What Degree Makes the Most Money?

There are many different reasons to get a degree, and a big one tends to be higher earning potential. The good news is that any degree beyond a high school diploma can increase how much you earn and lower your chances of unemployment [1]. That being said, certain college majors and areas of study may lead to more lucrative—and high-paying—career opportunities than others. 

Discover more about which degrees make the most money both by level and subject matter. 

Which degrees make the most money?

At the undergraduate level, the degrees that make the most money happen to align with the most popular majors, such as business and computer science, so researching those subjects can be a good place to start. Or you can look through our list of highest paying bachelor’s degree jobs. 

The average entry-level salary in the US is $49,532, though you’ll likely find that varies from state-to-state, with certain states—like New York and California—paying higher than others [2, 3]. Below, we’ve pulled together six majors that tend to pay well over the average salary and have strong career trajectories. 

6 college majors that pay over $75,000

The college majors below can lead to high-paying roles in the field.  

1. Aerospace engineering

An engineering degree can lead to several high-paying opportunities, with aerospace engineering being one such path. Aerospace engineering often involves designing and developing machines used in aviation and space, such as aircrafts, spacecrafts, missiles, and satellites.

To earn your bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, you will need strong math skills and a general understanding of computer programming, chemistry, and physics, which your program will build upon. During your aerospace engineering program, you’ll learn about thermodynamics, aerodynamics, gas dynamics, aerospace structures, propulsion, and orbital mechanics. Aerospace engineers earn a median annual salary of $130,720, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) [4]. 

2. Business administration

Majoring in business administration can be a worthwhile choice when you’re interested in a wider variety of career options, such as those in marketing, operations, or even entrepreneurship. 

To earn your Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), you’ll take foundational courses in business, such as business ethics, statistics, micro- and macroeconomics, marketing principles, and finance. You may then have the option of specializing in an area of business, such as finance, marketing, or human relations. 

There are many different business and financial occupations to consider with this bachelor’s degree that pay over $75,000, including project management specialists, management analysts, and accountants [5]. 

3. Cloud computing

Cloud computing involves the delivery of hosted services over the internet, such as databases, networking, software, and cloud storage.  

A bachelor's degree in computer science or a bachelor’s in information technology (with a concentration in cloud computing) provides knowledge and skills in programming languages, database management, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and cloud technologies, which can lead to a career as a cloud administrator, cloud engineer, or cloud architect. A network administrator has a median annual salary of $95,360, according to BLS [6].   

4. Electrical engineering

As an electrical engineer, you’ll design and develop electrical equipment and systems, such as automobile antennas, cell phone circuit boards, and electrical power grids. 

A bachelor's degree in electrical engineering requires advanced math skills, knowledge of chemistry and physics, and good technical writing skills. While getting your electrical engineering degree, you'll typically learn the fundamentals of electricity and engineering during your first two years and take technical electives based on your specific areas of interest throughout the last two years. Electrical engineers earn a median salary of $109,010 per year, according to the BLS [7].

5. Information security

Information security involves designing and implementing methods for maintaining the security of computer information systems and data. Coursework for this bachelor's degree includes an introduction to information systems, cybersecurity fundamentals, the study of cybercrime, computer network maintenance, concepts of business databases, and more. 

This degree prepares you for numerous jobs, including information systems manager, network architect, and information security analyst. According to the BLS, information security analysts earn a median annual salary of $120,360 [8].

Learn more: Do I Need an Information Technology Degree?

6. Nursing

Nursing is a career with a number of specialty areas that can lead to high-paying salaries and career longevity given how in demand nurses are and will continue to be. 

Your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program will include taking biology, chemistry, and general health classes, and then completing coursework that prepares you to specialize in an area, such as mental health, community health, geriatric nursing, or oncology. A BSN can prepare you for a nursing career or provide the foundation to go on and earn an advanced degree in nursing.

Registered nurses earn a median annual salary of $86,070, according to BLS [9], and often earn more with increased experience and education. 

Degrees that make the most money by level

Each level of degree comes with the potential for higher earning power. For instance, while an associate degree holder tends to earn a median annual salary of $55,016, a bachelor’s degree holder earns a median annual salary of $77,636 [1].

If you’re interested in which kind of degree makes the most money, it’s important not only to find an area that’s meaningful to you, but to consider what level of education may be beneficial to your career. 

• Associate degrees: An associate degree typically takes two years to earn and tends to be available in a number of professional, in-demand areas, such as nursing, computer science, psychology, criminal justice, and accounting. You can also earn an Associate of Applied Science (AAS), which focuses on more technical careers so you can enter the workforce directly after graduation. Associate degree holders earn a median annual salary of $55,016, according to the BLS [1].

• Bachelor’s degrees: A bachelor’s degree takes closer to four to six years to earn these days (compared to the standard three to four once associated with the degree), but it’s a common requirement for many entry-level career options. What you major in will determine the type of degree you earn: Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS), and Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) tend to be the most common. Per the BLS, bachelor's degree holders earn a median annual salary of $77,636 [1].

• Master’s degrees: A master's degree typically takes about two or three years to earn, depending on what you study, and can be useful if you’re looking to advance in your career or hold a managerial role. Like a bachelor's, you can get a Master of Arts (MA), a Master of Science (MS), a Master of Fine Arts (MFA), or more niched degrees, like a Master of Business Administration (MBA). Master's degree holders earn a median annual salary of $90,324, according to BLS [1]. And MBA degree holders tend to command even higher salaries. 

• Professional degrees: A professional degree typically takes three or more years to earn following a bachelor's. This degree prepares you to work in a profession like law, medicine, veterinary medicine, or pharmaceuticals. Professional degree holders earn a median annual salary of $114,712 [1]. 

• Doctorate degrees: A doctorate degree also takes five or more years to earn. This degree represents the highest level of academic achievement you can attain in a non-professional subject, and common degrees awarded include Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), and Doctor of Education (EdD). Doctorate holders earn a median annual salary $109,668 [1].

Earn your degree through Coursera

Find flexible and affordable bachelor’s and master’s degree programs available through Coursera. Degrees are available by level and in some of the top fields, including computer science, information technology, data science, business administration, and more.