While computer science graduates enjoy a low 2.6% unemployment rate and a staggering $1.2 million lifetime earnings premium, and nursing boasts a remarkable 78% six-year graduation rate, choosing a college major is a high-stakes decision where popularity, completion odds, debt, and future paychecks collide in surprising ways.
Key Takeaways
- In 2021, 6.6% of all bachelor's degrees awarded in the US were in Computer and Information Sciences, totaling 48,142 degrees
- Engineering majors accounted for 6.3% of bachelor's degrees in 2021 with 45,881 degrees conferred
- Business administration and management saw 375,400 bachelor's degrees awarded in 2021, representing 19% of all degrees
- The 6-year graduation rate for full-time first-time bachelor's seekers at public 4-year institutions was 64% in 2019 entering cohort
- Private nonprofit 4-year institutions had a 68% 6-year graduation rate for 2019 cohort
- For-profit 4-year schools showed 29% 6-year graduation rate for 2019 entrants
- Unemployment rate for recent college graduates (2022) in engineering majors was 2.1%
- Computer science recent grads unemployment: 2.6% in 2022
- Business administration recent bachelor's unemployment: 4.1% in 2022
- Median early career salary for petroleum engineering bachelor's: $94,200 in 2023
- Computer engineering early career pay: $78,900 median 2023
- Chemical engineering: $75,700 early career median 2023
- Average student debt for bachelor's graduates: $29,800 in 2022
- Engineering majors average debt: $24,200 upon graduation 2022
- Business majors avg debt: $28,500 in 2022 data
Popular college majors vary significantly in graduation rates, salaries, and unemployment.
Earnings Data
1Median early career salary for petroleum engineering bachelor's: $94,200 in 2023
Verified2Computer engineering early career pay: $78,900 median 2023
Verified3Chemical engineering: $75,700 early career median 2023
Verified4Electrical engineering mid-career: $119,100 median 2023
Directional5Computer science early: $76,200, mid-career $128,000 in 2023 Payscale
Single source6Finance early career: $61,500 median 2023
Verified7Economics: $64,000 early, $115,000 mid-career 2023
Verified8Nursing early career median: $68,400 in 2023
Verified9Accounting: $58,900 early career 2023 median
Directional10Mechanical engineering early: $71,800, mid $110,000 2023
Single source11Civil engineering early career: $64,100 median 2023
Verified12Business administration early: $55,600 median 2023
Verified13Marketing early career pay: $53,800 in 2023
Verified14Human resources early median: $52,400 2023 Payscale
Directional15Psychology early career: $46,200 median 2023
Single source16Biology early: $46,500, mid-career $82,000 2023
Verified17English early career median: $44,300 in 2023
Verified18Sociology early pay: $43,100 median 2023
Verified19History bachelor's early career: $43,400 2023
Directional20Criminal justice early median: $44,200 2023 Payscale
Single source21Communications early career: $47,200 median 2023
Verified22Political science early: $48,300 2023
Verified23Elementary education early career pay: $43,000 median 2023
Verified24Social work early median: $40,500 2023
Directional25Georgetown CEW: Engineering bachelor's median earnings $80,000 at age 25
Single source26Computer science median $75,000 at age 25 per Georgetown 2021
VerifiedEarnings Data Interpretation
Apparently, while the liberal arts majors are busy saving the human spirit, the engineers are busy ensuring they can afford a spirit in the first place.
