Highest-Paying College Majors (2026)
Which college majors pay the most? Among 131 bachelor's majors with enough graduates, Pharmaceutical Sciences ranks first at a median $116,539 four years after graduating, followed by Computer Engineering ($109,015) and Computer Science ($107,009). At the other end, Theatre Arts has a national median of $39,775.
The gap between the top and the bottom major is $76,764 a year, about 2.9 times. 30 of the 131 majors have national medians of $80,000 or more, and 23 fall below $50,000.
What "pay" means here: the median earnings of graduates who received federal aid, were working and not enrolled in school four years after completing, in 2024 dollars. It is early-career pay, not a starting salary and not lifetime earnings, and it varies a lot by school, state and job.
Bachelor's majors ranked by national median earnings
| 1 | Pharmaceutical Sciences | $116,539 | $143,049 | 23 |
| 2 | Computer Engineering | $109,015 | $228,705 | 131 |
| 3 | Computer Science | $107,009 | $268,121 | 246 |
| 4 | Electrical Engineering | $100,647 | $250,168 | 201 |
| 5 | Industrial Engineering | $98,442 | $138,720 | 64 |
| 6 | Aerospace Engineering | $98,207 | $125,514 | 52 |
| 7 | Chemical Engineering | $98,158 | $122,093 | 131 |
| 8 | Construction Management | $95,124 | $118,331 | 46 |
| 9 | Construction Engineering Technology | $93,843 | $109,139 | 33 |
| 10 | Biomedical Engineering | $93,451 | $114,673 | 91 |
| 11 | Statistics | $92,425 | $156,743 | 30 |
| 12 | Computer and Information Sciences | $92,374 | $241,380 | 303 |
| 13 | Mechanical Engineering | $92,135 | $131,967 | 271 |
| 14 | Applied Mathematics | $91,532 | $157,822 | 27 |
| 15 | Engineering-Related Fields | $89,619 | $102,320 | 21 |
| 16 | Engineering (General) | $89,359 | $135,136 | 46 |
| 17 | Nursing | $88,910 | $150,921 | 736 |
| 18 | Civil Engineering | $86,517 | $108,548 | 190 |
| 19 | Management Science | $86,176 | $158,559 | 84 |
| 20 | Aviation and Air Transportation | $85,825 | $106,001 | 36 |
| 21 | Information Science | $85,294 | $163,740 | 73 |
| 22 | IT Administration and Management | $85,063 | $138,679 | 61 |
| 23 | Electrical Engineering Technology | $84,599 | $123,809 | 25 |
| 24 | Finance | $83,343 | $202,069 | 344 |
| 25 | Management Information Systems | $83,290 | $138,263 | 118 |
| 26 | Economics | $82,686 | $166,678 | 274 |
| 27 | Mechanical Engineering Technology | $82,073 | $126,209 | 45 |
| 28 | Environmental Engineering | $81,171 | $103,016 | 29 |
| 29 | Industrial Production Technology | $80,890 | $94,454 | 36 |
| 30 | Engineering Technology (General) | $80,526 | $89,862 | 21 |
| 31 | Business Economics | $77,981 | $129,425 | 54 |
| 32 | Physics | $76,786 | $131,025 | 34 |
| 33 | Accounting | $76,194 | $141,931 | 552 |
| 34 | Clinical Laboratory Science | $75,975 | $122,313 | 51 |
| 35 | Sales and Retail Merchandising | $75,399 | $125,167 | 21 |
| 36 | International Business | $73,201 | $159,452 | 66 |
| 37 | Food Science | $70,873 | $84,147 | 21 |
| 38 | Diagnostic and Treatment Health Professions | $70,786 | $156,982 | 140 |
| 39 | Homeland Security | $70,193 | $143,972 | 20 |
| 40 | Mathematics | $69,562 | $174,951 | 181 |
| 41 | Marketing | $69,303 | $112,596 | 396 |
| 42 | Business (General) | $68,407 | $142,113 | 172 |
| 43 | Business Administration | $68,257 | $160,783 | 944 |
| 44 | Human Resources Management | $68,069 | $112,713 | 127 |
| 45 | Dental Support Services | $68,061 | $91,726 | 47 |
| 46 | Architecture | $66,914 | $82,983 | 65 |
| 47 | Cell Biology and Anatomy | $66,697 | $80,303 | 20 |
| 48 | Agricultural Business | $66,647 | $145,218 | 58 |
| 49 | International Relations | $66,596 | $99,205 | 79 |
| 50 | Biochemistry and Biophysics | $65,466 | $90,694 | 59 |
| 51 | Chemistry | $65,120 | $88,364 | 86 |
| 52 | Public Administration | $65,093 | $97,702 | 36 |
| 53 | Public Relations and Advertising | $63,560 | $90,535 | 141 |
| 54 | Political Science | $63,293 | $106,153 | 390 |
| 55 | Microbiology and Immunology | $62,582 | $90,061 | 33 |
| 56 | Neuroscience | $62,451 | $89,203 | 45 |
| 57 | Physiology and Pathology | $62,172 | $122,809 | 46 |
| 58 | Legal Studies | $61,959 | $99,836 | 25 |
| 59 | Pre-Health Programs | $61,911 | $105,024 | 27 |
| 60 | Health Sciences (General) | $61,296 | $135,742 | 121 |
| 61 | Entrepreneurship | $61,027 | $132,903 | 33 |
| 62 | Geology and Earth Sciences | $60,190 | $83,481 | 65 |
| 63 | Nutrition Science | $60,053 | $79,391 | 41 |
| 64 | International Studies | $59,972 | $91,874 | 55 |
| 65 | Specialized Sales and Marketing | $59,631 | $80,764 | 30 |
| 66 | Communication Disorders | $58,928 | $80,947 | 169 |
| 67 | Computer Software and Media Applications | $58,894 | $162,114 | 32 |
| 68 | Biological and Physical Sciences | $58,891 | $71,066 | 20 |
| 69 | Public Health | $58,808 | $89,522 | 148 |
| 70 | Forestry | $58,784 | $86,357 | 22 |
| 71 | Health Administration | $58,716 | $89,971 | 161 |
| 72 | Geography | $57,853 | $75,877 | 54 |
| 73 | Security Science and Technology | $57,805 | $101,401 | 27 |
| 74 | Apparel and Textiles | $57,640 | $77,520 | 37 |
| 75 | Biology | $57,214 | $134,677 | 599 |
| 76 | Hospitality Management | $56,726 | $112,289 | 111 |
| 77 | Area Studies | $56,625 | $96,884 | 35 |
| 78 | Plant Science | $56,567 | $82,487 | 31 |
| 79 | Communication and Media Studies | $56,359 | $114,266 | 479 |
| 80 | Journalism | $56,278 | $81,927 | 141 |
| 81 | Environmental Resource Management | $56,185 | $75,022 | 22 |
| 82 | Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $55,792 | $81,320 | 58 |
| 83 | Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition | $55,753 | $68,578 | 49 |
| 84 | Experimental Psychology | $55,695 | $86,946 | 57 |
| 85 | Criminology | $55,556 | $75,745 | 84 |
| 86 | Criminal Justice | $55,378 | $106,465 | 477 |
| 87 | Natural Resources Conservation | $55,012 | $81,292 | 164 |
| 88 | Romance Languages | $55,000 | $94,964 | 109 |
| 89 | Foods and Nutrition Studies | $54,945 | $74,005 | 35 |
| 90 | Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $54,562 | $87,404 | 481 |
| 91 | Philosophy | $54,455 | $107,454 | 44 |
| 92 | Agriculture | $53,676 | $84,412 | 30 |
| 93 | Social Sciences | $53,366 | $103,229 | 56 |
| 94 | Liberal Arts and General Studies | $53,072 | $147,998 | 344 |
| 95 | Sociology | $52,657 | $101,536 | 314 |
| 96 | Mental and Social Health Services | $52,119 | $76,395 | 35 |
