Data Analysis
Student Loan Burden by Major
Which college degrees pay off fastest? Compare debt-to-earnings ratios across 188 majors to see the real financial impact of education choices.
- First-year earnings only - does not reflect long-term career trajectory
- Aggregated across institutions - outcomes vary by school selectivity
- Federal loans only - does not include private student loans
Key Findings
Based on 188 college majors with sufficient data, here's what the numbers reveal about student loan burden. Debt burden ratio = median debt / median first-year earnings after graduation.
Complete Data Table
Search, filter by category, and sort to find debt burden data for any major. Download data for your own analysis.
| # | Major | Debt Burden | Median Debt | Median Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Systems Engineering | 0.26 | $21K | $80K |
| 2 | Computer Engineering | 0.29 | $23K | $79K |
| 3 | Manufacturing Engineering | 0.29 | $21K | $72K |
| 4 | Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | 0.3 | $23K | $78K |
| 5 | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 0.3 | $23K | $75K |
| 6 | Chemical Engineering | 0.31 | $23K | $73K |
| 7 | Computer Science | 0.31 | $22K | $71K |
| 8 | Materials Engineering | 0.31 | $23K | $74K |
| 9 | Construction Engineering Technologies | 0.31 | $22K | $74K |
| 10 | Engineering, Other | 0.31 | $23K | $73K |
| 11 | Nuclear Engineering | 0.31 | $23K | $74K |
| 12 | Mechanical Engineering | 0.32 | $23K | $71K |
| 13 | Civil Engineering | 0.32 | $23K | $70K |
| 14 | Industrial Engineering | 0.32 | $24K | $75K |
| 15 | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | 0.32 | $21K | $65K |
| 16 | Construction Management | 0.32 | $23K | $72K |
| 17 | Construction Engineering | 0.32 | $25K | $77K |
| 18 | Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | 0.33 | $24K | $72K |
| 19 | Statistics | 0.33 | $20K | $60K |
| 20 | Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | 0.33 | $22K | $65K |
| 21 | Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | 0.33 | $20K | $60K |
| 22 | Applied Mathematics | 0.34 | $21K | $61K |
| 23 | Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 0.35 | $23K | $65K |
| 24 | Architectural Engineering | 0.35 | $26K | $74K |
| 25 | Agricultural Engineering | 0.35 | $22K | $65K |
| 26 | Fire Protection | 0.35 | $23K | $67K |
| 27 | Petroleum Engineering | 0.35 | $24K | $69K |
| 28 | Engineering-Related Fields | 0.36 | $25K | $69K |
| 29 | Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | 0.36 | $21K | $59K |
| 30 | Insurance | 0.36 | $21K | $58K |
| 31 | Computer and Information Sciences, General | 0.37 | $23K | $61K |
| 32 | Management Information Systems and Services | 0.37 | $22K | $60K |
| 33 | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 0.37 | $23K | $61K |
| 34 | Agricultural Business and Management | 0.37 | $18K | $49K |
| 35 | Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other | 0.37 | $25K | $67K |
| 36 | Engineering, General | 0.37 | $25K | $68K |
| 37 | Real Estate | 0.37 | $20K | $55K |
| 38 | Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | 0.38 | $25K | $66K |
| 39 | Business/Managerial Economics | 0.39 | $21K | $53K |
| 40 | Mathematics | 0.4 | $20K | $49K |
| 41 | Finance and Financial Management Services | 0.4 | $22K | $54K |
| 42 | Information Science/Studies | 0.4 | $24K | $60K |
| 43 | Economics | 0.4 | $21K | $52K |
| 44 | Food Science and Technology | 0.4 | $21K | $52K |
| 45 | Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 0.4 | $27K | $67K |
| 46 | Plant Sciences | 0.41 | $18K | $44K |
| 47 | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 0.41 | $25K | $61K |
| 48 | Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | 0.41 | $26K | $63K |
| 49 | Engineering Technology, General | 0.41 | $25K | $61K |
| 50 | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 0.42 | $25K | $60K |
| 51 | General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations | 0.42 | $22K | $53K |
| 52 | Cognitive Science | 0.42 | $18K | $41K |
| 53 | Accounting and Related Services | 0.43 | $23K | $54K |
| 54 | Landscape Architecture | 0.44 | $24K | $53K |
| 55 | Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | 0.45 | $22K | $50K |
| 56 | International Business | 0.45 | $23K | $52K |
| 57 | Public Administration | 0.45 | $21K | $45K |
| 58 | Biotechnology | 0.45 | $21K | $47K |