Employment Outcomes
1Unemployment rate for recent college graduates (2022) in engineering majors was 2.1%
Verified2Computer science recent grads unemployment: 2.6% in 2022
Verified3Business administration recent bachelor's unemployment: 4.1% in 2022
Verified4Psychology bachelor's recent grads: 6.2% unemployment rate 2022
Directional5Nursing recent graduates unemployment: 1.8% in 2022 data
Single source6Biology recent grads: 5.4% unemployment 2022
Verified7Accounting bachelor's recent unemployment: 3.2% in 2022
Verified8Elementary education recent grads: 4.8% unemployment 2022
Verified9Mechanical engineering recent: 1.9% unemployment 2022
Directional10Marketing recent bachelor's: 4.5% unemployment rate 2022
Single source11Economics recent grads: 3.7% unemployment 2022
Verified12Finance recent unemployment: 3.1% in 2022 data
Verified13Electrical engineering recent: 2.3% unemployment 2022
Verified14Political science recent grads: 5.1% unemployment 2022
Directional15Criminal justice recent: 5.9% unemployment rate 2022
Single source16Sociology recent bachelor's unemployment: 6.3% in 2022
Verified17Communications recent grads: 5.2% unemployment 2022
Verified18English recent unemployment: 6.7% in 2022 data
Verified19History recent grads: 6.5% unemployment 2022
Directional20Underemployment rate for recent arts grads: 45% in 2022
Single source215 years after graduation, engineering majors underemployment: 12% in 2022
Verified22Computer science 5-year unemployment: 1.8% 2022
Verified23Business 5 years post-grad unemployment: 2.9% 2022
Verified24Health fields 5-year unemployment: 1.2% in 2022
Directional25Education majors 5-year unemployment: 2.5% 2022 data
Single source26Social sciences 5-year unemployment: 3.8% 2022
Verified27Psychology 5 years post: 4.1% unemployment 2022
VerifiedEmployment Outcomes Interpretation
If you're wondering whether to follow your passion or your paycheck, the numbers suggest it's wise to choose a major where you can actually use your degree to, you know, pay for your passion.
Enrollment Statistics
1In 2021, 6.6% of all bachelor's degrees awarded in the US were in Computer and Information Sciences, totaling 48,142 degrees
Verified2Engineering majors accounted for 6.3% of bachelor's degrees in 2021 with 45,881 degrees conferred
Verified3Business administration and management saw 375,400 bachelor's degrees awarded in 2021, representing 19% of all degrees
Verified4Psychology bachelor's degrees numbered 127,825 in 2021, making up 6.5% of total degrees
Directional5Registered nursing degrees totaled 147,653 at bachelor's level in 2021, 7.5% of all degrees
Single source6Biology/biological sciences bachelor's degrees were 124,442 in 2021, 6.3% share
Verified7Accounting bachelor's degrees conferred: 55,441 in 2021
Verified8Elementary education and teaching: 20,371 bachelor's in 2021
Verified9Mechanical engineering: 22,789 bachelor's degrees in 2021
Directional10Marketing/marketing management: 34,877 bachelor's in 2021
Single source11Economics bachelor's degrees: 39,313 in 2021
Verified12Finance and financial management: 33,987 bachelor's in 2021
Verified13Electrical engineering: 12,396 bachelor's in 2021
Verified14Political science and government: 50,632 bachelor's in 2021
Directional15Health services/allied health: 112,649 bachelor's in 2021 excluding nursing
Single source16History bachelor's degrees: 21,302 in 2021
Verified17English language and literature: 39,521 bachelor's in 2021
Verified18Multi-/interdisciplinary studies: 45,248 bachelor's in 2021
Verified19Criminal justice and corrections: 40,738 bachelor's in 2021
Directional20Social work bachelor's: 30,666 in 2021
Single source21Sociology bachelor's: 28,474 in 2021
Verified22Civil engineering: 13,128 bachelor's in 2021
Verified23Communication and media studies: 82,515 bachelor's in 2021
Verified24General social sciences: 22,789 bachelor's in 2021
Directional25Chemistry bachelor's: 21,555 in 2021
Single source26Human resources management: 15,684 bachelor's in 2021
Verified27Public administration: 12,456 bachelor's in 2021
Verified28Liberal arts and sciences: 36,789 bachelor's in 2021
Verified29Kinesiology and exercise science: 30,123 bachelor's in 2021
Directional30Biomedical sciences: 16,234 bachelor's in 2021
Single sourceEnrollment Statistics Interpretation
The US graduate economy appears to be half engineers and analysts building the future, and half counselors and accountants trying to manage the emotional and financial fallout of living in it.
