New federal data covering more than 30,000 U.S. college programs reveals significant differences in graduate earnings across universities and majors. Duke University’s Mathematics program tops the list with median annual earnings of $297,029. In this article, Aralia examines the highest-paying college programs, explores which fields fall below federal earnings benchmarks, and explains how students can use salary data alongside tuition costs, career opportunities, and personal interests to make informed college decisions.
In late 2025, the U.S. Department of Education released earnings data for graduates of more than 30,000 college and university programs across the country. Among the bachelor’s degree programs analyzed, Duke University’s Mathematics program ranked first, with graduates earning a median of $297,029 annually four years after completing their degrees.
At first glance, the results might suggest that Mathematics is a better financial investment than Computer Science, Engineering, or other traditionally high-paying majors. However, graduate earnings depend on far more than the subject a student chooses to study.
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1. Understanding the U.S. College Graduate Earnings Data
How Are Graduate Earnings Measured?
The figures represent median annual earnings approximately four years after completing a college program, rather than salaries immediately after graduation. Median earnings refer to the midpoint of a group’s income distribution: half of the individuals earn more than the median, while the other half earn less. Unlike an average, the median is less affected by a small number of exceptionally high earners.
What Does It Mean When a College Program Passes or Fails the Earnings Test?
The federal data also evaluates whether graduates earn more than a designated earnings benchmark based on people with only a high school diploma. Programs are classified as either Pass or Fail according to the applicable earnings test.
Two columns are particularly important when interpreting the results:
- Earnings Benchmark: The typical earnings of people whose highest level of education is a high school diploma, measured nationally or within the same state.
- Earnings More Than High School Graduate: How much more program graduates earn compared with people who have only a high school diploma.
For example, if a program has median annual earnings of $50,000 and the benchmark is $34,808, graduates earn $15,192 more per year than the benchmark. Whether the program passes or fails depends on the specific criteria of the earnings test, not just the actual earnings figure.
A Fail does not mean that every graduate earns less than someone with only a high school diploma, but it reflects the results of an earnings comparison.
How Should Students and Families Interpret the Results?
Earnings data can help parents and students better understand the financial prospects of an academic program, but it does not fully reflect teaching quality, the student experience, or the range of career paths available after graduation.
The size of the group being measured also matters. For example, Duke’s Mathematics program has 17 people in the reported group, while Cornell’s Computer Science program has 296. Results from groups of different sizes should be interpreted carefully, especially when drawing conclusions about all students in a major.
Ultimately, this dataset is best used as a starting point for identifying trends and asking more informed questions about college programs, rather than as the sole basis for choosing a major or university. Families should also consider the curriculum, total cost of attendance, career opportunities, and the student’s individual strengths and interests when determining which program is the right fit.
2. Which College Majors Have the Highest Graduate Earnings?
The highest-earning undergraduate programs in the federal data are concentrated in several quantitative and technical fields. These subjects prepare students to work with complex information, solve technical problems, and apply mathematical or computational skills across different industries.
The following table presents the ten bachelor’s degree programs with the highest reported median earnings in the dataset used for this article.
University | Field of Study | Median Annual Eanings | Earnings Above Benchmark (Annual) |
Duke University | Mathematics | $297,029 | $262,221 |
Carnegie Mellon University | Computer Science | $268,121 | $233,313 |
Carnegie Mellon University | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $250,168 | $215,360 |
University of Pennsylvania | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $241,380 | $206,572 |
Harvard University | Statistics | $230,876 | $196,068 |
University of California, Los Angeles | Computer Engineering | $228,705 | $192,623 |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Computer Science | $225,141 | $190,333 |
Cornell University | Computer Science | $223,309 | $188,501 |
Princeton University | Computer Science | $217,973 | $183,165 |
Pomona College | Computer Science | $217,051 | $182,243 |
Data sources: The HEA Group‘s program-level earnings test dataset and College Scorecard. Earnings figures and reported group sizes are reproduced from the source data used for this article.
Why Do Duke Mathematics Major Lead to Such High Earnings?
While Mathematics is often associated with teaching or academic research, the degree can lead to a much wider range of careers. Students with strong mathematical and analytical backgrounds may pursue opportunities in quantitative finance and financial modeling, data science and AI, machine learning, or operations research and optimization. Many of these fields require the ability to understand mathematical models, analyze large amounts of information, and solve complex problems.
