Data Analysis
Student Loan Burden by Major
How does student loan debt compare with first-year earnings? Compare debt-to-earnings ratios across 172 majors from College Scorecard data.
- 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
- Debt (2022-23 and 2023-24 graduates) and earnings (2020-21 and 2021-22 graduates) come from different cohorts
Key Findings
Based on 172 college majors with sufficient data, here is what the numbers show 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 | Computer Engineering | 0.25 | $21K | $83K |
| 2 | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 0.26 | $21K | $82K |
| 3 | Construction Management | 0.26 | $20K | $75K |
| 4 | Statistics | 0.26 | $18K | $68K |
| 5 | Construction Engineering | 0.26 | $21K | $79K |
| 6 | Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | 0.27 | $21K | $76K |
| 7 | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 0.27 | $22K | $81K |
| 8 | Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 0.27 | $22K | $79K |
| 9 | Chemical Engineering | 0.27 | $22K | $80K |
| 10 | Industrial Engineering | 0.27 | $21K | $78K |
| 11 | Computer Science | 0.27 | $20K | $74K |
| 12 | Materials Engineering | 0.27 | $21K | $78K |
| 13 | Mechanical Engineering | 0.28 | $21K | $76K |
| 14 | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | 0.28 | $19K | $70K |
| 15 | Engineering-Related Fields | 0.28 | $21K | $75K |
| 16 | Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | 0.28 | $20K | $69K |
| 17 | Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 0.28 | $22K | $76K |
| 18 | Insurance | 0.28 | $20K | $69K |
| 19 | Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 0.29 | $21K | $71K |
| 20 | Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | 0.29 | $20K | $69K |
| 21 | Fire Protection | 0.29 | $21K | $74K |
| 22 | Civil Engineering | 0.3 | $22K | $73K |
| 23 | Agricultural Engineering | 0.3 | $22K | $71K |
| 24 | Computer and Information Sciences, General | 0.31 | $21K | $67K |
| 25 | Economics | 0.31 | $19K | $60K |
| 26 | Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | 0.31 | $21K | $68K |
| 27 | Management Information Systems and Services | 0.32 | $21K | $65K |
| 28 | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 0.32 | $21K | $66K |
| 29 | Agricultural Business and Management | 0.32 | $16K | $52K |
| 30 | Architectural Engineering | 0.32 | $25K | $77K |
| 31 | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 0.32 | $23K | $70K |
| 32 | Applied Mathematics | 0.32 | $20K | $63K |
| 33 | Computer Programming | 0.32 | $23K | $73K |
| 34 | Food Science and Technology | 0.32 | $18K | $57K |
| 35 | Real Estate | 0.32 | $20K | $62K |
| 36 | Cognitive Science | 0.32 | $15K | $47K |
| 37 | Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General | 0.32 | $21K | $66K |
| 38 | Finance and Financial Management Services | 0.33 | $20K | $60K |
| 39 | General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations | 0.33 | $19K | $59K |
| 40 | Engineering, General | 0.33 | $24K | $73K |
| 41 | Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | 0.33 | $23K | $71K |
| 42 | Information Science/Studies | 0.34 | $24K | $68K |
| 43 | Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | 0.34 | $25K | $73K |
| 44 | Business/Managerial Economics | 0.34 | $20K | $59K |
| 45 | Mathematics | 0.35 | $19K | $54K |
| 46 | City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning | 0.35 | $19K | $55K |
| 47 | Accounting and Related Services | 0.36 | $21K | $59K |
| 48 | Physics | 0.36 | $19K | $53K |
| 49 | International Business | 0.36 | $20K | $57K |
| 50 | Public Administration | 0.37 | $19K | $50K |
| 51 | Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians | 0.37 | $27K | $72K |
| 52 | Public Policy Analysis | 0.38 | $19K | $49K |
| 53 | Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | 0.38 | $25K | $65K |
| 54 | Air Transportation | 0.39 | $21K | $54K |
| 55 | Area Studies | 0.39 | $17K | $43K |
| 56 | Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | 0.39 | $20K | $51K |
