Key Takeaways:
- To find bachelor’s degrees that have the highest payoff, you can use several strategies and resources to gather information about job prospects, salaries, and career growth potential.
- Strategies and resources include researching salary data, considering industry trends, networking with professionals, evaluating job placement rates, checking college rankings and reporting, and utilizing tools and calculators.
- Some of the top-earning bachelor’s degrees include engineering, computer science, finance, nursing, economics, information technology, construction management, pharmacy, and business administration.
In this ranking, we explore the 20 highest paying bachelor’s degrees with the biggest salary payoff in 2026. Choosing one of the highest paying degrees can help answer the common question, “What degree should I get?” by focusing on majors that make the most money. With so many students taking on significant debt to earn a college degree, it’s more important than ever to pursue bachelor’s degree jobs that provide strong financial returns.
Many of the highest paying bachelor degrees are also available online, offering flexibility for students who prefer distance learning. Whether you’re planning to study in person or online, this list will guide you toward the degrees with the biggest financial benefits.
Methodology for Finding the Best Bachelor Degrees
To identify the 20 highest paying bachelor degrees, our editors consulted PayScale’s college salary report to identify undergraduate majors associated with the highest return on investment, according to mid-career pay. This figure refers to the median annual wage for professionals with more than ten years of experience in their respective fields.
Below, we’ve ranked the 20 highest paying college majors in descending order. If you’re trying to determine a major, these are the best undergraduate degrees available right now in terms of future wages!
1. Petroleum Engineering
If you’re looking for the number one highest-paying bachelor’s degree, look no further than the field of petroleum engineering. While it may sound like an intimidating career to break into, all that’s required to begin work as a professional petroleum engineer is a four-year degree. Of course, some positions for petroleum engineers may also require some prior work experience in addition to a bachelor’s degree.
Once hired, you’ll work with other engineers who specialize in oil and gas extraction, coming up with innovative methods for procuring the energy that literally runs the world. Your exact duties and responsibilities may vary depending on the type of petroleum engineering you’re contracted to perform. There are several different types of petroleum engineers, including reservoir engineers, drilling engineers, completions engineers, and production engineers. The duties they perform and the sub-industry they work in determine where petroleum engineers work, but a significant percentage of these engineers work in oil and gas extraction.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for petroleum engineering is just over $137,000, and PayScale reports mid-career wages to be much higher. Job growth predictions are good too with forecasts showing faster-than-average growth through the year 2030. It’s easy to see why petroleum engineering is among the top degrees in the U.S.
Mid-Career Salary: $193,000
2. Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS)
Among the best bachelor degrees and the most lucrative credentials in our ranking is the unique Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) major. This major covers in-demand skills and concepts in the fields of both electrical engineering and computer science. Since each of these fields are challenging enough in their own right, you can imagine how difficult a combined major might be! Still, if you can stand the heat, the payoff of earning such a degree will be worth your while. A professional with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and computer science can expect to make upwards of $100,000 per year right out of the gate, according to PayScale’s college salary report. Ten years in, this already handsome salary will likely increase by 50% or even more–no wonder this is one of the best college degrees to get!
Mid-Career Salary: $168,000
3. Applied Economics and Management (TIE)
Students interested in working in the field of business will be happy to learn that one of the highest-paying bachelor’s degrees is a major in Applied Economics and Management. After studying basic topics in micro and macroeconomics and management theory, bachelor’s degree students who choose this lucrative major will enjoy rewarding careers as business analysts, marketing specialists, account executives, auditors, and more. It is important to note that the meager salary for entry-level applied economics and management professionals often doubles within a decade on the job. Plus, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts steady job growth for management positions through the end of the decade.
Mid-Career Salary: $164,400
3. Operations Research (TIE)
Operations research is not only one of the highest paying majors available, but it’s also one of the fastest-growing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment opportunities for operations research analysts with the best bachelor degrees are expected to grow by 25% over the next eight years. Operations research professionals research market trends and systems and are sought-after by companies (as well as some government agencies) who want to increase their efficiency and save money by improving their business processes. This is especially true for those processes related to transportation and logistics. As an operations research major pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you can expect to study topics such as data analytics, supply chain management, forensic accounting, and inventory planning, for instance. Upon graduation, students majoring in operations research may become employed as production planners, distribution managers, quality assurance analysts, supply chain planners, and more.
