Skip Navigation
Digest of Education Statistics
2023 Tables and Figures All Years of Tables and Figures Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest


Table 505.10.Number, percentage distribution, unemployment rates, and median earnings of 25- to 29-year-old bachelor’s degree holders and percentage of degree holders among all 25- to 29-year-olds, by field of study and science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) status of field: 2012 and 2022
[Standard errors appear in parentheses]
Field of study and STEM status of field 2012 2022
25- to 29-year-old bachelor's degree holders Percent of all 25- to 29-year-olds with degree in specific field 25- to 29-year-old bachelor's degree holders Percent of all 25- to 29-year-olds with degree in specific field
Number, in thousands Percentage distribution Unemployment rate for the civilian labor force Median annual earnings of full-time year-round workers1 Number, in thousands Percentage distribution Unemployment rate for the civilian labor force Median annual earnings of full-time year-round workers1
Current dollars Constant 2022 dollars2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
   Total, all bachelor's degrees  6,738 (37.0) 100.0 (†) 4.8 (0.13) $43,420 (298) $55,350 (380) 31.8 (0.17) 8,503 (39.8) 100.0 (†) 2.7 (0.08) $62,540 (722) 38.7 (0.16)
Agriculture 62 (2.6) 0.9 (0.04) 1.8 ! (0.61) 42,390 (1,077) 54,030 (1,373) 0.3 (0.01) 98 (3.9) 1.2 (0.05) 2.4 ! (0.80) 54,890 (1,769) 0.4 (0.02)
Architecture 53 (3.3) 0.8 (0.05) 6.0 (1.51) 44,910 (1,883) 57,240 (2,400) 0.2 (0.02) 56 (3.3) 0.7 (0.04) 3.5 (1.04) 60,360 (799) 0.3 (0.01)
Area, ethnic, and civilization studies 28 (2.2) 0.4 (0.03) 5.4 (1.54) 34,900 (1,835) 44,480 (2,339) 0.1 (0.01) 27 (2.0) 0.3 (0.02) (†) 56,750 (3,934) 0.1 (0.01)
Arts, fine and commercial 381 (9.1) 5.7 (0.13) 6.3 (0.62) 36,210 (590) 46,160 (752) 1.8 (0.04) 413 (9.2) 4.9 (0.11) 4.4 (0.52) 50,900 (761) 1.9 (0.04)
  Fine arts  273 (8.1) 4.1 (0.12) 6.6 (0.69) 35,330 (895) 45,040 (1,141) 1.3 (0.04) 305 (7.7) 3.6 (0.09) 4.4 (0.59) 46,870 (1,269) 1.4 (0.03)
  Commercial art and graphic design  108 (4.9) 1.6 (0.07) 5.6 (1.07) 37,240 (994) 47,460 (1,267) 0.5 (0.02) 108 (4.7) 1.3 (0.06) 4.6 (0.99) 53,820 (671) 0.5 (0.02)

Business

1,320


(14.1)

19.6


(0.18)

4.4


(0.25)

47,350


(579)

60,360

(738)

6.2


(0.07)

1,514


(18.7)

17.8


(0.19)

2.4


(0.16)

67,470


(668)

6.9


(0.08)
  Business, general  245 (8.0) 3.6 (0.12) 4.1 (0.61) 45,180 (883) 57,590 (1,126) 1.2 (0.04) 278 (7.5) 3.3 (0.09) 2.1 (0.33) 62,420 (1,600) 1.3 (0.03)
  Accounting  201 (6.5) 3.0 (0.10) 4.6 (0.67) 51,680 (613) 65,870 (782) 0.9 (0.03) 225 (6.0) 2.6 (0.07) 2.2 (0.37) 72,350 (910) 1.0 (0.03)
  Business management and administration  349 (7.9) 5.2 (0.12) 4.5 (0.47) 43,350 (860) 55,250 (1,097) 1.6 (0.04) 363 (8.5) 4.3 (0.10) 2.5 (0.34) 60,180 (728) 1.6 (0.04)
  Marketing and marketing research  201 (5.4) 3.0 (0.08) 5.0 (0.64) 43,390 (861) 55,310 (1,097) 1.0 (0.03) 212 (6.1) 2.5 (0.07) 3.0 (0.48) 62,180 (1,204) 1.0 (0.03)
  Finance  167 (6.0) 2.5 (0.09) 4.3 (0.76) 54,720 (1,547) 69,750 (1,972) 0.8 (0.03) 215 (6.4) 2.5 (0.08) 2.2 (0.47) 82,600 (1,591) 1.0 (0.03)
  Management information systems and 
     statistics 

