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Entrepreneurship
National median: $61,027
Top school earns $132,903
33 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Specialized Sales and Marketing
National median: $59,631
Top school earns $80,764
30 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Hospitality Management
National median: $56,726
Top school earns $112,289
111 schools ranked
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Associate
Business (General)
National median: $49,927
Top school earns $83,959
93 schools ranked
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Associate
Business Administration
National median: $48,733
Top school earns $85,869
254 schools ranked
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Associate
Accounting
National median: $47,660
Top school earns $66,793
61 schools ranked
Computer and Information Sciences · 7 rankings
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Bachelor's
Computer Science
National median: $107,009
Top school earns $268,121
246 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Computer and Information Sciences
National median: $92,374
Top school earns $241,380
303 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Information Science
National median: $85,294
Top school earns $163,740
73 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
IT Administration and Management
National median: $85,063
Top school earns $138,679
61 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Computer Software and Media Applications
National median: $58,894
Top school earns $162,114
32 schools ranked
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Associate
IT Administration and Management
National median: $54,726
Top school earns $77,908
30 schools ranked
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Associate
Computer and Information Sciences
National median: $54,246
Top school earns $85,438
44 schools ranked
Engineering · 11 rankings
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Bachelor's
Computer Engineering
National median: $109,015
Top school earns $228,705
131 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Electrical Engineering
National median: $100,647
Top school earns $250,168
201 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Industrial Engineering
National median: $98,442
Top school earns $138,720
64 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Aerospace Engineering
National median: $98,207
Top school earns $125,514
52 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Chemical Engineering
National median: $98,158
Top school earns $122,093
131 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Biomedical Engineering
National median: $93,451
Top school earns $114,673
91 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Mechanical Engineering
National median: $92,135
Top school earns $131,967
271 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Engineering (General)
National median: $89,359
Top school earns $135,136
46 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Civil Engineering
National median: $86,517
Top school earns $108,548
190 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Environmental Engineering
National median: $81,171
Top school earns $103,016
29 schools ranked
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Associate
Engineering (General)
National median: $72,916
Top school earns $88,366
22 schools ranked
Engineering Technologies · 6 rankings
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Bachelor's
Construction Engineering Technology
National median: $93,843
Top school earns $109,139
33 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Engineering-Related Fields
National median: $89,619
Top school earns $102,320
21 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Electrical Engineering Technology
National median: $84,599
Top school earns $123,809
25 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Mechanical Engineering Technology
National median: $82,073
Top school earns $126,209
45 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Industrial Production Technology
National median: $80,890
Top school earns $94,454
36 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Engineering Technology (General)
National median: $80,526
Top school earns $89,862
21 schools ranked
Health Professions · 19 rankings
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Bachelor's
Pharmaceutical Sciences
National median: $116,539
Top school earns $143,049
23 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Nursing
National median: $88,910
Top school earns $150,921
736 schools ranked
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Associate
Nursing
National median: $80,813
Top school earns $160,743
512 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Clinical Laboratory Science
National median: $75,975
Top school earns $122,313
51 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Diagnostic and Treatment Health Professions
National median: $70,786
Top school earns $156,982
140 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Dental Support Services
National median: $68,061
Top school earns $91,726
47 schools ranked
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Associate
Diagnostic and Treatment Health Professions
National median: $65,389
Top school earns $143,956
244 schools ranked
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Associate
Dental Support Services
National median: $61,982
Top school earns $91,137
98 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Pre-Health Programs
National median: $61,911
Top school earns $105,024
27 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Health Sciences (General)
National median: $61,296
Top school earns $135,742
121 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Communication Disorders
National median: $58,928
Top school earns $80,947
169 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Public Health
National median: $58,808
Top school earns $89,522
148 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Health Administration
National median: $58,716
Top school earns $89,971
161 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
National median: $55,792
Top school earns $81,320
58 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition
National median: $55,753
Top school earns $68,578
49 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Mental and Social Health Services
National median: $52,119
Top school earns $76,395
35 schools ranked
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Associate
Health Sciences (General)
National median: $51,180
Top school earns $78,247
25 schools ranked
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Associate
Medical Assisting
National median: $42,269
Top school earns $72,307
187 schools ranked
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Associate
Health Administration
National median: $37,073
Top school earns $71,351
77 schools ranked
Biological Sciences · 9 rankings
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Bachelor's
Cell Biology and Anatomy
National median: $66,697
Top school earns $80,303
20 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Biochemistry and Biophysics
National median: $65,466
Top school earns $90,694
59 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Microbiology and Immunology
National median: $62,582
Top school earns $90,061
33 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Neuroscience
National median: $62,451
Top school earns $89,203
45 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Physiology and Pathology
National median: $62,172
Top school earns $122,809
46 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Biology
National median: $57,214
Top school earns $134,677
599 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
National median: $48,842
Top school earns $65,639
30 schools ranked
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Associate
Biology
National median: $44,758
Top school earns $58,846
21 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Zoology
National median: $44,055
Top school earns $69,471
35 schools ranked
Mathematics and Statistics · 3 rankings
Physical Sciences · 3 rankings
Psychology · 4 rankings
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Bachelor's
Experimental Psychology
National median: $55,695
Top school earns $86,946
57 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Psychology
National median: $50,706
Top school earns $99,007
783 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Clinical and Counseling Psychology
National median: $50,523
Top school earns $82,023
40 schools ranked
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Associate
Psychology
National median: $39,288
Top school earns $49,853
52 schools ranked
Social Sciences · 9 rankings
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Bachelor's
Economics
National median: $82,686
Top school earns $166,678
