We’ve all heard that the higher degree you achieve, the more you earn. A group at Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce recently published a study called “What’s it Worth?” that used new data to examine earnings by college major. The report analyzes 171 majors in 15 categories. Of the 15 categories, the study found the highest earnings went to those who majored in Engineering, Computers and Mathematics, Business, Health, and Physical Sciences. In other words, STEM. See the graphic below for more details.

In terms of specific degrees, the top 10 undergraduate majors with the highest median earnings are:

• Petroleum Engineer ($120,000)
• Pharmacy/pharmaceutical Sciences and Administration ($105,000)
• Mathematics and Computer Sciences ($98,000)
• Aerospace Engineering ($87,000)
• Chemical Engineering ($86,000)
• Electrical Engineering ($85,000)
• Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering ($82,000)
• Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering and Mining and Mineral Engineering (each with median earnings of $80,000).

Notice that EVERY single one of those majors are in STEM. That link couldn’t be any clearer.