Disaggregate: Postsecondary major

Why it matters

Some fields of study are more lucrative than others; therefore, a student’s postsecondary major is likely to be linked to longer-term economic outcomes. Degree holders in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) fields, for example, tend to earn higher wages. Degree holders in business and health fields also tend to earn above-average wages, whereas degree holders in arts, social work, and education tend to earn the lowest wages over time, based on an analysis by Georgetown University that analyzed earnings by major groupings. The same analysis also noted that, despite being associated with lower earnings, more than 20 percent of students choose to major in education, arts, psychology, or social work. The Postsecondary Value Commission calls these fields “high social value” fields and points out that these professions are systematically undervalued.