21


(1.8)

0.3


(0.03)



(†)

50,100


(4,167)

63,850

(5,311)

0.1


(0.01)

31


(1.9)

0.4


(0.02)



(†)

72,800


(3,053)

0.1


(0.01)
  Business, other and medical 
     administration 

135


(4.9)

2.0


(0.07)

4.2


(0.67)

44,430


(809)

56,640

(1,031)

0.6


(0.02)

190


(5.6)

2.2


(0.06)

2.3


(0.46)

62,270


(1,800)

0.9


(0.03)

Communications and communications 
   technologies 

375


(7.8)

5.6


(0.12)

4.8


(0.48)

40,110


(614)

51,120

(783)

1.8


(0.04)

449


(9.8)

5.3


(0.11)

3.5


(0.43)

56,720


(1,023)

2.0


(0.04)
Computer and information sciences 227 (7.9) 3.4 (0.11) 4.5 (0.72) 58,000 (1,468) 73,940 (1,871) 1.1 (0.04) 421 (8.6) 4.9 (0.10) 2.7 (0.32) 83,210 (1,279) 1.9 (0.04)
Construction/electrical/transportation 
   technologies 

39


(2.5)

0.6


(0.04)

4.7

!

(1.41)

49,770


(2,861)

63,430

(3,646)

0.2


(0.01)

44


(2.8)

0.5


(0.03)



(†)

67,130


(3,537)

0.2


(0.01)
Criminal justice and fire protection 157 (5.3) 2.3 (0.08) 6.2 (0.84) 38,330 (927) 48,860 (1,181) 0.7 (0.03) 208 (6.0) 2.5 (0.07) 3.1 (0.52) 51,840 (611) 0.9 (0.03)

Education

581


(10.8)

8.6


(0.15)

3.2


(0.32)

38,310


(387)

48,840

(493)

2.7


(0.05)

495


(10.1)

5.8


(0.11)

1.7


(0.27)

47,030


(893)

2.3


(0.05)
  General education  156 (6.0) 2.3 (0.09) 3.3 (0.71) 38,350 (671) 48,890 (855) 0.7 (0.03) 154 (5.8) 1.8 (0.07) 1.7 (0.45) 48,420 (695) 0.7 (0.03)
  Early childhood education  41 (2.6) 0.6 (0.04) 3.2 ! (1.26) 35,060 (830) 44,690 (1,058) 0.2 (0.01) 41 (2.8) 0.5 (0.03) 2.3 ! (1.01) 46,110 (1,714) 0.2 (0.01)
  Elementary education  172 (4.9) 2.6 (0.07) 2.9 (0.55) 37,310 (403) 47,560 (514) 0.8 (0.02) 128 (4.9) 1.5 (0.06) 1.5 ! (0.70) 46,770 (741) 0.6 (0.02)
  Secondary teacher education  19 (1.6) 0.3 (0.02) 4.5 ! (1.74) 37,510 (1,282) 47,820 (1,634) 0.1 (0.01) 12 (1.4) 0.1 (0.02) (†) 45,580 (2,679) 0.1 (0.01)
  Education, other  193 (6.1) 2.9 (0.09) 3.3 (0.58) 38,990 (1,080) 49,700 (1,376) 0.9 (0.03) 161 (5.1) 1.9 (0.06) 1.8 (0.46) 48,960 (771) 0.7 (0.02)

Engineering and engineering-related
   fields 

508


(9.1)

7.5


(0.14)

4.2


(0.44)

63,410


(910)

80,820

(1,160)

2.4


(0.04)

799


(12.1)