274 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
International Relations
National median: $66,596
Top school earns $99,205
79 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Political Science
National median: $63,293
Top school earns $106,153
390 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Geography
National median: $57,853
Top school earns $75,877
54 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Criminology
National median: $55,556
Top school earns $75,745
84 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Social Sciences
National median: $53,366
Top school earns $103,229
56 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Sociology
National median: $52,657
Top school earns $101,536
314 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Anthropology
National median: $46,676
Top school earns $83,493
110 schools ranked
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Associate
Social Sciences
National median: $43,146
Top school earns $58,928
21 schools ranked
Public Administration and Social Service · 4 rankings
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Bachelor's
Public Administration
National median: $65,093
Top school earns $97,702
36 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Social Work
National median: $51,790
Top school earns $70,273
326 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Human Services
National median: $48,597
Top school earns $68,314
64 schools ranked
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Associate
Human Services
National median: $39,422
Top school earns $48,782
26 schools ranked
Security and Protective Services · 4 rankings
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Bachelor's
Homeland Security
National median: $70,193
Top school earns $143,972
20 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Security Science and Technology
National median: $57,805
Top school earns $101,401
27 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Criminal Justice
National median: $55,378
Top school earns $106,465
477 schools ranked
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Associate
Criminal Justice
National median: $46,706
Top school earns $67,066
190 schools ranked
Communication and Journalism · 5 rankings
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Bachelor's
Public Relations and Advertising
National median: $63,560
Top school earns $90,535
141 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Communication and Media Studies
National median: $56,359
Top school earns $114,266
479 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Journalism
National median: $56,278
Top school earns $81,927
141 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Broadcast and Digital Communication
National median: $50,497
Top school earns $99,915
107 schools ranked
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Associate
Communication and Media Studies
National median: $43,243
Top school earns $65,280
24 schools ranked
Visual and Performing Arts · 9 rankings
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Bachelor's
Design and Applied Arts
National median: $51,490
Top school earns $138,588
200 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Arts and Media Management
National median: $48,240
Top school earns $74,936
29 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Film and Photography
National median: $43,765
Top school earns $78,034
109 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Music
National median: $42,892
Top school earns $61,446
160 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Visual and Performing Arts (General)
National median: $41,688
Top school earns $65,848
41 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Fine and Studio Arts
National median: $41,367
Top school earns $72,428
287 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Dance
National median: $39,980
Top school earns $56,503
23 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Theatre Arts
National median: $39,775
Top school earns $64,880
153 schools ranked
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Associate
Design and Applied Arts
National median: $38,127
Top school earns $66,896
40 schools ranked
English Language and Literature · 2 rankings
History · 1 rankings
Philosophy and Religion · 2 rankings
Foreign Languages and Linguistics · 2 rankings
Education · 5 rankings
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Bachelor's
Teacher Education (Subject Areas)
National median: $51,389
Top school earns $80,207
236 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Special Education
National median: $50,499
Top school earns $83,932
94 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Education (General)
National median: $49,808
Top school earns $66,093
40 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Teacher Education (Levels and Methods)
National median: $47,382
Top school earns $75,637
501 schools ranked
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Associate
Teacher Education (Levels and Methods)
National median: $37,656
Top school earns $58,335
66 schools ranked
Liberal Arts and General Studies · 2 rankings
Family and Consumer Sciences · 5 rankings
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Bachelor's
Apparel and Textiles
National median: $57,640
Top school earns $77,520
37 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Foods and Nutrition Studies
National median: $54,945
Top school earns $74,005
35 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Human Development and Family Studies
National median: $48,568
Top school earns $73,066
119 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Family and Consumer Sciences
National median: $48,460
Top school earns $60,550
42 schools ranked
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Associate
Human Development and Family Studies
National median: $34,184
Top school earns $44,193
25 schools ranked
Parks, Recreation and Fitness · 3 rankings
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Bachelor's
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
National median: $54,562
Top school earns $87,404
481 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Parks and Recreation Studies
National median: $50,983
Top school earns $75,181
39 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Recreation Facilities Management
National median: $50,468
Top school earns $64,497
43 schools ranked
Agriculture · 6 rankings
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Bachelor's
Food Science
National median: $70,873
Top school earns $84,147
21 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Agricultural Business
National median: $66,647
Top school earns $145,218
58 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Plant Science
National median: $56,567
Top school earns $82,487
31 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Agriculture
National median: $53,676
Top school earns $84,412
30 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Animal Science
National median: $49,634
Top school earns $61,176
65 schools ranked
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Associate
Veterinary Technology
National median: $41,460
Top school earns $66,272
43 schools ranked
Natural Resources and Conservation · 4 rankings
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Bachelor's
Forestry
National median: $58,784
Top school earns $86,357
22 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Environmental Resource Management
National median: $56,185
Top school earns $75,022
22 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Natural Resources Conservation
National median: $55,012
Top school earns $81,292
164 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Wildlife Management
National median: $45,338
Top school earns $56,437
29 schools ranked
Architecture · 1 rankings
Area and Ethnic Studies · 2 rankings
Communications Technologies · 1 rankings
Personal and Culinary Services · 1 rankings
Legal Studies · 2 rankings
Interdisciplinary Studies · 5 rankings
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Bachelor's
Nutrition Science
National median: $60,053
Top school earns $79,391
41 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
International Studies
National median: $59,972
Top school earns $91,874
55 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Biological and Physical Sciences
National median: $58,891
Top school earns $71,066
20 schools ranked
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Bachelor's
Interdisciplinary Studies (General)
National median: $50,532
Top school earns $91,697
40 schools ranked
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Associate
Biological and Physical Sciences
National median: $50,181
Top school earns $77,094
39 schools ranked
Theology · 1 rankings
Mechanic and Repair Technologies · 1 rankings
Transportation · 1 rankings
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Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.