Computer Science: Why Do Salaries Differ Between Universities?
Computer Science appears more frequently than any other major in the top ten programs, with entries from Carnegie Mellon, the University of Pennsylvania, MIT, Cornell, Princeton, and Pomona. However, graduate earnings vary considerably between these institutions. At Carnegie Mellon, Computer Science graduates report median annual earnings of $268,121, compared with $217,051 for graduates of Pomona College’s Computer Science program.
Several factors could contribute to the differences in income, including the courses students take, their internships, career interests, geographic location, and the types of employers they join after graduation. For example, some Computer Science students may pursue software engineering at large technology companies, while others may work in research, smaller organizations, or fields that use computing skills in different ways.
The federal data alone cannot tell us which factors account for the differences between these specific programs. Nevertheless, the comparison highlights why students should look beyond a university’s reputation or the name of a major. When researching Computer Science programs, consider the courses offered, opportunities for specialization, internship support, research facilities, and career outcomes of recent graduates.
Electrical Engineering: A Major With Opportunities Across Industries
Carnegie Mellon University’s Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering program ranks third, with reported median annual earnings of $250,168. Electrical Engineering combines Mathematics and Physics with the study of electronic circuits, signals, communication systems, and other technologies. Depending on their specialization, graduates may work in semiconductor development, computer hardware, embedded systems, telecommunications, or related fields.
3. Which College Majors Fall Below Federal Earnings Benchmarks?
While the highest-earning programs receive considerable attention, the federal data also identifies programs whose graduates earn less than the applicable earnings benchmark.
Several creative and arts-related fields appear frequently among programs with lower reported earnings, including Fine Arts, Music, Performing Arts, Film, and Design. Certain religious studies and humanities programs also appear in the data. Different academic fields lead to different career paths, and not all careers follow the same salary progression. Some graduates enter established professions immediately, while others spend several years developing their skills, pursuing additional education, or building independent careers.
Fine Arts and Visual Arts
Fine Arts and Visual Arts programs at institutions such as California Institute of the Arts, Maryland Institute College of Art, and the School of Visual Arts appear among programs with relatively low median earnings.
Students who pursue these degrees may become professional artists, designers, educators, or creative professionals. Some work full-time for organizations, while others take on freelance projects or combine several sources of income.
Because career paths vary widely, one salary figure may not adequately represent the opportunities available to graduates. However, students should also recognize the financial challenges that can come with creative careers, particularly when work is project-based or income is inconsistent. Before committing to an expensive arts program, families should examine its career development resources, industry connections, practical training opportunities, and the types of jobs graduates pursue.
Music, Theater, and Performing Arts
Music, Theater, and Performing Arts programs also appear in the lower-earning group, including programs at Indiana University Bloomington, The Juilliard School, and New England Conservatory of Music.
A performing arts degree can prepare students for careers as musicians, actors, composers, performers, or teachers. Unlike professions with more standardized entry-level positions, careers in the performing arts often depend on auditions, professional experience, personal networks, and opportunities developed over time.
When evaluating performing arts programs, students should consider the quality of instruction, performance opportunities, professional mentorship, alumni networks, and career support available after graduation.
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Film, Design, and Visual Communication
Programs in Film, Photography, Design, and Audiovisual Communication also appear among those with lower reported earnings.
Examples in the dataset include programs at Full Sail University, New York Film Academy, and Savannah College of Art and Design. Although these subjects are often grouped together as creative fields, they can lead to very different careers. A Film graduate might work in cinematography, video editing, or production, while a Design graduate may pursue graphic design, digital media, or user interface design.
For creative programs, practical experience is particularly important. Students may benefit from reviewing opportunities to produce original work, collaborate on projects, complete internships, and build a professional portfolio.
Religion and Religious Studies
Another group represented in the lower-earning data includes Religion and Religious Studies programs, particularly at religious seminaries in New York, such as United Talmudical Seminary and Be’er Yaakov Talmudic Seminary.
Some of these institutions prepare students for religious scholarship, community service, or positions within religious organizations rather than conventional commercial careers.
Humanities, Social Sciences, and Other Fields
The dataset also includes programs in English, History, Anthropology, Sociology, Philosophy, Psychology, Education, Biology, and Nutrition.
