# Majors with the fastest payback: four years of net price against graduates' earnings

> For every bachelor's program at a four-year college that reports earnings, four years at the college's average net price divided by what the program's graduates earn four years after finishing, grouped by major. U.S. College Scorecard data year 2025.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/data/fastest-payback-majors
- Data (CSV): https://www.collegesref.com/data/fastest-payback-majors.csv
- Source reporting year: 2025
- Snapshot updated: November 15, 2026

## Key findings

1. Across 23,320 bachelor's programs at 1,338 four-year colleges, four years at the college's average net price cost 1.19 years of graduates' median earnings four years after finishing, for the median program ($17,623 a year against $59,565).
2. The fastest majors are computer engineering (0.62 years, 164 programs), construction engineering technology/technician (0.64 years, 40 programs) and statistics (0.67 years, 44 programs).
3. The slowest are drama/theatre arts and stagecraft (1.82 years, 239 programs), film/video and photographic arts (1.81 years, 121 programs) and human services, general (1.80 years, 76 programs).
4. By broad field, engineering/engineering-related technologies/technicians pays back fastest (0.72 years) and theology and religious vocations slowest (2.18 years).
5. 8,379 programs (36%) cost less over four years than their graduates earn in one year.

## By field of study

| Field family | Programs | Median earnings | Median net price | Payback |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians | 319 | $83,405 | $15,142 | 0.72 years |
| Engineering | 1,608 | $93,948 | $17,362 | 0.75 years |
| Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services | 944 | $90,016 | $17,362 | 0.79 years |
| Transportation and Materials Moving | 53 | $83,574 | $17,558 | 0.79 years |
| Mathematics and Statistics | 379 | $74,071 | $17,265 | 0.94 years |
| Health Professions and Related Programs | 2,047 | $71,310 | $17,330 | 1.01 years |
| Physical Sciences | 432 | $66,845 | $16,793 | 1.01 years |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services | 3,724 | $69,728 | $18,533 | 1.08 years |
| Architecture and Related Services | 145 | $65,469 | $18,375 | 1.12 years |
| Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields | 323 | $54,984 | $17,110 | 1.19 years |
| Legal Professions and Studies | 65 | $59,715 | $17,201 | 1.19 years |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services | 625 | $55,665 | $17,069 | 1.23 years |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | 508 | $56,181 | $17,385 | 1.23 years |
| Philosophy and Religious Studies | 109 | $53,390 | $17,125 | 1.23 years |
| Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies | 161 | $54,798 | $16,600 | 1.25 years |
| Social Sciences | 1,954 | $58,577 | $18,131 | 1.26 years |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences | 1,235 | $58,716 | $18,061 | 1.26 years |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 412 | $51,919 | $16,660 | 1.28 years |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences | 303 | $50,427 | $16,660 | 1.28 years |
| Public Administration and Social Service Professions | 576 | $52,476 | $17,069 | 1.29 years |
| Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 350 | $54,332 | $17,269 | 1.30 years |
| History | 432 | $50,514 | $16,819 | 1.33 years |
| Natural Resources and Conservation | 348 | $53,861 | $18,095 | 1.39 years |
| Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology | 675 | $52,482 | $18,287 | 1.40 years |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs | 1,073 | $54,717 | $18,554 | 1.41 years |
| Education | 1,218 | $49,147 | $17,601 | 1.45 years |
| English Language and Literature/Letters | 678 | $48,475 | $17,900 | 1.53 years |
| Psychology | 1,062 | $50,786 | $19,435 | 1.55 years |
| Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services | 65 | $46,022 | $18,258 | 1.59 years |
| Visual and Performing Arts | 1,379 | $43,584 | $17,362 | 1.61 years |
| Theology and Religious Vocations | 70 | $45,693 | $24,881 | 2.18 years |

