Even though college isn’t a route everyone takes after high school graduation, nearly 70% of American high school graduates enter the college stream every year. Most will have some idea of what they want to major in, but that’s not always the case. 

Sometimes, it’s difficult to know what you want your studies to focus on until you get into college and start taking your remedial courses. Math, humanities, government, history, and classes like Oral Communications can all be done during your first year if you aren’t sure what you want to major in. 

However, if you’re a bit undecided and aren’t sure what you’d like to do with your degree when you graduate, we’re here to help. Most college students want a nice salary to work with when they graduate to help cut down those hefty student loans. So, we’ve curated some of the highest-paying degrees you can get during your four-year college term. 

1. Engineering

While each engineering discipline offers its own specialty focus, classes in these majors will oftentimes overlap. Some of the most popular engineering disciplines are software, industrial, mechanical, civil, and architectural engineering. 

If you are interested in choosing engineering as a major, you can expect to earn around $76,740 in an entry-level job. This will, of course, be affected by which specialty you chose and whether you were able to get an internship or other work-related experience while in school. 

2. Computer Science

Let’s be honest: anything related to computers is likely to net you a decent income. Whether it’s a livable wage would depend on a lot of factors; however, computers will always need humans, so it’s a safe bet as a major. 

If you want to focus your post-high school education  on computer science, people will value your expertise. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median salary for computer science majors is $145,080 as of 2023. Even at the low end of the pay scale, you’re likely to make around $74,780 in your first entry-level job. 

3. Math and Science

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) disciplines are always in high demand. Studying any of these areas as a college major is likely to translate to a job once you graduate. 

Math and science are particularly handy as you can start out in a broad field and narrow it down to a discipline you truly enjoy as you get some studies under your belt. If you major in math and science, your career field may include being an educator, engineer, researcher, chemist, biologist, or physicist. Different disciplines may mean large gaps in initial salaries, but you can bank on an income you can live with straight out of school. 

4. Social Science

Social science majors include jobs like economists, urban and regional planners, anthropologists, and geographers. Depending on the criteria of your selected discipline, your salary may vary but will usually be somewhere between $74,000 and $114,600. 

Social science jobs offer a wide range of areas you can focus on. You could focus on political analysis and economic statistics like inflation or use your workday to lay out and approve land development plans for neighborhoods, towns, and communities in your area. 

5. Humanities

Humanities, much like the name implies, focus on areas that affect the human condition. Lawyers, registered nurses, professors, journalists, designers, and librarians are popular employment choices for this major. 

With a need for great communication and critical thinking skills, students in this major can focus on languages, literature, religion, and cultural studies, opening doors to a number of fun and interesting careers. While the median salary for jobs in this field is $68,230, the sky is the limit on how much you can earn in a specific discipline. 

6. Business

Those entering a business major don’t necessarily want to own their own business. Instead, they may become financial managers, management analysts, human resource specialists, accountants, or managers. 

As of 2023, the BLS reports that those graduating with a business major are earning a median salary of $79,050 yearly. Whether you choose to become an entrepreneur, work in finance, or try your hand at solopreneurship, the possibilities here are endless. 

7. Communications

Communications is an important major with tons of different disciplines across a spectrum of job opportunities. You might decide to become a lawyer, producer, director, marketing manager, human resource specialist, data analyst, or marketing specialist. 

No matter what you choose to do with your studies, graduating with this Bachelor of Arts degree will mean that your earning potential is steady at $66,320 but can go much higher depending on the career path you choose. 

8. Agriculture and Natural Resources

Food, commodities, animals, and other natural resources are the focus of careers in this field of study. Veterinarians, soil and plant scientists, professors, and school teachers can all earn a degree in this field before moving on to jobs or further study. 

An ingrained curiosity will serve you well in this field as you embark on your studies. No matter which area you choose to focus on, you can expect to earn a median salary of $83,770 as of 2023. Entry-level positions may be a bit less, and gaining some experience could see you earning six figures, depending on your career discipline. 

9. Operations Research

Operations research is a major that includes careers like mechanics, commercial and residential electricians, and data analysts. Out of all the top majors in 2024, those majoring in operations research earned considerable salaries, especially with a nice track record of experience. 

With a job in this major, those with considerable experience were earning a median salary of $164,900. This is, of course, greatly determined by the career field you enter once you graduate. However, employment in this field of study seems to promise interesting work and great base pay as your experience grows.

10. Interactive Design

Kissing cousins with graphic designers, interactive designers are responsible for making sites and other media user-friendly. If you’ve ever run across a website that just was not easy to use (or, on the flip side, was phenomenally easy to navigate), you can thank an interactive designer. 

Other careers in this field may include graphic designers, software developers, and art directors. If you’re talented in an artistic way, a degree in this field can net you a median salary of $178,800. 

11. Quantitative Economics

Studying the economy and turning that data into quantifiable statistics is what quantitative economics is all about. As a job, it means you’ll be helping businesses decide whether a given strategy is economically beneficial or not. 

Your ability to quantify economic data means you’ll be able to settle into careers in auditing, financial analytics, accounting, investment management, and any other area involving economic statistics. If you’re already working in this field, ten years of experience can easily net you an income of $165,100 or more. 

12. Data Science

Like computer science, data scientists will always be needed by companies who are looking to extract important elements about their customers and marketing strategies. Majoring in data science can offer you a bright future with companies that value your particular skills. 

As a data scientist, you’ll be able to draw insights into industry trends and growth options your company can use to further its market reach through timely data analysis. For your services, you can expect to earn a median salary of $108,020, according to the BLS, as of 2023.