• 1 March 2024 (Updated)

Average Earning by Major Programs with Estimated Monthly Loan Payment

The earning after graduation is an important consideration in choosing colleges and area of study. Besides the college ranking and educational quality, the earning varies by the major programs and earned degrees in colleges.

Highest Earning Majors by Degree

For bachelor's degree, the graduates who completing Construction Trades program have the highest salary of $74,977 and Engineering program have the second highest salary of $74,788 in average.
Associate's Science Technologies/Technicians program shows the highest earning ($70,729) and Engineering program follows with $64,766 average salary.
Computer and Information Sciences Master's program has $94,497 average salary and Engineering program completers earn $92,900 yearly.

Earning and Loan Debt Payment by Major and Degree

The below table summarizes the average earning of graduates after completing by area of study and degrees. The earning is the salary after three years from graduation and an average over all sub-majors of each area of study. In addition, the table shows the average loan debt and estimated monthly payment over students who completing and earning corresponding degree. The monthly payment is estimated, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 3.73% interest rate.
You can check the average yearly earning and loan debt by area of study and degree. The earning is the average over all sub major program of each area of study and it may differ from the amount of specific major program. The salary is based on the amount after 3 years of graduation. For the loan debt, it only includes the federal loan debt originated at the school awarding the credential.
Earning and Debt by Major Program and Degree
Area of StudyAnnual SalaryMonthly EarningLoan DebtMonthly Loan Payment
AgricultureEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $33,190$2,766 $10,455$104
Associate $37,609$3,134 $11,882$119
Bachelor's $42,764$3,564 $20,044$200
Master's $66,357$5,530 $26,215$295
Natural Resources and ConservationEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $44,321$3,693 $16,059$161
Associate $36,722$3,060 $11,186$112
Bachelor's $39,941$3,328 $21,919$219
Master's $56,259$4,688 $43,386$488
Doctoral $80,666$6,722 --
ArchitectureEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Associate $47,556$3,963 $22,750$228
Bachelor's $53,040$4,420 $24,500$245
Master's $61,877$5,156 $53,597$603
Doctoral $57,786$4,816 --
First Professional Degree $61,438$5,120 $37,327$420
Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group StudiesEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Bachelor's $38,490$3,207 $20,633$206
Master's $57,919$4,827 $45,052$506
Communication and JournalismEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $23,583$1,965 $14,615$146
Associate $29,958$2,497 $12,768$128
Bachelor's $40,886$3,407 $22,908$229
Master's $54,273$4,523 $43,146$485
Doctoral $57,985$4,832 $126,512$1,422
Post-MS $59,046$4,921 $18,485$208
Communications TechnologiesEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $21,713$1,809 $11,940$119
Associate $25,708$2,142 $16,429$164
Bachelor's $34,706$2,892 $28,474$285
Master's $47,121$3,927 $70,314$791
Post-MS $58,113$4,843 --
Computer and Information SciencesEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $30,132$2,511 $12,301$123
Associate $36,948$3,079 $18,972$190
Bachelor's $67,765$5,647 $25,200$252
Master's $94,497$7,875 $44,538$501
Doctoral $112,341$9,362 $94,933$1,068
Post-MS $69,149$5,762 $31,947$359
Personal and Culinary ServicesEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $17,130$1,427 $9,399$94
Associate $28,623$2,385 $15,743$157
Bachelor's $33,642$2,804 $29,193$292
Master's $34,830$2,903 $40,500$455
Post-MS $12,541$1,045 --
EducationEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $19,936$1,661 $13,542$135
Associate $23,897$1,991 $11,877$119
Bachelor's $38,529$3,211 $23,843$238
Post-BS $57,254$4,771 $19,591$196
Master's $52,290$4,357 $31,579$355
Doctoral $81,850$6,821 $70,386$791
First Professional Degree $68,064$5,672 $37,523$422
Post-MS $67,853$5,654 $33,280$374
EngineeringEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $37,075$3,090 $21,279$213
Associate $64,766$5,397 $14,268$143
Bachelor's $74,788$6,232 $22,839$228
Master's $92,900$7,742 $33,136$372
Doctoral $118,039$9,837 --
Post-MS $77,192$6,433 --
Engineering TechnologyEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $35,481$2,957 $11,006$110
Associate $50,884$4,240 $14,827$148
Bachelor's $65,883$5,490 $24,013$240
Master's $92,279$7,690 $33,838$380
Post-MS $89,028$7,419 --
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $20,281$1,690 $21,267$213
Associate $27,829$2,319 --
Bachelor's $37,697$3,141 $21,127$211
Master's $50,655$4,221 $39,476$444
Doctoral $46,131$3,844 --
Work and Family StudiesEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $18,512$1,543 $14,315$143
Associate $22,895$1,908 $15,771$158
Bachelor's $37,772$3,148 $23,410$234
Master's $48,297$4,025 $39,166$440
Doctoral $65,989$5,499 --
Post-MS $44,162$3,680 $50,332$566
Legal StudiesEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $31,180$2,598 $13,710$137
Associate $30,955$2,580 $20,744$207
Bachelor's $38,508$3,209 $29,550$295
Post-BS $42,853$3,571 $15,037$150
Master's $65,537$5,461 $57,778$650
Doctoral $78,826$6,569 $114,775$1,290
First Professional Degree $79,559$6,630 $113,192$1,273
Post-MS $50,334$4,195 $37,118$417
English Language and LiteratureEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $23,578$1,965 $23,628$236
Associate $18,733$1,561 $17,625$176
Bachelor's $35,079$2,923 $22,338$223
Master's $43,563$3,630 $41,920$471
Doctoral $58,005$4,834 $68,872$774
First Professional Degree $39,876$3,323 --
Liberal Arts and Sciences, HumanitiesEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $29,230$2,436 $10,111$101
Associate $28,626$2,386 $10,998$110
Bachelor's $36,833$3,069 $23,682$237
Post-BS $69,645$5,804 $25,000$250
Master's $53,331$4,444 $43,531$489
Doctoral $53,847$4,487 --
First Professional Degree $62,313$5,193 --
Post-MS $72,132$6,011 $52,306$589
Library ScienceEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Bachelor's $34,167$2,847 $24,704$247
Master's $47,233$3,936 $36,288$408
First Professional Degree $53,237$4,436 $34,666$390
Post-MS $52,844$4,404 $32,835$369
Biological and Biomedical SciencesEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $38,188$3,182 $23,167$232
Associate $30,411$2,534 $10,858$109
Bachelor's $37,682$3,140 $22,304$223
Master's $62,369$5,197 $44,858$504
Doctoral $70,537$5,878 $46,489$523
First Professional Degree $55,351$4,613 $44,160$497
Post-MS $53,127$4,427 $53,811$605
Mathematics and StatisticsEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Bachelor's $58,123$4,844 $20,433$204
Master's $89,088$7,424 $44,951$505
Doctoral $65,051$5,421 --
Military Technologies and Applied SciencesEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Associate $54,340$4,528 --
Bachelor's $56,154$4,679 $22,322$223
Master's $73,138$6,095 $42,790$481
Multi-/Interdisciplinary StudiesEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Associate $33,303$2,775 $8,115$81
Bachelor's $41,359$3,447 $22,093$221
Master's $62,295$5,191 $47,323$532
Post-MS $56,702$4,725 $34,411$387
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness StudiesEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $24,511$2,043 $14,262$143
Associate $27,678$2,307 $15,665$157
Bachelor's $38,019$3,168 $23,316$233
Master's $46,739$3,895 $30,723$345
Doctoral $73,355$6,113 $44,976$506
Post-MS $45,980$3,832 --
Basic Skills and Developmental/Remedial Education Program Details
Certificate $33,825$2,819 --
Associate $35,731$2,978 --
Health-Related Knowledge and Skills Program Details
Certificate $28,475$2,373 $6,313$63
Associate $28,592$2,383 --
Bachelor's $39,275$3,273 $26,766$268
Leisure and Recreational Activities Program Details
Bachelor's $32,766$2,731 $23,679$237
Philosophy and Religious StudiesEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Associate $25,706$2,142 $24,674$247
Bachelor's $34,581$2,882 $20,961$210
Master's $43,097$3,591 $41,795$470
Doctoral $54,730$4,561 $82,992$933
First Professional Degree $65,624$5,469 --
Theology and Religious VocationsEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $16,992$1,416 $18,218$182
