Workforce Alignment: Degree to Job Match Rates
Key Facts
- Healthcare and engineering majors show 85% field alignment, highest among all majors
- Liberal arts and general studies show 35% field alignment, lowest among degree types
- Trade school graduates show 92% field alignment, highest of any education type
- STEM bachelor's degrees show 72% alignment vs 48% for non-STEM degrees
- Field alignment correlates with 15% higher earnings and 20% higher job satisfaction
- Healthcare and engineering majors show 85% field alignment, highest among all majors
- Liberal arts and general studies show 35% field alignment, lowest among degree types
- Trade school graduates show 92% field alignment, highest of any education type
- STEM bachelor's degrees show 72% alignment vs 48% for non-STEM degrees
- Field alignment correlates with 15% higher earnings and 20% higher job satisfaction
- Healthcare and engineering majors show 85% field alignment, highest among all majors
- Liberal arts and general studies show 35% field alignment, lowest among degree types
- Trade school graduates show 92% field alignment, highest of any education type
- STEM bachelor's degrees show 72% alignment vs 48% for non-STEM degrees
- Field alignment correlates with 15% higher earnings and 20% higher job satisfaction
- Healthcare and engineering majors show 85% field alignment, highest among all majors
- Liberal arts and general studies show 35% field alignment, lowest among degree types
- Trade school graduates show 92% field alignment, highest of any education type
- STEM bachelor's degrees show 72% alignment vs 48% for non-STEM degrees
- Field alignment correlates with 15% higher earnings and 20% higher job satisfaction
- Healthcare and engineering majors show 85% field alignment, highest among all majors
- Liberal arts and general studies show 35% field alignment, lowest among degree types
- Trade school graduates show 92% field alignment, highest of any education type
- STEM bachelor's degrees show 72% alignment vs 48% for non-STEM degrees
- Field alignment correlates with 15% higher earnings and 20% higher job satisfaction
Median Earnings by Degree Type
Degree Type Premium
The data reveals a consistent earnings premium across degree levels. Master's degree holders earn 71% more than Associate degree holders and 25% more than Bachelor's degree holders. However, this premium varies significantly by field of study, with STEM fields showing the largest gaps.
Data represents median annual earnings 5 years after graduation. Source: College Scorecard (2023 data).
Median Earnings by Field of Study (Top 10)
Field of Study Impact
Field of study has a greater impact on earnings than degree level in some cases. Computer Science and Engineering lead with $75,000 and $72,000 respectively, while Social Sciences trail at $45,000. This suggests that career-specific training can sometimes outweigh degree level in earnings outcomes.
Top 10 fields by median earnings across all degree types. Source: College Scorecard (2023 data).
Graduate Distribution by Degree Type (U.S.)
Percentage of graduates by degree type
Distribution Patterns
Bachelor's degrees dominate the graduate distribution (55%), while Master's degrees represent only 15% of graduates. However, Master's degree holders capture a disproportionate share of high-earning positions, indicating that advanced degrees serve as both credentialing and skill-building mechanisms in the labor market.
Percentage of graduates by degree type in the dataset. Source: College Scorecard (2023 data).
Earnings Trend Over Time (2015-2023)
Temporal Stability
Earnings trends from 2015-2023 show relative stability, with Bachelor's and Master's degrees maintaining consistent growth trajectories. Associate degree earnings plateaued around 2019-2020, suggesting potential market saturation or changing demand for 2-year degree holders in certain fields.
Median earnings trend for each degree type over time. Source: College Scorecard (2015-2023).
Top 10 Highest Earning Fields
Top Performers
Computer Science leads with $75,000, followed closely by Engineering ($72,000) and Technology ($70,000). The top 5 fields are all STEM-related, while Social Sciences ranks lowest at $45,000. This $30,000 gap between top and bottom fields highlights the importance of field selection.
Fields with highest median earnings, regardless of degree type. Source: College Scorecard (2023 data).
Earnings Breakdown: Associate vs Bachelor's vs Master's
Field vs Degree Level Interaction
The stacked comparison reveals that field selection matters more than degree level in some cases. STEM fields show the highest earnings at all degree levels, with Associate STEM ($42,000) earning more than Bachelor's Liberal Arts ($40,000). Healthcare shows similar patterns, with Associate Healthcare ($58,000) competitive with Bachelor's Business ($55,000).
Comparison of earnings across degree types for major fields. Source: College Scorecard (2023 data).
Earnings vs Sample Size
Sample Size Correlation
The scatter plot reveals a weak positive correlation between sample size and earnings, suggesting that larger programs don't necessarily produce higher earners. This pattern indicates that program quality and field selection matter more than program scale in determining outcomes.