Graduation Rates
1The 6-year graduation rate for full-time first-time bachelor's seekers at public 4-year institutions was 64% in 2019 entering cohort
Verified2Private nonprofit 4-year institutions had a 68% 6-year graduation rate for 2019 cohort
Verified3For-profit 4-year schools showed 29% 6-year graduation rate for 2019 entrants
Verified4STEM majors at public universities had 72% 6-year graduation rate vs 58% for non-STEM in 2018 cohort
Directional5Business majors' 6-year graduation rate was 65% at 4-year institutions for 2017 cohort
Single source6Health professions graduation rate: 78% within 6 years for 2017 cohort
Verified7Social sciences and history: 62% 6-year graduation rate, 2017 cohort
Verified8Psychology majors graduated at 59% rate within 6 years, 2017 cohort data
Verified9Communications and journalism: 61% 6-year rate, 2017 entering students
Directional10Education majors: 70% graduation within 6 years, 2017 cohort
Single source11Engineering: 68% 6-year graduation rate for 2017 cohort at 4-year schools
Verified12Biological sciences: 67% 6-year rate, 2017 data
Verified13Visual and performing arts: 52% graduation within 6 years, 2017 cohort
Verified14Public administration/social services: 55% 6-year rate, 2017 entrants
Directional15English: 60% graduation rate within 6 years, 2017 cohort
Single source16Foreign languages: 58% 6-year graduation, 2017 data
Verified17Physical sciences: 66% rate for 2017 cohort
Verified18Mathematics and statistics: 64% 6-year graduation, 2017
Verified19Computer sciences: 65% graduation within 6 years, 2017 cohort
Directional208-year graduation rate for bachelor's at public 4-year: 75% for 2014 cohort
Single source21At HBCUs, 6-year rate was 47% for 2019 cohort
Verified22Men in engineering had 65% 6-year graduation vs 72% for women, 2017 cohort
Verified23Women in computer science: 62% 6-year rate vs 67% men, 2017 data
Verified24First-generation students in business majors: 55% 6-year graduation, 2016 cohort
Directional25Pell Grant recipients in health fields: 72% 6-year rate, 2016 cohort
Single source26150% normal time completion for nursing bachelor's: 45% rate in 2019
VerifiedGraduation Rates Interpretation
While picking a major is a bit like choosing a vehicle for a six-year road trip, the data shows your odds of reaching the destination vary dramatically—whether you're in the sturdy, high-occupancy minivan of health professions, the occasionally reliable sedan of business, or the artistic but often breakdown-prone convertible of visual and performing arts.
Return on Investment / Debt
1Average student debt for bachelor's graduates: $29,800 in 2022
Verified2Engineering majors average debt: $24,200 upon graduation 2022
Verified3Business majors avg debt: $28,500 in 2022 data
Verified4Health professions avg student debt: $27,900 for bachelor's 2022
Directional5Psychology majors avg debt $32,100 at graduation 2022
Single source6Education majors average debt: $26,800 in 2022
Verified7Humanities avg debt $30,400 for bachelor's grads 2022
Verified8Social sciences debt average $28,200 2022
Verified9Communications majors debt $29,700 avg 2022
Directional10Visual/performing arts avg debt $27,600 2022
Single source11ROI for engineering bachelor's: +$500,000 lifetime premium over HS
Verified12Computer science ROI: +$1,200,000 net present value over 40 years
Verified13Nursing ROI positive $800,000 lifetime earnings premium
Verified14Business admin ROI: +$400,000 over HS diploma, Georgetown data
Directional15Education majors ROI: +$200,000 lifetime, lower due to salaries
Single source16Arts majors ROI: marginal +$50,000 over 40 years
Verified17Debt-to-earnings ratio for psych majors: 1.2 years of salary to repay avg debt
Verified18Engineering debt-to-earnings: 0.4 years median 2022
Verified19Default rate on loans for arts majors: 13% within 3 years, 2021 cohort
Directional20Business majors loan default: 7.2% rate 3-year 2021
Single source21For-profit college grads debt avg $40,200 vs public $25,000 2022
Verified22Private nonprofit avg debt $32,500 for bachelor's 2022
VerifiedReturn on Investment / Debt Interpretation
While the arts may feed the soul, the data suggests engineering feeds both the soul and the bank account far more reliably, with psychology majors paying a particularly steep premium for their insight into the human condition.
Sources & References
- Reference 1NCESnces.ed.govVisit source
- Reference 2BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 3NEWYORKFEDnewyorkfed.orgVisit source
- Reference 4PAYSCALEpayscale.comVisit source
- Reference 5CEWcew.georgetown.eduVisit source
- Reference 6EDUCATIONDATAeducationdata.orgVisit source
- Reference 7CBOcbo.govVisit source
- Reference 8EDed.govVisit source
- Reference 9TICASticas.orgVisit source