| 59 | Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | 0.45 | $21K | $48K |
| 60 | Homeland Security | 0.46 | $22K | $49K |
| 61 | Human Resources Management and Services | 0.47 | $24K | $50K |
| 62 | Physics | 0.47 | $22K | $46K |
| 63 | Business/Commerce, General | 0.48 | $23K | $48K |
| 64 | Public Policy Analysis | 0.48 | $21K | $44K |
| 65 | Forestry | 0.49 | $21K | $42K |
| 66 | Urban Studies/Affairs | 0.49 | $21K | $42K |
| 67 | Human Biology | 0.49 | $15K | $32K |
| 68 | Marketing | 0.5 | $23K | $45K |
| 69 | Agriculture, General | 0.5 | $20K | $39K |
| 70 | Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 0.5 | $23K | $45K |
| 71 | Interior Architecture | 0.5 | $22K | $45K |
| 72 | Sustainability Studies | 0.5 | $19K | $38K |
| 73 | Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies | 0.51 | $21K | $40K |
| 74 | Business Administration, Management and Operations | 0.52 | $24K | $46K |
| 75 | Geography and Cartography | 0.52 | $20K | $39K |
| 76 | City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning | 0.52 | $23K | $45K |
| 77 | Chemistry | 0.53 | $22K | $43K |
| 78 | Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 0.53 | $20K | $38K |
| 79 | Business/Corporate Communications | 0.53 | $22K | $41K |
| 80 | Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 0.54 | $22K | $40K |
| 81 | Air Transportation | 0.54 | $23K | $43K |
| 82 | Architectural Sciences and Technology | 0.54 | $27K | $49K |
| 83 | Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | 0.54 | $22K | $42K |
| 84 | Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other | 0.54 | $25K | $46K |
| 85 | Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 0.55 | $19K | $35K |
| 86 | Special Education and Teaching | 0.56 | $25K | $44K |
| 87 | International Relations and National Security Studies | 0.56 | $21K | $37K |
| 88 | Architecture | 0.56 | $26K | $47K |
| 89 | Research and Experimental Psychology | 0.56 | $19K | $34K |
| 90 | Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | 0.56 | $34K | $61K |
| 91 | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 0.57 | $22K | $39K |
| 92 | Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 0.57 | $21K | $37K |
| 93 | Area Studies | 0.57 | $20K | $34K |
| 94 | Agricultural Production Operations | 0.57 | $22K | $38K |
| 95 | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 0.58 | $24K | $42K |
| 96 | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 0.58 | $25K | $43K |
| 97 | Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 0.58 | $23K | $40K |
| 98 | Health and Medical Administrative Services | 0.59 | $26K | $45K |
| 99 | Community Organization and Advocacy | 0.59 | $24K | $41K |
| 100 | Political Science and Government | 0.6 | $22K | $36K |
| 101 | Computer Programming | 0.6 | $30K | $50K |
| 102 | Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies | 0.6 | $20K | $34K |
| 103 | Social Sciences, General | 0.6 | $23K | $37K |
| 104 | Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 0.6 | $21K | $34K |
| 105 | Animal Sciences | 0.61 | $21K | $34K |
| 106 | Natural Resources Management and Policy | 0.61 | $23K | $38K |
| 107 | Social Sciences, Other | 0.61 | $22K | $36K |
| 108 | Social Work | 0.62 | $23K | $37K |
| 109 | Public Health | 0.62 | $23K | $37K |
| 110 | Apparel and Textiles | 0.62 | $23K | $37K |
| 111 | Security Science and Technology | 0.62 | $24K | $39K |
| 112 | Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 0.62 | $21K | $34K |
| 113 | Criminology | 0.62 | $23K | $37K |
| 114 | Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | 0.62 | $21K | $33K |
| 115 | Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | 0.62 | $24K | $38K |
| 116 | Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 0.63 | $23K | $36K |
| 117 | Hospitality Administration/Management | 0.63 | $22K | $35K |
| 118 | Biological and Physical Sciences | 0.63 | $22K | $34K |
| 119 | Non-Professional General Legal Studies (Undergraduate) | 0.63 | $25K | $40K |
| 120 | International/Global Studies | 0.63 | $20K | $33K |
| 121 | Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 0.63 | $25K | $40K |
| 122 | Genetics | 0.63 | $20K | $32K |
| 123 | Journalism | 0.64 | $22K | $35K |
| 124 | Philosophy | 0.64 | $20K | $32K |
| 125 | Education, General | 0.64 | $24K | $38K |
| 126 | Criminal Justice and Corrections | 0.65 | $25K | $38K |
