High-paying degrees cluster in a few fields
Earnings across top universities show a clear pattern. A small group of majors consistently leads in early-career salaries. Computer science and engineering dominate almost every top-paying combination.
Across schools, salaries vary, but the same fields repeatedly appear at the top. This suggests that what you study matters more than where you study when it comes to early earnings.
Top salaries are concentrated in computer science
The highest value in the chart is Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University at $268,000 / year. This is followed by Electrical Engineering at the same school at $250,000 / year.
Other top entries include Computer Science at Princeton at $218,000 / year and MIT at $225,000 / year. These figures show that top technical programs consistently break the $200,000 / year mark within a few years after graduation.
At the lower end, fields like Nursing and Mechanical Engineering often fall below $120,000 / year, with some values near $88,000 / year. This creates a large gap between the highest and lowest-paying fields.
Mid-range salaries show a clear hierarchy
Most mid-range values fall between $120,000 / year and $180,000 / year. These are still strong earnings, but noticeably lower than top computer science outcomes.
For example, Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering frequently sit around $150,000 / year to $180,000 / year across schools like UCLA and UIUC.
Business-related fields such as Accounting and Business Administration tend to cluster closer to $100,000 / year to $140,000 / year. This shows a consistent gap between technical and non-technical fields.
The pattern reflects demand for technical skills
The dominance of computing and engineering fields is driven by demand. These roles are directly tied to industries like software, data, and infrastructure, where growth remains strong.
Higher salaries reflect both skill scarcity and the value these roles generate. Companies are willing to pay more for graduates who can contribute to scalable systems and digital products.
In contrast, fields like business and healthcare follow more traditional pay structures, which grow steadily but start lower.
What this means for career decisions
The data highlights a clear trade-off. Students who choose technical fields are more likely to reach higher income levels early in their careers.
These roles also align closely with remote work opportunities. Many high-paying jobs in computer science and engineering can be done from anywhere, increasing both flexibility and earning potential.
For individuals planning their career path, the choice of major plays a critical role in shaping financial outcomes within just a few years after graduation.
Takeaway
The chart shows a consistent result. Technical degrees, especially computer science, lead to the highest early-career salaries across top universities.
While school reputation matters, the field of study remains the strongest driver of income outcomes.
Dataset
Data Sources
U.S. Department of Education. (2026). College Scorecard Data (Most recent update: March 2026). https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
U.S. Department of Education. (2026). College Scorecard — Earnings Data (4 years after graduation). https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/
Reddit user (OC). (2026). Salary outcomes by university and major (top programs, averages, spreads). https://www.reddit.com/r/dataisbeautiful/comments/1s9dqkc/salary_outcomes_by_university_and_major_top/
