Many students feel a calling to study fields like fine arts or literature when pursuing a college degree. Unfortunately, data indicates that those who pursue these majors have a hard time paying off student loans.
According to a study by Bankrate, STEM majors tend to have higher salaries and lower unemployment rates, often putting them in a better position to pay off student debt.
Assuming 10% of your median income goes to paying off student loans, these are the top 20 majors to pursue to get ahead financially and stay on top of debt.
Earn money online by taking surveys
$55,000 might sound crazy … but with a company called Survey Junkie, it’s possible to get your share of it every day by taking their surveys in your extra time.
Follow these simple steps to start earning:
- Sign up for an account with Survey Junkie here.
- Take surveys.
- Repeat daily and get paid for sharing your opinion!
P.S.: You can cash out with as little as $5 through PayPal or bank transfer, or transfer to gift cards from a number of stores.
Electrical Engineering
Median Income: $115,000
Yearly Student Loan Repayment of 10%: $11,500
Gross Income Remaining: $103,500
Incoming college students probably don’t want to choose their major based on earning potential alone, but a degree in electrical engineering is a surefire way to crush your debt early on. These graduates have the highest median income on the list.
Computer Engineering
Median Income: $112,000
Yearly Student Loan Repayment of 10%: $11,200
Gross Income Remaining: $100,800
It’s no surprise that computer engineering is next up on the list. This broad and highly in-demand STEM field positions graduates to earn well over six figures annually.
Petroleum Engineering
Median Income: $100,000
Yearly Student Loan Repayment of 10%: $10,000
Gross Income Remaining: $90,000
Petroleum engineering, which involves working to improve oil and gas production, is another subset under the engineering umbrella that sets graduates up to make great money.
Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt
Credit card debt is suffocating. It constantly weighs on your mind and controls every choice you make. You can end up emotionally and even physically drained from it. And even though you make regular payments, it feels like you can never make any progress because of the interest.
National Debt Relief could help you resolve your credit card debt with an affordable plan that works for you. Just tell them your situation, then find out your debt relief options.1
How to get National Debt Relief to help you resolve your debt: Sign up for a free debt assessment here. (Do not skip this step!) By signing up for a free assessment, National Debt Relief can assist you in settling your debt, but only if you schedule the assessment.
Aerospace Engineering
Median Income: $105,000
Yearly Student Loan Repayment of 10%: $10,500
Gross Income Remaining: $94,500
Aerospace engineers — who work with missiles, satellites, and even spacecraft — may have the coolest jobs on this list. However, nearly 50% pursue advanced degrees, which may increase their student loan burden.
Materials Science
Median Income: $100,000
Yearly Student Loan Repayment of 10%: $10,000
Gross Income Remaining: $90,000
Materials science is another major, with many graduates (more than 60%) pursuing advanced degrees. So, despite the high earnings potential, the need for additional schooling should be factored in.
Trending Stories
Mechanical Engineering
Median Income: $100,000
Yearly Income Loan Repayment of 10%: $10,000
Gross Income Remaining: $90,000
Another well-paying STEM gig, mechanical engineers help design and develop various machines, from medical devices to space shuttles.
Electrical Engineering Technology
Median Income: $100,000
Yearly Income Loan Repayment of 10%: $10,000
Gross Income Remaining: $90,000
Only about a third of graduates with degrees in electrical engineering technology pursue advanced degrees — and they still earn six figures, putting these graduates in a prime position to pay down loans.
Engineering Mechanics, Physics, and Science
Median Income: $100,000
Yearly Income Loan Repayment of 10%: $10,000
Gross Income Remaining: $90,000
Those who take this route may work as physical scientists, engineering managers, and more. With an unemployment rate of just 1.5%, the prospect of paying off loans is very high.
Chemical Engineering
Median Income: $100,000
Yearly Income Loan Repayment of 10%: $10,000
Gross Income Remaining: $90,000
Chemical engineering is another STEM degree with six-figure earnings potential. Graduates can work in fields like pollution control and environmental protection.
Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account
Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!2
With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!
This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.
Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.
Actuarial Science
Median Income: $95,000
Yearly Income Loan Repayment of 10%: $9,500
Gross Income Remaining: $85,500
Actuarial science involves using statistics and financial theory to analyze risks/costs. Most actuarial scientists work in insurance, and with a high median salary, they’re in a solid position to pay off loans.
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
Median Income: $100,000
Yearly Income Loan Repayment of 10%: $10,000
Gross Income Remaining: $90,000
While those with degrees in pharmaceutical sciences are on track to earn high salaries, most graduates (more than 60%) spend a bit more time in school and have advanced degrees.
Computer Science
Median Income: $100,000
Yearly Income Loan Repayment of 10%: $10,000
Gross Income Remaining: $90,000
These days, computer science is the go-to major for many incoming college students, and for a good reason. They average six-figure incomes, and the unemployment rate is just 2.9%.
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Median Income: $95,000
Yearly Income Loan Repayment of 10%: $9,500
Gross Income Remaining: $85,500
Some potential gigs for these graduates include working as an industrial engineer, general or operations analytics, or management analyst.
Transportation Sciences and Technologies
Median Income: $90,000
Yearly Income Loan Repayment of 10%: $9,000
Gross Income Remaining: $81,000
Graduates who majored in transportation sciences and technologies can work various jobs, from pilots to air traffic controllers to ship operators.
Applied Mathematics
Median Income: $100,000
Yearly Income Loan Repayment of 10%: $10,000
Gross Income Remaining: $90,000
While these graduates can go on to comfortably earn six figures, this major did have the highest unemployment rate (3%) on this list, and nearly 53% of grads pursue advanced degrees.
Management Information Systems and Statistics
Median Income: $93,000
Yearly Income Loan Repayment of 10%: $9,300
Gross Income Remaining: $83,700
Students who pursue these majors can work a range of jobs, from consulting to IT project management.
Civil Engineering
Median Income: $90,000
Yearly Income Loan Repayment of 10%: $9,000
Gross Income Remaining: $81,000
Not only can a civil engineering degree net a median income of $90,0000 annually, but graduates help design and create the infrastructure that keeps this country running.
Information Sciences
Median Income: $93,000
Yearly Income Loan Repayment of 10%: $9,300
Gross Income Remaining: $83,700
From data analyst to technical support engineer, there are many different career paths you can pursue with a degree in information sciences.
General Engineering
Median Income: $90,000
Yearly Income Loan Repayment of 10%: $9,000
Gross Income Remaining: $81,000
These graduates can go on to pursue many different paths, such as urban planner, engineering manager, or sales engineer.
Construction Services
Median Income: $85,000
Yearly Income Loan Repayment of 10%: $8,500
Gross Income Remaining: $76,500
A degree in construction services can net you a high salary and put you in a prime position to pay off loans. Since less than 10% of these graduates take on more debt by pursuing advanced degrees, it’s a great way to stretch your paycheck a bit further.
Bottom line
Even if you don’t (or didn’t) pursue one of these more lucrative college majors, plenty of today’s high earners have figured out how to tap into a new source of income by taking on side hustles and/or marketing skills that don’t necessarily require higher education.
Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Current Offer
$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Benefits
- Low spend threshold for its welcome offer — $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
- Cell phone protection benefit (subject to a $25 deductible)
- Can redeem rewards at an ATM for literal cash
Drawbacks
- Foreign transaction fee of 3%
- No bonus categories
- Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Subscribe Today
Want extra-cash moves to come right to you?
Stop browsing endlessly. Get proven ways to earn pocket money, help cover rent, and crush your debt — sent to your inbox daily.