Relationship between median earnings and number of graduates in dataset. Source: College Scorecard (2023 data).
Bachelor's Degree Fields (U.S.)
Percentage of awarded bachelor's degrees by field
Field Concentration
STEM fields represent 25% of Bachelor's degree graduates, the largest single category. Healthcare (20%) and Business (18%) follow. This distribution suggests that high-earning fields also attract the most students, though the relationship isn't perfectly linear.
Percentage breakdown of major fields within each degree type. Source: College Scorecard (2023 data).
Earnings Range: Minimum, Median, Maximum by Degree Type
Earnings Range Analysis
The range between minimum and maximum earnings widens significantly with degree level. Associate degrees show a $40,000 range ($25,000-$65,000), while Master's degrees show an $80,000 range ($40,000-$120,000). This suggests that higher degree levels offer both higher floors and higher ceilings, but also greater variability in outcomes.
Range of earnings showing minimum, median, and maximum values by degree type. Source: College Scorecard (2023 data).
STEM vs Non-STEM Earnings Comparison
STEM Premium Persistence
STEM fields consistently show higher earnings across all degree types. The STEM premium is most pronounced at the Bachelor's level ($70,000 vs $45,000 for non-STEM), representing a 56% earnings advantage. This gap narrows but persists at the Master's level, indicating that STEM skills command a premium regardless of degree level.
Comparison of median earnings between STEM and non-STEM fields by degree type. Source: College Scorecard (2023 data).
Key Takeaways
Primary Finding
The data suggests that both degree level and field of study are critical factors in earnings outcomes. While higher degrees generally correlate with higher earnings, field selection can sometimes compensate for lower degree levels. This pattern is particularly evident in healthcare and technology fields, where specialized training (even at the Associate level) can yield competitive earnings.
Strategic Implications
For students and policymakers, the data indicates that field selection may be as important as degree level for earnings outcomes. Associate degrees in high-demand fields (nursing, technology) can provide competitive returns, while bachelor's degrees in lower-earning fields may not justify the additional time and cost investment.
Detailed Data by Degree Type and Field
| Field of Study | Degree Type | Median Earnings (5 Years) | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | Bachelor's | $75,000 | 12,450 |
| Engineering | Bachelor's | $72,000 | 8,920 |
| Nursing | Bachelor's | $68,000 | 15,230 |
| Business | Bachelor's | $55,000 | 22,180 |
| Education | Bachelor's | $42,000 | 18,450 |
| Liberal Arts | Bachelor's | $40,000 | 14,320 |
| Nursing | Associate | $58,000 | 9,840 |
| Computer Science | Associate | $52,000 | 3,210 |
| Business | Associate | $38,000 | 11,560 |
| Engineering | Master's | $85,000 | 4,120 |
| Business Administration | Master's | $78,000 | 6,890 |
| Education | Master's | $55,000 | 8,340 |
Data represents median annual earnings 5 years after graduation. Sample sizes represent number of graduates in dataset.
Methodology
This analysis uses data from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, which tracks earnings outcomes for graduates of Title IV institutions. The data reflects median annual earnings of graduates five years after completion, adjusted for inflation to 2023 dollars.
Data Sources
- College Scorecard: Primary source for earnings data by institution and program
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): Used for occupational alignment and wage context
Calculation Method
Median earnings are calculated using the 50th percentile of earnings distribution for each degree type and field of study. Only programs with at least 30 graduates are included to ensure statistical reliability.
Limitations
- Data reflects earnings of graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV)
- Earnings are measured at a single point in time (5 years post-graduation)
- Regional cost-of-living differences are not adjusted
- Self-employed graduates may be underrepresented
Update Frequency
This dataset is updated annually when new College Scorecard data is released (typically in the fall).
Analysis & insights
This treatment of workforce alignment: degree to job match rates pulls from EDsmart files and the sources on the page; the charts summarize those records, not future outcomes. National aggregates flatten real variation—Ohio, Georgia, and Washington can look like different worlds. Skewed distributions split the median and the mean into different stories. Program, year, and campus still matter more than any single national line.
STEM and technology wages vary sharply by role, metro, and degree level. Health occupations face licensing barriers that many tech roles skip—same broad label, different labor market. AI exposure scores describe which tasks look automatable; they do not measure job quality or working conditions. Seattle, Austin, and Boston appear often because employers cluster there, not because outcomes are uniform. Bureau of Labor Statistics detail and program accreditation add what these charts abbreviate.
Data Sources
-
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education. College Scorecard Data. Accessed January 2025.
-
Bureau of Labor Statistics
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Accessed January 2025.