2026 NATIONAL ANALYSISWhere college choice changes degree earnings most
We held the field, credential and earnings year constant, then measured the middle-half earnings range across colleges. A wider spread means the reported outcome differs more depending on where the degree was earned.
THE MAIN FINDINGThe same degree does not produce one national outcome.
These are the largest differences between the 25th- and 75th-percentile colleges among degree categories with at least 20 reporting programs. The range is descriptive; it does not prove that the college caused the difference.
| # | Degree | Programs | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile | Middle-half spread |
|---|
| 1 | Computer/Information Technology Administration and ManagementUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | 55 | $48,774 | $61,572 | $102,874 | $54,100 |
| 2 | Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and AdministrationBachelor's Degree | 29 | $79,566 | $122,169 | $125,175 | $45,609 |
| 3 | Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralMaster's Degree | 78 | $103,720 | $125,564 | $148,614 | $44,894 |
| 4 | Computer ScienceMaster's Degree | 48 | $132,798 | $151,603 | $177,303 | $44,505 |
| 5 | Computer Software and Media ApplicationsMaster's Degree | 26 | $96,989 | $119,571 | $140,032 | $43,043 |
| 6 | Legal Research and Advanced Professional StudiesMaster's Degree | 43 | $83,264 | $107,540 | $122,385 | $39,121 |
| 7 | Business/Commerce, GeneralMaster's Degree | 76 | $85,420 | $106,812 | $123,477 | $38,057 |
| 8 | Security Science and TechnologyMaster's Degree | 35 | $68,812 | $86,344 | $105,757 | $36,945 |
| 9 | Computer/Information Technology Administration and ManagementMaster's Degree | 73 | $96,961 | $105,781 | $133,081 | $36,120 |
| 10 | MarketingMaster's Degree | 39 | $68,462 | $81,837 | $103,316 | $34,854 |
| 11 | LawFirst Professional Degree | 176 | $85,086 | $97,648 | $119,002 | $33,916 |
| 12 | Business Administration, Management and OperationsMaster's Degree | 866 | $81,000 | $94,370 | $112,311 | $31,311 |
| 13 | LawDoctoral Degree | 26 | $89,212 | $100,168 | $120,485 | $31,273 |
| 14 | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingDoctoral Degree | 126 | $126,439 | $135,401 | $157,682 | $31,243 |
| 15 | Real EstateBachelor's Degree | 25 | $65,650 | $83,592 | $95,576 | $29,926 |
| 16 | Electrical and Power Transmission InstallersAssociate's Degree | 53 | $60,650 | $66,696 | $90,503 | $29,853 |
| 17 | Computer EngineeringMaster's Degree | 23 | $128,177 | $140,393 | $158,029 | $29,852 |
| 18 | Applied MathematicsBachelor's Degree | 45 | $74,740 | $92,803 | $104,454 | $29,714 |
| 19 | Human Resources Management and ServicesMaster's Degree | 168 | $69,512 | $82,432 | $99,110 | $29,598 |
| 20 | Information Science/StudiesMaster's Degree | 72 | $93,933 | $98,401 | $122,669 | $28,736 |
| 21 | Finance and Financial Management ServicesMaster's Degree | 71 | $100,360 | $109,647 | $128,956 | $28,596 |
| 22 | Computer ScienceBachelor's Degree | 354 | $87,099 | $98,696 | $115,541 | $28,442 |
| 23 | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringMaster's Degree | 62 | $117,876 | $134,031 | $146,079 | $28,203 |
| 24 | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | 60 | $71,243 | $80,135 | $99,436 | $28,193 |
| 25 | Health and Medical Administrative ServicesMaster's Degree | 214 | $75,397 | $88,321 | $103,270 | $27,873 |
| 26 | Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsMaster's Degree | 92 | $112,596 | $124,708 | $139,676 | $27,080 |
| 27 | Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/TechniciansUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | 23 | $40,746 | $57,479 | $67,784 | $27,038 |
| 28 | Industrial Production Technologies/TechniciansUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | 21 | $44,708 | $56,635 | $71,664 | $26,956 |
| 29 | Educational Administration and SupervisionDoctoral Degree | 151 | $89,213 | $101,194 | $115,394 | $26,181 |
| 30 | MedicineFirst Professional Degree | 146 | $99,252 | $106,465 | $125,346 | $26,094 |
HOW TO READ IT
Variation is a reason to investigate, not a ranking by itself.
01Like-for-like
Every comparison keeps the federal field, credential level and fourth-year earnings measure fixed.
02Middle half
Using the interquartile range reduces the influence of unusually high or low reported programs.
03No causal claim
Student background, geography, specialization and labor markets can all contribute to the difference.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release. Privacy-suppressed outcomes remain excluded. Dollar figures are reported nominal earnings and are not adjusted for local cost of living.