Mid-Career Salary: $139,600
4. Information and Computer Science
Known as one of the best college degrees for employment, an information and computer science major can prepare you for one of many attractive, high-tech careers. Some of these jobs include database administrator, computer programmer, information security analyst, computer network architect, and software developer. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), these positions are not only some of the highest-paid bachelor degree jobs, but they’re also some of the fastest-growing. The Bureau’s job growth projections show a 26% increase in employment opportunities for computer science and information science professionals between 2023 and 2023.
Mid-Career Salary: $160,000
5. Public Accounting
Among the highest-paying bachelor degrees available is an undergraduate major in public accounting. This major prepares students to work as certified public accountants who serve individuals, non-profit organizations, and corporations with their advanced knowledge of finance and tax law. Once enrolled in the bachelor’s degree program, students will study a wide range of topics such as auditing, business law, finance, business computing, and managerial accounting, for instance. Some public accounting programs provide specific preparation for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensing examination. Though early-career pay for this major is one of the lowest in our ranking, you can expect your salary to double after ten years of work experience. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the median annual salary for accountants to be well over $73,000, but experienced public accountants can expect to make much more. Job growth in this field is also expected to be steady through 2030, according to the BLS.
Mid-Career Salary: $140,200
6. Chemical Engineering/Materials Science and Engineering
The engineering industry is currently experiencing a high demand for engineers with a bachelor’s degree who are knowledgeable in chemical engineering and materials science. As a result, more schools are offering undergraduate majors that combine these two fields of study. Students enrolled in this highest paying bachelor degree program will explore high-level engineering principles such as chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, materials production, and reaction engineering, for example. As one of the best college majors for the future, chemical engineering/materials science and engineering degree plans prepare students for fast-growing careers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that jobs for chemists and material scientists are currently growing faster than average. This impressive job growth is another reason this is among the best bachelor’s degrees to get right now.
Mid-Career Salary: $139,000
7. Quantitative Business Analysis
Mathematically inclined students who want to pursue one of the highest-paying bachelor’s degrees available should consider a major in quantitative business analysis. This bachelor’s degree major prepares students to apply knowledge of mathematical and statistical concepts to solve real-world business problems. Topics covered through such a degree plan may include data analysis, business strategy, project management, and information technology, for example. This course of study will qualify students for jobs in data analytics, risk management, market research, and related areas experiencing high job growth, making it one of the best degrees to get right now.
Mid-Career Salary: $137,560
8. Aerospace Studies
Making our list of the highest-paying college majors, aerospace studies is among the broader majors available for students interested in aerospace science. Students who pursue this bachelor’s degree may elect specializations such as aerospace engineering, aerospace administration, and even professional pilot. Depending on their chosen concentration, an aerospace studies major will study aerospace resource management, flight physiology, and aircraft systems, for example. The track may also affect pay upon graduation, but you can expect to start with a salary of roughly $81,000 per year and advance to wages well above six figures after ten years of work experience.
Mid-Career Salary: $137,100
9. Aeronautics & Astronautics
One of the lesser-known majors in our list of highest paying, best bachelor degrees is aeronautics & astronautics. This undergraduate degree is designed to prepare students for careers in aerospace engineering, though graduates may also decide to pursue careers in teaching, research, or consulting. The bachelor’s degree plan covers basic topics in mathematics and engineering and more major-specific courses in applied aerodynamics, autonomy, and spacecraft design, for example. Though the field of aeronautics and astronautics is fairly small, it’s still considered one of the best college majors for the future due to its steady job growth and impressive return on investment. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports the median annual salary for engineers working in the aerospace industry to be nearly $120,000, but experience in the field will earn you more.
Mid-Career Salary: $135,500
10. Electrical Power Engineering
Another engineering major that made our list of highest paying bachelor’s degrees is electrical power engineering. These engineers are responsible for improving existing systems that harness and manage electric energy and develop new energy solutions. To prepare for the role of an electrical power engineer, students must enroll in a bachelor’s degree program that addresses complex topics like circuitry, electromagnetics, signal analysis, and more. Even as more renewable energy sources become widespread, electrical power engineering remains one of the best college majors for the future, with job growth remaining on a steady incline over the better part of the next decade.