## By major

| Major | Programs | Median earnings | Median net price | Payback |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Computer Engineering | 164 | $105,681 | $16,704 | 0.62 years |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | 40 | $92,167 | $14,741 | 0.64 years |
| Statistics | 44 | $92,112 | $16,765 | 0.67 years |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 236 | $99,399 | $16,804 | 0.68 years |
| Construction Management | 53 | $92,971 | $16,325 | 0.70 years |
| Computer Science | 318 | $100,271 | $18,091 | 0.71 years |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | 56 | $81,512 | $15,018 | 0.73 years |
| Industrial Engineering | 81 | $95,835 | $18,020 | 0.74 years |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 57 | $96,510 | $17,330 | 0.75 years |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General | 31 | $78,801 | $15,554 | 0.75 years |
| Chemical Engineering | 145 | $97,324 | $18,131 | 0.76 years |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 377 | $86,613 | $16,801 | 0.77 years |
| Mechanical Engineering | 295 | $91,229 | $17,499 | 0.77 years |
| Air Transportation | 47 | $81,394 | $17,318 | 0.79 years |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | 46 | $81,504 | $14,926 | 0.79 years |
| Civil Engineering | 214 | $85,239 | $17,175 | 0.81 years |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | 77 | $74,731 | $15,732 | 0.82 years |
| Management Information Systems and Services | 135 | $81,310 | $16,628 | 0.83 years |
| Information Science/Studies | 96 | $79,860 | $16,394 | 0.83 years |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 734 | $84,760 | $18,125 | 0.85 years |
| Applied Mathematics | 40 | $86,194 | $17,401 | 0.86 years |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 110 | $93,619 | $18,782 | 0.87 years |
| Physics | 96 | $79,592 | $17,052 | 0.88 years |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 63 | $85,477 | $18,549 | 0.88 years |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | 40 | $80,713 | $17,267 | 0.88 years |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 105 | $87,394 | $19,758 | 0.90 years |
| Business/Managerial Economics | 77 | $80,165 | $17,269 | 0.91 years |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | 56 | $67,973 | $14,613 | 0.93 years |
| Public Administration | 43 | $62,424 | $14,157 | 0.94 years |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 410 | $77,416 | $18,006 | 0.96 years |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 45 | $66,222 | $16,003 | 0.99 years |
| Mathematics | 287 | $70,681 | $17,265 | 1.00 years |
| Chemistry | 192 | $66,628 | $16,548 | 1.00 years |
| Engineering, General | 48 | $87,280 | $21,961 | 1.00 years |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 188 | $68,423 | $17,402 | 1.01 years |
| International Business | 104 | $74,157 | $18,355 | 1.01 years |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 107 | $65,072 | $16,600 | 1.02 years |
| Architecture | 66 | $66,981 | $17,711 | 1.03 years |
| Accounting and Related Services | 689 | $74,103 | $19,286 | 1.04 years |
| Economics | 351 | $79,428 | $19,980 | 1.05 years |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 30 | $66,906 | $17,198 | 1.05 years |
| Agricultural Business and Management | 69 | $65,312 | $16,600 | 1.06 years |
| Public Policy Analysis | 30 | $71,723 | $18,508 | 1.06 years |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 181 | $60,419 | $17,075 | 1.08 years |
| Philosophy | 81 | $56,786 | $16,486 | 1.09 years |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 150 | $67,731 | $18,225 | 1.10 years |
| Agriculture, General | 38 | $52,837 | $15,265 | 1.11 years |
| Marketing | 469 | $66,714 | $18,760 | 1.12 years |
| Business/Commerce, General | 198 | $64,239 | $18,172 | 1.13 years |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 121 | $59,969 | $16,807 | 1.14 years |
| Apparel and Textiles | 46 | $57,154 | $17,075 | 1.14 years |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | 65 | $55,946 | $15,636 | 1.15 years |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 200 | $59,066 | $16,644 | 1.16 years |
| Forestry | 30 | $58,575 | $17,675 | 1.16 years |
| Geography and Cartography | 105 | $57,825 | $16,628 | 1.17 years |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 96 | $51,680 | $15,679 | 1.17 years |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | 54 | $64,013 | $20,315 | 1.17 years |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | 45 | $55,633 | $16,423 | 1.17 years |
| Nutrition Sciences | 44 | $59,962 | $17,346 | 1.17 years |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | 33 | $71,185 | $18,910 | 1.17 years |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 71 | $56,282 | $16,776 | 1.18 years |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 1,002 | $64,798 | $19,510 | 1.20 years |
| Public Health | 173 | $58,860 | $17,192 | 1.20 years |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | 135 | $59,961 | $17,270 | 1.21 years |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 123 | $56,252 | $16,801 | 1.24 years |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 86 | $51,171 | $16,232 | 1.24 years |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 535 | $54,649 | $17,045 | 1.25 years |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | 34 | $60,988 | $20,382 | 1.25 years |
| Social Sciences, Other | 33 | $54,363 | $15,665 | 1.26 years |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 184 | $54,530 | $17,300 | 1.27 years |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 412 | $51,919 | $16,660 | 1.28 years |
| Plant Sciences | 41 | $56,265 | $18,020 | 1.28 years |
| Social Work | 402 | $51,969 | $16,731 | 1.29 years |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 62 | $63,387 | $18,838 | 1.29 years |
| Security Science and Technology | 38 | $57,773 | $18,240 | 1.29 years |
| Political Science and Government | 534 | $61,877 | $19,289 | 1.30 years |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 210 | $56,189 | $17,943 | 1.30 years |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 64 | $61,497 | $20,120 | 1.30 years |
| Biology, General | 798 | $57,713 | $18,495 | 1.31 years |
| Social Sciences, General | 76 | $52,308 | $17,337 | 1.32 years |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 54 | $60,878 | $21,986 | 1.32 years |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | 44 | $45,475 | $14,991 | 1.32 years |
| History | 432 | $50,514 | $16,819 | 1.33 years |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | 55 | $50,832 | $16,880 | 1.33 years |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and  Marketing Operations | 34 | $56,703 | $18,749 | 1.33 years |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 161 | $62,140 | $20,550 | 1.34 years |
| Area Studies | 65 | $58,232 | $18,554 | 1.34 years |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 328 | $50,819 | $17,163 | 1.35 years |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 139 | $47,874 | $16,628 | 1.35 years |
| Special Education and Teaching | 157 | $51,258 | $17,265 | 1.36 years |
| Criminology | 108 | $56,409 | $18,798 | 1.36 years |
| International/Globalization Studies | 86 | $56,517 | $18,194 | 1.36 years |
| Animal Sciences | 70 | $49,646 | $17,092 | 1.36 years |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 36 | $51,857 | $17,412 | 1.36 years |
| Sociology | 433 | $52,197 | $17,224 | 1.38 years |
| Anthropology | 170 | $46,328 | $16,406 | 1.38 years |
| Journalism | 167 | $54,360 | $17,850 | 1.38 years |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 109 | $66,180 | $23,550 | 1.38 years |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 74 | $54,703 | $17,508 | 1.38 years |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | 48 | $49,524 | $16,684 | 1.40 years |
| Communication and Media Studies | 594 | $53,896 | $18,451 | 1.41 years |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 567 | $53,112 | $18,927 | 1.41 years |
| Design and Applied Arts | 244 | $53,981 | $18,241 | 1.42 years |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | 39 | $62,343 | $20,294 | 1.42 years |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 245 | $54,657 | $18,868 | 1.43 years |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | 60 | $50,082 | $17,887 | 1.44 years |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | 36 | $45,397 | $16,358 | 1.44 years |
| Graphic Communications | 41 | $44,116 | $17,395 | 1.45 years |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 57 | $50,010 | $18,375 | 1.47 years |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 135 | $49,359 | $18,042 | 1.48 years |
| English Language and Literature, General | 541 | $48,877 | $17,558 | 1.50 years |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 623 | $47,823 | $18,177 | 1.55 years |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 121 | $47,141 | $18,760 | 1.55 years |
| Psychology, General | 926 | $50,357 | $19,690 | 1.57 years |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | 40 | $49,176 | $19,103 | 1.58 years |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 381 | $41,997 | $16,600 | 1.59 years |
| Music | 238 | $43,765 | $17,118 | 1.60 years |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | 51 | $41,097 | $17,533 | 1.61 years |
| Dance | 55 | $40,892 | $17,315 | 1.62 years |
| Education, General | 62 | $49,871 | $20,769 | 1.64 years |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 56 | $52,569 | $20,873 | 1.67 years |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | 40 | $42,694 | $18,194 | 1.67 years |
| Human Services, General | 76 | $48,418 | $20,041 | 1.80 years |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 121 | $46,073 | $20,319 | 1.81 years |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 239 | $40,033 | $17,909 | 1.82 years |
| **All reported programs** | 23,320 | $59,565 | $17,623 | 1.19 years |