These fields cover a wide range of academic interests and career paths, making it difficult to draw conclusions based on the major alone.
For example, some careers in Psychology, Education, or the sciences require graduate or professional degrees. Students pursuing these paths may spend additional years in school before entering their intended professions.
Consequently, earnings measured four years after a bachelor’s degree may not capture their longer-term career prospects.
4. Is a High-Paying College Major Always Worth the Investment?
Although potential earnings are important, they should not be the only factor families consider when deciding whether a program is worth its cost.
Consider the Total Cost of Your College Education
The actual cost of attending college may include tuition after scholarships and financial aid, housing, meals, health insurance, transportation, and additional academic expenses.
A Higher Salary Doesn’t Always Mean a Better Financial Return
Suppose Program A has a median annual income of $100,000 and a total out-of-pocket cost of $300,000 for the family. Program B has a median annual income of $70,000 but costs only $100,000. Although Program A offers $30,000 more in annual earnings, it also costs $200,000 more.
This comparison alone is not enough to determine which program offers better value. Families also need to consider living expenses, the time it takes to find a job, potential income growth, and long-term career opportunities. Annual earnings are also not the same as the amount graduates can actually set aside to recoup their education costs.
Don’t Choose a Major Based on Earnings Alone
A major with attractive salary prospects may not necessarily align with a student’s strengths or interests. Rather than following trends, students should explore the curriculum, try hands-on projects, and learn about the day-to-day work involved in fields that interest them.
The goal is to find a balance between financial considerations, career prospects, and personal fit, rather than choosing a major based on a single income figure.
5. How to Use Data to Choose a Major and University
Step 1: Assess Personal Fit
Students should identify the fields that interest them, evaluate their current strengths, and consider their willingness to develop the skills those fields require. Taking advanced courses, working on projects, participating in academic competitions, or gaining hands-on experience can help them better understand their interests and abilities.
Step 2: Research Academic Programs
Compare courses, areas of specialization, interdisciplinary learning opportunities, research opportunities, internships, and career support across universities. Prioritize information from official university websites, course syllabi, and career outcome reports that clearly explain their data and methodology.
Step 3: Evaluate Costs and Career Prospects
Families can create a comparison table using the following criteria:
Criteria | Questions to Ask |
Cost | What is the total cost after scholarships and financial aid? |
Earnings | When was the earnings data collected, and which population does it represent? |
Career Outcomes | What jobs do graduates typically pursue? |
Skills | What skills and competencies does the program help students develop? |
Practical Opportunities | Can students participate in research, internships, or hands-on projects? |
Personal Fit | Does the program align with the student’s abilities and interests? |
Flexibility | Can the knowledge and skills gained be applied across different fields? |
If a program stands out for its earnings outcomes, look more closely at its career opportunities and the characteristics of the graduates included in the data. Conversely, lower earnings are a reason to investigate further, but they are not enough on their own to conclude that a program is of poor quality.
Step 4: Develop a Backup Plan
The job market is constantly changing. In addition to subject-specific knowledge, students should develop transferable skills that can be applied across different settings, including analytical and problem-solving skills, communication, writing, critical thinking, research, and technology literacy.
For students who have not yet decided on a major, programs that offer a strong academic foundation and opportunities to explore different fields may be worth considering.
Step 5: Cross-Reference Multiple Data Sources
Parents and students should compare information from multiple sources rather than relying on a single ranking or article:
- College Scorecard: Provides data on colleges, costs, financial aid, and post-graduation outcomes.
- The HEA Group: Analyzes higher education data, earnings, and accountability measures.
- The New York Times: Offers a tool for comparing earnings by college and major.
Post-graduation earnings data offers a useful perspective on the economic value of higher education in the United States. However, both strong earnings figures and results that fall short of earnings benchmarks need to be interpreted in context to avoid drawing premature conclusions.
For parents and students preparing to study in the United States, the best decision is not necessarily to choose the highest-paying major or the most prestigious university. It is to find a balance among four factors: the student’s personal fit, the quality and content of the academic program, the total cost of the investment, and career prospects after graduation.
Data can help families ask better questions. Making an informed decision, however, still requires researching academic fields, understanding the student’s interests and abilities, and considering long-term development. Studying abroad is not just about reaching a certain income level after graduation. It is also about building the knowledge, skills, and adaptability needed to thrive in a constantly changing world.
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