9.4


(0.14)

2.1


(0.23)

83,110


(589)

3.6


(0.05)
  General engineering  72 (4.1) 1.1 (0.06) 4.4 ! (1.36) 59,600 (1,277) 75,970 (1,628) 0.3 (0.02) 75 (3.9) 0.9 (0.05) 3.2 ! (1.08) 79,160 (2,299) 0.3 (0.02)
  Chemical engineering  26 (1.9) 0.4 (0.03) (†) 70,180 (2,613) 89,460 (3,330) 0.1 (0.01) 61 (3.1) 0.7 (0.04) 1.0 ! (0.38) 87,860 (2,507) 0.3 (0.01)
  Civil engineering  53 (2.9) 0.8 (0.04) 6.3 (1.56) 59,400 (860) 75,710 (1,097) 0.3 (0.01) 82 (3.5) 1.0 (0.04) 1.4 ! (0.57) 77,330 (1,243) 0.4 (0.02)
  Computer engineering  52 (3.0) 0.8 (0.05) 6.1 (1.63) 69,180 (2,173) 88,180 (2,770) 0.2 (0.01) 81 (3.4) 1.0 (0.04) 2.5 ! (0.82) 93,410 (2,460) 0.4 (0.02)
  Electrical engineering  88 (3.8) 1.3 (0.06) 3.7 (0.88) 68,500 (685) 87,320 (873) 0.4 (0.02) 118 (4.3) 1.4 (0.05) 3.0 (0.72) 87,870 (1,904) 0.5 (0.02)
  Mechanical engineering  90 (4.0) 1.3 (0.06) 2.7 (0.60) 64,620 (934) 82,370 (1,191) 0.4 (0.02) 176 (6.2) 2.1 (0.07) 1.4 (0.32) 81,890 (690) 0.8 (0.03)
  Engineering, other  85 (3.9) 1.3 (0.06) 3.6 (0.94) 64,660 (1,585) 82,410 (2,020) 0.4 (0.02) 156 (5.0) 1.8 (0.06) 1.8 (0.42) 79,110 (1,778) 0.7 (0.02)
  Engineering technologies  41 (3.0) 0.6 (0.04) 5.7 (1.70) 52,220 (1,956) 66,570 (2,493) 0.2 (0.01) 49 (3.2) 0.6 (0.04) 3.4 ! (1.21) 68,370 (3,104) 0.2 (0.01)

English language and literature

203


(5.8)

3.0


(0.09)

5.9


(0.68)

38,370


(744)

48,910

(948)

1.0


(0.03)

187


(5.6)

2.2


(0.07)

5.2


(0.68)

52,030


(844)

0.9


(0.03)
Family and consumer sciences 59 (2.9) 0.9 (0.04) 4.9 (1.19) 35,330 (1,700) 45,040 (2,167) 0.3 (0.01) 72 (3.5) 0.8 (0.04) 2.1 ! (0.69) 46,890 (1,654) 0.3 (0.02)
Health professions 445 (8.3) 6.6 (0.12) 3.4 (0.33) 50,410 (659) 64,250 (841) 2.1 (0.04) 784 (12.6) 9.2 (0.14) 1.8 (0.25) 65,220 (889) 3.6 (0.06)
  General medical and health services  224 (6.4) 3.3 (0.09) 3.6 (0.48) 49,310 (875) 62,860 (1,115) 1.1 (0.03) 410 (9.4) 4.8 (0.11) 2.3 (0.37) 60,060 (646) 1.9 (0.04)
  Nursing  221 (6.2) 3.3 (0.09) 3.2 (0.52) 51,110 (720) 65,150 (918) 1.0 (0.03) 375 (9.5) 4.4 (0.11) 1.2 (0.26) 70,660 (845) 1.7 (0.04)
History 141 (5.0) 2.1 (0.07) 5.8 (0.80) 40,090 (1,390) 51,100 (1,772) 0.7 (0.02) 120 (4.5) 1.4 (0.05) 4.5 (0.77) 51,910 (1,537) 0.5 (0.02)
Liberal arts and humanities 84 (4.5) 1.2 (0.07) 5.7 (1.20) 35,090 (964) 44,720 (1,229) 0.4 (0.02) 72 (3.1) 0.8 (0.04) 4.5 (1.27) 47,210 (1,464) 0.3 (0.01)
Linguistics and comparative language and 
   literature 

74


(3.6)

1.1


(0.05)

5.6


(1.09)

41,480


(1,415)

52,870

(1,804)

0.4


(0.02)

64


(3.6)

0.8


(0.04)

3.6

!