## Methodology

- **Programs counted.** Bachelor's programs (College Scorecard field of study, credential level 3) at public and private nonprofit colleges published on CollegesRef in a four-year Carnegie class in the 50 states or D.C., with at least 500 undergraduates, that report median earnings four years after completion.
- **Exclusions.** For-profit colleges, programs below the bachelor's level and programs where the Scorecard suppresses earnings (usually small cohorts) are left out.
- **Reporting threshold.** A field family (2-digit CIP) and a major (4-digit CIP) each need at least 30 reporting programs; smaller groups are not reported but count in the national figures.
- **Payback.** Four times the college's average net price (NPT4) divided by the program's median earnings four years after completion. The Scorecard does not report net price by major, so every program at a college shares its price; differences between majors come from earnings and from which colleges offer them.
- **Medians.** Each group figure is the median across its programs, not weighted by graduates.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does a payback of one year mean?

Four years at the college's average net price equal one year of the program's median earnings four years after graduating. The median bachelor's program is at 1.19 years.

### Why use the college's net price for every major?

Federal data reports net price for the whole college, not by major. Using the same price for every program at a college makes the comparison about what graduates of each major earn.

### Are these starting salaries?

No. They are median earnings four years after completing the degree, for graduates who received federal aid, before tax.

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- IPEDS (National Center for Education Statistics): https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/
- The federal source data is a U.S. government work in the public domain (https://www.usa.gov/government-copyright).
- CollegesRef methodology: https://www.collegesref.com/methodology

## How to cite

CollegesRef, "Majors with the fastest payback: four years of net price against graduates' earnings," analysis of U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data (data year 2025), updated November 15, 2026. https://www.collegesref.com/data/fastest-payback-majors

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Source: CollegesRef, https://www.collegesref.com/data/fastest-payback-majors.