Associate $20,987$1,749 $21,553$215
Bachelor's $30,361$2,530 $24,801$248
Master's $46,152$3,846 $44,825$504
Doctoral $63,971$5,331 $58,447$657
First Professional Degree $41,876$3,490 $50,536$568
Post-MS $42,785$3,565 $8,500$96
Physical SciencesEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Associate $30,239$2,520 $8,073$81
Bachelor's $47,326$3,944 $21,959$220
Master's $72,313$6,026 $28,352$319
Doctoral $90,515$7,543 --
Science Technologies/TechniciansEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $37,997$3,166 $9,951$99
Associate $70,729$5,894 $10,998$110
PsychologyEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $35,610$2,968 $24,263$243
Associate $21,000$1,750 $18,799$188
Bachelor's $35,597$2,966 $23,854$238
Master's $49,445$4,120 $49,441$556
Doctoral $73,165$6,097 $144,942$1,630
First Professional Degree $58,749$4,896 $55,849$628
Post-MS $68,549$5,712 $44,371$499
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, and FirefightingEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $43,902$3,658 $10,045$100
Associate $34,242$2,853 $16,556$166
Bachelor's $41,264$3,439 $25,061$251
Post-BS $84,903$7,075 $27,000$270
Master's $52,664$4,389 $37,382$420
Doctoral $87,385$7,282 $110,194$1,239
Post-MS $65,536$5,461 --
Human ServicesEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $31,358$2,613 $14,635$146
Associate $26,304$2,192 $19,161$192
Bachelor's $38,107$3,176 $24,258$243
Post-BS $39,829$3,319 --
Master's $53,871$4,489 $41,289$464
Doctoral $78,475$6,540 $100,806$1,133
First Professional Degree $60,632$5,053 $50,669$570
Post-MS $58,346$4,862 $51,046$574
Social SciencesEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $53,951$4,496 $21,514$215
Associate $28,321$2,360 $15,338$153
Bachelor's $43,777$3,648 $21,798$218
Post-BS $50,639$4,220 --
Master's $63,357$5,280 $43,911$494
Doctoral $69,836$5,820 --
First Professional Degree $57,396$4,783 $41,000$461
Post-MS $61,376$5,115 $28,458$320
Construction TradesEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $36,454$3,038 $9,217$92
Associate $47,320$3,943 $16,379$164
Bachelor's $74,977$6,248 $23,262$233
Mechanics and RepairersEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $34,124$2,844 $10,961$110
Associate $42,562$3,547 $14,119$141
Bachelor's $65,204$5,434 $24,720$247
Precision Production TradesEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $35,006$2,917 $8,449$84
Associate $41,655$3,471 $14,237$142
Bachelor's $27,613$2,301 $21,500$215
Transportation and Materials MovingEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $36,961$3,080 $6,353$63
Associate $55,643$4,637 $14,284$143
Bachelor's $62,896$5,241 $23,518$235
Master's $78,164$6,514 $36,979$416
Post-MS $43,555$3,630 --
Visual and Performing ArtsEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $25,833$2,153 $16,422$164
Associate $25,490$2,124 $16,535$165
Bachelor's $32,383$2,699 $24,595$246
Master's $38,712$3,226 $55,463$624
Doctoral $44,628$3,719 $53,111$597
Post-MS $122,208$10,184 --
Health Services/Allied Health/Health SciencesEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $29,273$2,439 $10,859$109
Associate $45,573$3,798 $17,356$173
Bachelor's $55,239$4,603 $23,458$234
Post-BS $110,290$9,191 $17,418$174
Master's $77,015$6,418 $58,763$661
Doctoral $91,196$7,600 $113,647$1,278
First Professional Degree $94,553$7,879 $166,577$1,873
Post-MS $93,497$7,791 $68,186$767
BusinessEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Certificate $24,445$2,037 $13,713$137
Associate $31,871$2,656 $17,629$176
Bachelor's $51,877$4,323 $23,863$239
Post-BS $57,609$4,801 $13,021$131
Master's $75,933$6,328 $37,720$424
Doctoral $76,630$6,386 $91,826$1,032
First Professional Degree $120,484$10,040 $47,591$535
Post-MS $65,942$5,495 $50,567$569
High School/Secondary Diploma Programs Program Details
Bachelor's $60,425$5,035 --
HistoryEarning by Sub Majors Program Details
Bachelor's $37,303$3,109 $21,949$219
Master's $47,259$3,938 $36,160$407
Doctoral $62,364$5,197 --
Dental Residency/Fellowship Programs Program Details
Certificate $35,726$2,977 --
First Professional Degree $185,557$15,463 --
Data Source: College Scorecard
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