| 127 | Communication and Media Studies | 0.65 | $23K | $35K |
| 128 | Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | 0.65 | $23K | $36K |
| 129 | Sociology | 0.66 | $23K | $34K |
| 130 | Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 0.66 | $21K | $31K |
| 131 | Housing and Human Environments | 0.66 | $26K | $39K |
| 132 | Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | 0.67 | $24K | $35K |
| 133 | Legal Support Services | 0.67 | $25K | $38K |
| 134 | History | 0.68 | $21K | $31K |
| 135 | Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 0.68 | $24K | $36K |
| 136 | Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 0.68 | $23K | $34K |
| 137 | Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | 0.68 | $23K | $34K |
| 138 | Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 0.68 | $33K | $49K |
| 139 | Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 0.69 | $21K | $31K |
| 140 | Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | 0.7 | $23K | $33K |
| 141 | Nutrition Sciences | 0.7 | $21K | $30K |
| 142 | American Sign Language | 0.7 | $24K | $34K |
| 143 | Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management | 0.7 | $23K | $33K |
| 144 | Bible/Biblical Studies | 0.7 | $24K | $34K |
| 145 | Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | 0.7 | $22K | $32K |
| 146 | Behavioral Sciences | 0.7 | $26K | $38K |
| 147 | Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 0.71 | $22K | $31K |
| 148 | Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 0.71 | $20K | $28K |
| 149 | Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | 0.71 | $24K | $34K |
| 150 | Educational Administration and Supervision | 0.71 | $27K | $37K |
| 151 | Biology, General | 0.72 | $23K | $32K |
| 152 | English Language and Literature, General | 0.72 | $22K | $30K |
| 153 | Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 0.72 | $25K | $34K |
| 154 | Human Services, General | 0.72 | $27K | $37K |
| 155 | Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 0.72 | $21K | $30K |
| 156 | Theological and Ministerial Studies | 0.72 | $23K | $33K |
| 157 | Education, Other | 0.73 | $25K | $34K |
| 158 | Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | 0.73 | $26K | $36K |
| 159 | Psychology, General | 0.74 | $23K | $32K |
| 160 | Anthropology | 0.74 | $21K | $28K |
| 161 | Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries | 0.74 | $25K | $33K |
| 162 | Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 0.75 | $22K | $30K |
| 163 | Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | 0.75 | $24K | $32K |
| 164 | Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | 0.76 | $22K | $28K |
| 165 | East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 0.77 | $21K | $27K |
| 166 | Health and Physical Education/Fitness | 0.78 | $24K | $31K |
| 167 | Computer Systems Analysis | 0.78 | $41K | $52K |
| 168 | Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 0.79 | $20K | $25K |
| 169 | Religious Education | 0.79 | $25K | $32K |
| 170 | Design and Applied Arts | 0.8 | $26K | $32K |
| 171 | Religion/Religious Studies | 0.8 | $24K | $30K |
| 172 | Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians | 0.81 | $51K | $63K |
| 173 | Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 0.82 | $23K | $28K |
| 174 | Zoology/Animal Biology | 0.82 | $23K | $28K |
| 175 | Computer Software and Media Applications | 0.84 | $29K | $34K |
| 176 | English Language and Literature/Letters, Other | 0.84 | $20K | $24K |
| 177 | Culinary Arts and Related Services | 0.87 | $27K | $31K |
| 178 | Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management | 0.88 | $25K | $28K |
| 179 | Natural Sciences | 0.88 | $26K | $29K |
| 180 | Sociology and Anthropology | 0.91 | $26K | $28K |
| 181 | Visual and Performing Arts, General | 0.93 | $24K | $26K |
| 182 | Fine and Studio Arts | 0.96 | $24K | $24K |
| 183 | Music | 0.96 | $25K | $26K |
| 184 | Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 0.96 | $24K | $25K |
| 185 | Graphic Communications | 1.08 | $27K | $25K |
| 186 | Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | 1.13 | $27K | $24K |
| 187 | Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 1.15 | $24K | $21K |
| 188 | Dance | 1.15 | $25K | $21K |
Debt Burden by Field of Study
Looking at averages across categories reveals clear patterns in which fields offer better financial outcomes for graduates.
Debt Burden at a Glance
Top 10 Best ROI Majors
Lowest debt burden ratios - debt pays off fastest
Top 10 Highest Burden Majors
Highest debt burden ratios - longest payoff times
Calculate Your Major's Debt Burden
Select a major to see how debt compares to first-year earnings.
Select a major
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Understanding Debt Burden Ratios
Excellent ROI. Loans can be paid off in under 6 months of earnings.
Good ROI. Loans take 6-9 months of full earnings to pay off.
Challenging. Nearly a full year of earnings goes to loan repayment.
More than a year's earnings needed. Consider loan forgiveness programs.
Key Insights
STEM Dominates Best ROI
9 of the top 10 best ROI majors are in STEM fields. Engineering and computer science graduates see median first-year earnings of $70K+ while carrying similar debt loads to other majors.
Arts Face Steeper Climb
All majors with debt burden ratios above 1.0 are in arts, communications, or performing arts fields. Lower starting salaries - not higher debt - drive the gap.
Debt Levels Are Similar
Median debt varies less than one might expect - most majors cluster between $20K-$30K. The real differentiator is post-graduation earnings, which vary by 4x across fields.
Understanding Debt Burden Ratio
Debt burden ratio is a simple but powerful metric: median student loan debt divided by median first-year earnings after graduation. It shows how much of a graduate's early career earnings would go toward paying off student loans.
A ratio of 0.5 means half a year's earnings would cover the debt. A ratio of 1.0 means an entire year's salary. While actual repayment spreads over many years, this ratio captures the financial weight of the debt relative to earning power.
How to Interpret the Numbers
- Under 0.5 (Low burden): Excellent ROI. Loans can be paid off quickly even with modest payments. Most STEM and healthcare fields fall here.
- 0.5 to 0.75 (Moderate): Good ROI. Manageable debt relative to earnings. Business and some social science fields typically fall in this range.
- 0.75 to 1.0 (High): Challenging. Significant portion of early earnings goes to debt. May want to minimize borrowing or explore loan forgiveness.
- Over 1.0 (Severe): More than a full year's earnings needed. Consider income-driven repayment plans or Public Service Loan Forgiveness if pursuing this path.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is debt burden ratio?
Debt burden ratio is median student loan debt divided by median first-year earnings after graduation. A ratio of 0.5 means half a year's earnings would pay off the debt. Lower ratios indicate better financial outcomes.
Which majors have the best ROI?
STEM fields dominate the best ROI rankings. Systems Engineering has the lowest debt burden ratio at 0.26. Engineering, Computer Science, and Nursing consistently rank among the best for financial outcomes.
Why do some majors have such high debt burden?
High debt burden ratios are typically driven by lower post-graduation earnings rather than higher debt. Most majors have similar debt levels ($20K-$30K median), but starting salaries vary dramatically - from $20K in performing arts to $80K in engineering.
Should I avoid high-burden majors?
Not necessarily. This data helps people make informed decisions, but career satisfaction and personal fulfillment matter too. For those pursuing a high-burden major, consider minimizing debt, exploring scholarships, or planning for income-driven repayment or loan forgiveness programs.
Where does this data come from?
This analysis uses data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks student outcomes across thousands of institutions. We aggregate by major and include only majors with at least 10 data points for statistical reliability.
How current is this data?
The data is from the 2023-24 cohort, which is the most recent available from the College Scorecard. We update when new data is released.
Cite This Analysis
Using this data in your work? Here are ready-to-use citations in common formats.
@misc{student_loan_debt_2026_rv1,
author = {FinancialAha Data Team},
title = {Student Loan Debt Burden by Major: Best and Worst ROI College Degrees},
year = {2026},
url = {https://www.financialaha.com/data-analysis/us-student-loan-burden-by-major/rv1/},
note = {Accessed: 2026-01-06, Revision 1}
} TY - ELEC TI - Student Loan Debt Burden by Major: Best and Worst ROI College Degrees (Revision 1) AU - FinancialAha Data Team PB - FinancialAha PY - 2026 DA - 2026/01/04 UR - https://www.financialaha.com/data-analysis/us-student-loan-burden-by-major/rv1/ Y2 - 2026-01-06 N1 - Revision 1 ER -
This analysis is licensed under CC BY 4.0. You are free to share and adapt this work with attribution.
Data-driven financial insights
Public data, transparent methodology, open to feedback. Suggestions for future analysis or questions about our approach are always welcome.