New Study Lists the Highest and Lowest Paying College Majors

By Andreas Fanos on May 28, 2023

Much has been made about the real investment in attending a college or university. Some of the reasons include the massive debt it will take to complete their studies and the money made upon graduation. A recent research study has found that the type of major directly relates to the income earned four years+ after graduating from college.

According to the study discussed by CBS News and MoneyWatch Associate Managing Editor Aimee Picchi, the researchers found that the most popular majors’ salaries tended to be lower than those in STEM. For example, nursing majors made roughly $77,000 a year while business administration majors made $58,000, and psychology made $43,000. These were among the most popular fields of study in college.

Photo credit to Karolina Grabowska / Pexels

The highest-paid college majors found in the study included those in STEM such as operations research, computer science, computer engineering, and marine transportation. Operations research was the highest at $112,097, marine engineering at $109,121, and computer engineering at $99,063.

Picchi states the average college graduate earns $57,000 a year. STEM majors have higher earning potential, with many reaching six figures as found through the study. When it came to some of the art majors, the earning potential was lower depending on the specific field. The lowest paid was cosmetology at only $16,072 while teaching English or other languages came in at $32,173. Dance, drama, and business operation operations support made around the $30k mark.

Aside from being unable to pay off student loans, students within these fields can struggle to make a living and support themselves to live on their own and live in a home further down the line. Everyone’s situation is different and students in the arts can succeed. It can be challenging to pick a major in STEM if someone is not interested or has the skills needed to pursue such a career.

The researcher still found attending and receiving a degree as the best route. According to the study, those with no degree between 25 to 64 years old made $61,000 while those with a college degree earned up to $127,000. Those with a college degree, regardless, tend to make more money throughout their careers as they move up the ladder. This is why internships and other side hustles can prove crucial to being successful and moving up the ladder.

Students must also understand that while they have a bachelor’s degree in a certain field, they can work different jobs or in other fields. Overall, a bachelor’s is seen as a way to get a foot in the door and explore different jobs and pathways. Today’s young adults will have to weigh their options after high school and see if college would be a good way going forward. Trade school is another option for students to go to earn good money and take less to complete than a traditional four-year college route. Students can always work in their respective trades for some years and go to college after and own their own businesses.

Is a college education still the way to go? According to the research, it is still seen as a way to better someone’s future and earn more over their career.

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format