| 97 | Social Work | $51,790 | $70,273 | 326 |
| 98 | Ethnic and Gender Studies | $51,710 | $67,291 | 49 |
| 99 | Design and Applied Arts | $51,490 | $138,588 | 200 |
| 100 | Teacher Education (Subject Areas) | $51,389 | $80,207 | 236 |
| 101 | Parks and Recreation Studies | $50,983 | $75,181 | 39 |
| 102 | Psychology | $50,706 | $99,007 | 783 |
| 103 | History | $50,680 | $112,377 | 286 |
| 104 | Interdisciplinary Studies (General) | $50,532 | $91,697 | 40 |
| 105 | Clinical and Counseling Psychology | $50,523 | $82,023 | 40 |
| 106 | Special Education | $50,499 | $83,932 | 94 |
| 107 | Broadcast and Digital Communication | $50,497 | $99,915 | 107 |
| 108 | Recreation Facilities Management | $50,468 | $64,497 | 43 |
| 109 | Linguistics | $49,984 | $76,724 | 52 |
| 110 | Education (General) | $49,808 | $66,093 | 40 |
| 111 | Animal Science | $49,634 | $61,176 | 65 |
| 112 | Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | $48,842 | $65,639 | 30 |
| 113 | Human Services | $48,597 | $68,314 | 64 |
| 114 | English | $48,590 | $78,370 | 378 |
| 115 | Human Development and Family Studies | $48,568 | $73,066 | 119 |
| 116 | Writing and Rhetoric | $48,471 | $71,205 | 80 |
| 117 | Family and Consumer Sciences | $48,460 | $60,550 | 42 |
| 118 | Arts and Media Management | $48,240 | $74,936 | 29 |
| 119 | Teacher Education (Levels and Methods) | $47,382 | $75,637 | 501 |
| 120 | Anthropology | $46,676 | $83,493 | 110 |
| 121 | Wildlife Management | $45,338 | $56,437 | 29 |
| 122 | Biblical Studies | $44,533 | $58,569 | 21 |
| 123 | Zoology | $44,055 | $69,471 | 35 |
| 124 | Film and Photography | $43,765 | $78,034 | 109 |
| 125 | Graphic Communications | $43,283 | $79,432 | 40 |
| 126 | Music | $42,892 | $61,446 | 160 |
| 127 | Visual and Performing Arts (General) | $41,688 | $65,848 | 41 |
| 128 | Religious Studies | $41,390 | $98,832 | 20 |
| 129 | Fine and Studio Arts | $41,367 | $72,428 | 287 |
| 130 | Dance | $39,980 | $56,503 | 23 |
| 131 | Theatre Arts | $39,775 | $64,880 | 153 |
How to use this list
- Open a major to see which colleges pay graduates the most in that field, with sample sizes, debt and net price.
- Compare majors by the national median first, then by how much the college you are considering departs from it.
- Read the earnings guide before drawing conclusions: medians hide wide ranges and small groups are noisy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest-paying college major?
In our data, Pharmaceutical Sciences has the highest national median, $116,539 four years after graduating. Computer Engineering is next at $109,015.
Are these starting salaries?
No. They are medians four years after completing a degree for graduates who were working and not enrolled, so they reflect early-career pay rather than the first job.
Which majors pay the least in this ranking?
Theatre Arts ($39,775), Dance ($39,980) and Fine and Studio Arts ($41,367) have the lowest national medians among the ranked majors.
Why do these numbers differ from other salary lists?
Other lists use different groups of workers, years or surveys. This one uses federal tax and student-aid records for graduates who received federal aid, so it is not directly comparable with surveys of all graduates.