(1.12)

51,210


(1,494)

0.3


(0.02)

Mathematics

87


(3.6)

1.3


(0.05)

2.7


(0.63)

48,300


(780)

61,570

(994)

0.4


(0.02)

122


(4.3)

1.4


(0.05)

1.6


(0.40)

72,470


(1,771)

0.6


(0.02)
Multi/interdisciplinary studies 71 (4.3) 1.1 (0.06) 5.6 (1.08) 39,810 (808) 50,750 (1,030) 0.3 (0.02) 104 (4.2) 1.2 (0.05) 1.8 ! (0.53) 56,870 (1,289) 0.5 (0.02)
Natural sciences 614 (10.7) 9.1 (0.15) 4.2 (0.36) 42,550 (1,057) 54,230 (1,347) 2.9 (0.05) 943 (11.5) 11.1 (0.13) 2.7 (0.23) 57,950 (643) 4.3 (0.05)
  Biology  394 (7.6) 5.8 (0.11) 4.1 (0.41) 42,420 (1,096) 54,070 (1,397) 1.9 (0.04) 610 (9.6) 7.2 (0.11) 2.5 (0.32) 58,680 (1,086) 2.8 (0.04)
  Environmental science  37 (2.3) 0.6 (0.03) 4.4 (1.18) 39,150 (1,794) 49,900 (2,287) 0.2 (0.01) 98 (4.0) 1.2 (0.05) 3.6 (0.90) 52,090 (1,792) 0.4 (0.02)
  Physical sciences  183 (5.9) 2.7 (0.09) 4.4 (0.63) 44,770 (1,309) 57,070 (1,668) 0.9 (0.03) 235 (7.0) 2.8 (0.08) 2.6 (0.50) 61,550 (878) 1.1 (0.03)

Philosophy and religious studies

53


(2.9)

0.8


(0.04)

6.6


(1.52)

38,380


(1,787)

48,920

(2,278)

0.3


(0.01)

43


(2.3)

0.5


(0.03)

2.8

!

(0.91)

57,230


(1,494)

0.2


(0.01)
Physical fitness, parks, recreation and 
   leisure 

109


(3.9)

1.6


(0.06)

4.1


(0.70)

40,320


(1,489)

51,390

(1,898)

0.5


(0.02)

212


(6.8)

2.5


(0.08)

2.8


(0.46)

52,090


(1,297)

1.0


(0.03)
Psychology 394 (8.5) 5.8 (0.12) 5.8 (0.53) 37,260 (571) 47,490 (728) 1.9 (0.04) 503 (8.6) 5.9 (0.10) 3.3 (0.38) 51,710 (614) 2.3 (0.04)
Public administration and public policy 13 (1.4) 0.2 (0.02) 7.3 ! (3.48) 58,080 (4,050) 74,040 (5,162) 0.1 (0.01) 19 (2.1) 0.2 (0.02) (†) 57,860 (2,754) 0.1 (0.01)

Social sciences

533


(8.5)

7.9


(0.12)

6.7


(0.47)

45,330


(694)

57,780

(885)

2.5


(0.04)

571


(10.5)

6.7


(0.12)

2.9


(0.32)

65,020


(508)