| 57 | Chemistry | 0.4 | $20K | $49K |
| 58 | Marketing | 0.4 | $21K | $51K |
| 59 | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 0.4 | $25K | $63K |
| 60 | Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | 0.4 | $23K | $58K |
| 61 | Human Resources Management and Services | 0.41 | $23K | $56K |
| 62 | Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 0.41 | $18K | $43K |
| 63 | Forestry | 0.41 | $19K | $47K |
| 64 | Urban Studies/Affairs | 0.41 | $19K | $45K |
| 65 | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 0.42 | $20K | $46K |
| 66 | Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies | 0.42 | $19K | $45K |
| 67 | International Relations and National Security Studies | 0.42 | $20K | $47K |
| 68 | Business/Commerce, General | 0.42 | $22K | $52K |
| 69 | Hospitality Administration/Management | 0.42 | $20K | $47K |
| 70 | Homeland Security | 0.42 | $22K | $54K |
| 71 | International/Globalization Studies | 0.42 | $18K | $42K |
| 72 | Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 0.42 | $21K | $50K |
| 73 | Human Biology | 0.42 | $15K | $36K |
| 74 | Business Administration, Management and Operations | 0.43 | $22K | $52K |
| 75 | Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 0.43 | $21K | $48K |
| 76 | Agriculture, General | 0.43 | $19K | $44K |
| 77 | Plant Sciences | 0.43 | $19K | $45K |
| 78 | Geography and Cartography | 0.43 | $19K | $45K |
| 79 | Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 0.43 | $20K | $45K |
| 80 | Biotechnology | 0.43 | $22K | $51K |
| 81 | Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 0.44 | $19K | $43K |
| 82 | Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 0.44 | $19K | $44K |
| 83 | Architectural Sciences and Technology | 0.44 | $25K | $57K |
| 84 | Political Science and Government | 0.45 | $20K | $44K |
| 85 | Architecture | 0.45 | $25K | $55K |
| 86 | Philosophy | 0.45 | $18K | $40K |
| 87 | Social Sciences, General | 0.45 | $20K | $45K |
| 88 | English Language and Literature/Letters, Other | 0.45 | $16K | $35K |
| 89 | Social Sciences, Other | 0.45 | $20K | $43K |
| 90 | Education, General | 0.45 | $20K | $43K |
| 91 | Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 0.46 | $19K | $41K |
| 92 | Sustainability Studies | 0.46 | $21K | $44K |
| 93 | Apparel and Textiles | 0.47 | $21K | $45K |
| 94 | Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | 0.47 | $20K | $43K |
| 95 | Communication and Media Studies | 0.48 | $20K | $42K |
| 96 | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 0.48 | $22K | $46K |
| 97 | Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 0.48 | $20K | $41K |
| 98 | Journalism | 0.48 | $20K | $42K |
| 99 | Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | 0.48 | $20K | $43K |
| 100 | Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | 0.48 | $19K | $40K |
| 101 | Research and Experimental Psychology | 0.48 | $19K | $39K |
| 102 | Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 0.48 | $19K | $40K |
| 103 | Non-Professional Legal Studies | 0.48 | $21K | $44K |
| 104 | Interior Architecture | 0.48 | $24K | $50K |
| 105 | Genetics | 0.48 | $19K | $39K |
| 106 | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 0.49 | $22K | $44K |
| 107 | Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | 0.49 | $19K | $39K |
| 108 | Public Health | 0.5 | $22K | $43K |
| 109 | Special Education and Teaching | 0.5 | $23K | $47K |
| 110 | Criminology | 0.5 | $21K | $42K |
| 111 | Sociology | 0.5 | $20K | $41K |
| 112 | Nutrition Sciences | 0.5 | $18K | $36K |
| 113 | Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | 0.5 | $22K | $43K |
| 114 | Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | 0.5 | $24K | $47K |
| 115 | Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 0.51 | $22K | $42K |
| 116 | Health and Medical Administrative Services | 0.51 | $25K | $49K |
| 117 | Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 0.52 | $20K | $38K |
| 118 | Social Work | 0.52 | $22K | $41K |
| 119 | Animal Sciences | 0.52 | $20K | $38K |
| 120 | Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | 0.52 | $21K | $41K |
| 121 | Legal Support Services | 0.52 | $22K | $43K |
| 122 | Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | 0.52 | $22K | $42K |
| 123 | History | 0.53 | $20K | $38K |
| 124 | Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 0.53 | $21K | $38K |
| 125 | Education, Other | 0.53 | $21K | $39K |
| 126 | Community Organization and Advocacy | 0.53 | $23K | $45K |
| 127 | Criminal Justice and Corrections | 0.54 | $23K | $43K |
| 128 | English Language and Literature, General | 0.54 | $20K | $36K |
| 129 | Security Science and Technology | 0.54 | $24K | $44K |
| 130 | Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 0.54 | $19K | $34K |
| 131 | Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | 0.54 | $22K | $40K |
| 132 | Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 0.55 | $22K | $39K |
| 133 | Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 0.55 | $20K | $36K |
| 134 | Biological and Physical Sciences | 0.56 | $23K | $41K |
| 135 | Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 0.56 | $37K | $66K |
| 136 | Biology, General | 0.57 | $21K | $37K |
| 137 | Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 0.57 | $22K | $37K |
| 138 | Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | 0.57 | $25K | $44K |
| 139 | Psychology, General | 0.58 | $22K | $37K |
| 140 | Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | 0.58 | $23K | $40K |
| 141 | Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 0.58 | $19K | $33K |
| 142 | Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 0.58 | $24K | $41K |
| 143 | Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | 0.58 | $22K | $37K |
| 144 | Anthropology | 0.58 | $20K | $34K |
| 145 | Behavioral Sciences | 0.58 | $22K | $39K |
| 146 | Housing and Human Environments | 0.58 | $27K | $47K |
| 147 | Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | 0.59 | $20K | $34K |
| 148 | Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 0.59 | $21K | $35K |
| 149 | Computer Software and Media Applications | 0.59 | $24K | $41K |
| 150 | Theological and Ministerial Studies | 0.59 | $22K | $37K |
| 151 | Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 0.6 | $23K | $38K |
| 152 | Design and Applied Arts | 0.6 | $24K | $40K |
| 153 | Human Services, General | 0.6 | $25K | $43K |
| 154 | Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 0.6 | $21K | $34K |
| 155 | Zoology/Animal Biology | 0.6 | $21K | $34K |
| 156 | Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | 0.61 | $23K | $38K |
| 157 | Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | 0.61 | $22K | $37K |
| 158 | Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 0.61 | $25K | $41K |
| 159 | Bible/Biblical Studies | 0.61 | $23K | $38K |
| 160 | Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | 0.63 | $22K | $36K |
| 161 | Business/Corporate Communications | 0.63 | $25K | $40K |
| 162 | Educational Administration and Supervision | 0.64 | $28K | $44K |
| 163 | Music | 0.65 | $22K | $35K |
| 164 | Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | 0.66 | $22K | $33K |
| 165 | Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 0.68 | $21K | $32K |
| 166 | Fine and Studio Arts | 0.69 | $21K | $31K |
| 167 | Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries | 0.7 | $24K | $34K |
| 168 | Computer Systems Analysis | 0.7 | $43K | $61K |
| 169 | Visual and Performing Arts, General | 0.72 | $22K | $30K |
| 170 | Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 0.75 | $22K | $30K |
| 171 | Dance | 0.84 | $24K | $28K |
| 172 | Graphic Communications | 0.9 | $26K | $28K |
Debt Burden by Field of Study
Averages by category show how the debt burden ratio varies across fields of study.
Debt Burden at a Glance
10 Lowest Debt Burden Ratios
Lowest debt burden ratios - debt pays off fastest
10 Highest Debt Burden Ratios
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
Debt is under half a year of first-year earnings.
Debt is between half and three quarters of a year of first-year earnings.
Debt is between three quarters of a year and a full year of first-year earnings.
Debt is a full year of first-year earnings or more.
Key Insights
The Lowest Ratios
8 of the 10 majors with the lowest ratios are in the STEM category. Computer Engineering has the lowest ratio, 0.25, with median debt of $20,803 and median first-year earnings of $82,767.
The Highest Ratios
3 majors have a ratio of 0.75 or higher: Graphic Communications (0.9), Dance (0.84) and Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (0.75). None is above 1.0. Their median debt runs from $22,311 to $25,500, and their median first-year earnings are $29,817 or less.
Earnings Vary More Than Debt
The middle half of majors has median debt between $19,500 and $22,352, and median first-year earnings between $40,014 and $60,378. Median first-year earnings run from $28,158 (Dance) to $82,767 (Computer Engineering), a 2.9x spread.
Understanding Debt Burden Ratio
Debt burden ratio is 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 size of the debt relative to early earnings.
Debt figures are for graduates of the pooled 2022-23 and 2023-24 award years (NSLDS). Earnings are for 2020-21 and 2021-22 graduates, measured one year after graduation in calendar 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars (Treasury). The ratio therefore compares the debt of recent graduates with the earnings of graduates two years earlier.
How to Interpret the Numbers
- Under 0.5 (Low): Debt is less than half a year of first-year earnings. 107 of 172 majors fall here.
- 0.5 to 0.75 (Moderate): Debt is between half and three quarters of a year of first-year earnings. 62 majors fall here.
- 0.75 to 1.0 (High): Debt is between three quarters of a year and a full year of first-year earnings. 3 majors fall here.
- 1.0 and over (Severe): Debt is a full year of first-year earnings or more. No major falls here in this release.
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 debt equals half a year's earnings. A lower ratio means debt is smaller relative to early earnings.
Which majors have the lowest debt burden ratios?
Computer Engineering has the lowest debt burden ratio at 0.25. 8 of the 10 lowest ratios are STEM majors. Computer Science has a ratio of 0.27 and Registered Nursing 0.27.
Why do some majors have higher debt burden ratios?
In this data, earnings vary more than debt. The middle half of majors has median debt between $19,500 and $22,352, and median first-year earnings between $40,014 and $60,378. Median first-year earnings run from $28,158 (Dance) to $82,767 (Computer Engineering), a 2.9x spread.
What does the debt burden ratio leave out?
The ratio is one financial measure taken one year after graduation. It does not capture later earnings, graduate study, career satisfaction or personal fulfillment, and outcomes vary by institution and career path. Federal student loans also offer income-driven repayment plans, which this ratio does not model.
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 figures come from the College Scorecard Field of Study file released on October 15, 2026. Debt figures are for graduates of the pooled 2022-23 and 2023-24 award years (NSLDS). Earnings are for 2020-21 and 2021-22 graduates, measured one year after graduation in calendar 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars (Treasury). We update when a new file 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_rv2,
author = {FinancialAha Data Team},
title = {Student Loan Debt by Major: Debt-to-Earnings Ratios for 172 Degrees},
year = {2026},
url = {https://www.financialaha.com/data-analysis/us-student-loan-burden-by-major/rv2/},
note = {Accessed: 2026-10-24, Revision 2}
} TY - ELEC TI - Student Loan Debt by Major: Debt-to-Earnings Ratios for 172 Degrees (Revision 2) 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/rv2/ Y2 - 2026-10-24 N1 - Revision 2 ER -
This analysis is licensed under CC BY 4.0. You are free to share and adapt this work with attribution.
Revision History
This analysis is updated when the source survey is released. Every revision keeps a permanent URL, so figures quoted from an earlier version can still be checked.
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Updated to the College Scorecard release of October 15, 2026; debt and earnings cohorts stated separately
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Initial release with College Scorecard field of study data
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