2.6


(0.05)
  Anthropology and archeology  40 (2.7) 0.6 (0.04) 8.6 (1.92) 34,380 (1,615) 43,820 (2,058) 0.2 (0.01) 42 (2.9) 0.5 (0.03) 2.3 ! (0.86) 51,030 (1,164) 0.2 (0.01)
  Economics  126 (4.7) 1.9 (0.07) 4.8 (0.82) 53,170 (851) 67,770 (1,085) 0.6 (0.02) 166 (5.8) 2.0 (0.07) 2.8 (0.49) 82,530 (1,868) 0.8 (0.03)
  Geography  24 (2.3) 0.4 (0.03) 9.1 ! (3.23) 40,340 (3,296) 51,430 (4,201) 0.1 (0.01) 20 (1.8) 0.2 (0.02) (†) 54,480 (3,618) 0.1 (0.01)
  International relations  28 (2.1) 0.4 (0.03) 7.5 ! (2.28) 49,800 (2,685) 63,480 (3,422) 0.1 (0.01) 27 (2.1) 0.3 (0.02) 3.1 ! (1.44) 68,250 (3,503) 0.1 (0.01)
  Political science and government  172 (5.4) 2.6 (0.08) 8.2 (0.96) 45,380 (2,334) 57,850 (2,975) 0.8 (0.03) 172 (5.2) 2.0 (0.06) 3.4 (0.65) 67,130 (1,885) 0.8 (0.02)
  Sociology  109 (4.1) 1.6 (0.06) 5.1 (0.81) 40,270 (895) 51,330 (1,141) 0.5 (0.02) 104 (4.4) 1.2 (0.05) 2.6 (0.62) 56,930 (1,930) 0.5 (0.02)
  Miscellaneous social sciences  33 (2.3) 0.5 (0.03) 6.6 ! (2.13) 40,040 (2,128) 51,040 (2,712) 0.2 (0.01) 40 (3.2) 0.5 (0.04) 2.9 ! (1.02) 51,760 (2,601) 0.2 (0.01)

Social work and human services

68


(3.4)

1.0


(0.05)

4.3


(1.00)

33,260


(1,027)

42,400

(1,309)

0.3


(0.02)

102


(4.6)

1.2


(0.05)

2.4

!

(0.90)

50,450


(808)

0.5


(0.02)
Theology and religious vocations 33 (2.5) 0.5 (0.04) 3.8 ! (1.81) 33,220 (1,703) 42,340 (2,170) 0.2 (0.01) 34 (2.4) 0.4 (0.03) 1.2 ! (0.60) 41,610 (1,421) 0.2 (0.01)
Other fields 26 (2.3) 0.4 (0.03) 8.6 ! (2.99) 38,830 (1,403) 49,490 (1,788) 0.1 (0.01) 25 (2.4) 0.3 (0.03) 3.4 ! (1.43) 52,070 (5,112) 0.1 (0.01)

STEM status of field3
































  STEM field  1,398 (15.8) 20.7 (0.21) 4.1 (0.25) 54,470 (458) 69,430 (584) 6.6 (0.08) 2,188 (18.7) 25.7 (0.19) 2.4 (0.15) 73,750 (2,280) 9.9 (0.08)
  Non-STEM field  5,340 (33.1) 79.3 (0.21) 4.9 (0.13) 41,340 (271) 52,700 (346) 25.2 (0.15) 6,316 (33.8) 74.3 (0.19) 2.8 (0.09) 57,280 (303) 28.7 (0.15)
†Not applicable.
!Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent.
‡Reporting standards not met. Either there are too few cases for a reliable estimate or the coefficient of variation (CV) is 50 percent or greater.
1Estimates of median annual earnings are restricted to individuals working full time (35 or more hours per week) and year round.
2Constant dollars based on the Consumer Price Index, prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor.
3STEM fields include biological and biomedical sciences, computer and information sciences, engineering and engineering technologies, mathematics and statistics, and physical sciences and science technologies.
NOTE: Data are based on sample surveys of the entire population residing within the United States, including both noninstitutionalized persons (e.g., those living in households, college housing, or military housing located within the United States) and institutionalized persons (e.g., those living in prisons, nursing facilities, or other healthcare facilities). The first bachelor’s degree major reported by respondents was used to classify their field of study, even though they were able to report a second bachelor’s degree major and may possess advanced degrees in other fields. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), 1-Year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) data, 2012 and 2022. (This table was prepared February 2024.)

2023 Tables and Figures All Years of Tables and Figures Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest