These 20 College Majors Could Crush Your Student Loans Faster

College is meant to be a stepping stone to a better financial future, but that future can be hard to realize when you start your career with crippling student debt. According to the Education Data Initiative, the average student borrower faces a debt balance of $37,088.

However, according to a Bankrate study, some majors might give you a better start, with higher-than-average incomes and low unemployment rates—especially in STEM fields.

If 10% of your gross income should go toward paying off your student loans, then having a degree that pays more could make that easier. And what’s left over after your loan payment is cash you could use to crush your debt or save for retirement.

Here are the top 20 majors that could make your student debt worthwhile.

1. Major: Architectural Engineering

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Median Income: $90,000

Yearly Student Loan Repayment of 10%: $9,000

Gross Income Remaining: $81,000

Architectural engineering is a niche degree program offered at only a handful of schools. Graduates from these programs are in high demand and practically guaranteed jobs, with a median unemployment rate of only 1.3%.

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2. Major: Construction Services

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Median Income: $80,000

Yearly Student Loan Repayment of 10%: $8,000

Gross Income Remaining: $71,000

A degree in construction services could help you pay off your debt because few of these graduates (only 12%) go on to pursue an advanced degree.

3. Major: Computer Engineering

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Median Income: $101,000

Yearly Student Loan Repayment of 10%: $10,100

Gross Income Remaining: $90,900

It’s no surprise that computer engineering makes this list. It’s a broad and highly in-demand STEM field that positions you to earn six figures a year.

4. Major: Aerospace Engineering

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Median Income: $100,000

Yearly Student Loan Repayment of 10%: $10,000

Gross Income Remaining: $90,000

Aerospace engineers design missiles, aircraft, satellites, and even spacecraft. They might have the coolest jobs on this list, but over 50% of these graduates pursue advanced degrees, which may increase their student loan debt.

5. Major: Transportation Sciences and Technologies

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Median Income: $86,000

Yearly Student Loan Repayment of 10%: $8,600

Gross Income Remaining: $77,400

Graduates with this degree work a wide range of jobs, from pilots to sales managers.

6. Major: Electrical Engineering

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Median Income: $107,000

Yearly Student Loan Repayment of 10%: $10,700

Gross Income Remaining: $96,300

You shouldn’t choose your major based on earning potential alone, but graduates with a degree in electrical engineering have the highest median income on this list.

7. Major: Materials Engineering and Materials Science

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Median Income: $97,500

Yearly Student Loan Repayment of 10%: $9,750

Gross Income Remaining: $87,750

Materials engineering has been described as “modern-day alchemy,” and it’s a great degree program if you’re fascinated with physics and chemistry.

8. Major: Civil Engineering

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Median Income: $90,000

Yearly Student Loan Repayment of 10%: $9,000

Gross Income Remaining: $81,000

Not only can a civil engineering degree net a median income of $90,0000 annually, but graduates are responsible for designing and creating the infrastructure that keeps this country running.

9. Major: Mechanical Engineering

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Median Income: $96,000

Yearly Student Loan Repayment of 10%: $9,600

Gross Income Remaining: $86,400

Mechanical engineering graduates work with machines every day. They might build pieces of space shuttles or design medical devices.

10. Major: Chemical Engineering

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Median Income: $100,000

Yearly Student Loan Repayment of 10%: $10,000

Gross Income Remaining: $90,000

Here’s another STEM degree with the potential for a six-figure salary. Chemical engineers work in fields like pollution control, environmental protection, recycling, alternative energy, and medical science.

11. Major: Engineering Mechanics, Physics, and Science

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Median Income: $93,000

Yearly Student Loan Repayment of 10%: $9,300

Gross Income Remaining: $83,700

With an incredibly low unemployment rate of 1.3%, these graduates are extremely well-paid and work as physical scientists, management analysts, and engineering managers.

12. Major: Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration

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Median Income: $101,000

Yearly Student Loan Repayment of 10%: $10,100

Gross Income Remaining: $90,900

More than half of graduates with a degree in Pharmacy or Pharmaceutical Sciences and Administration complete an advanced degree. Only getting a bachelor’s degree sets you up for entry-level positions, while advanced degrees can lead to teaching and research positions.

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13. Major: Industrial Production Technologies

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Median Income: $80,000

Yearly Student Loan Repayment of 10%: $8,000

Gross Income Remaining: $72,000

Despite a slightly lower median income than other fields on this list, graduates with a degree in industrial production technologies have an extremely low unemployment rate of 1.9%, and only 20% have an advanced degree.

14. Major: Health and Medical Preparatory Programs

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Median Income: $98,000

Yearly Student Loan Repayment of 10%: $9,800

Gross Income Remaining: $88,200

This degree feeds into professional programs like dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, and nursing. So it shouldn’t surprise you that 80% complete an advanced degree.

15. Major: Electrical Engineering Technology

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Median Income: $86,000

Yearly Student Loan Repayment of 10%: $8,600

Gross Income Remaining: $77,400

Less than a third of graduates with a degree in electrical engineering technology pursue advanced degrees, and they still earn a median salary of $86,000. That’s great for paying your student loans.

16. Major: Metallurgical Engineering

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Median Income: $100,000

Yearly Student Loan Repayment of 10%: $10,000

Gross Income Remaining: $90,000

Students pursuing this major end up in careers that work closely with superconductors, advanced coatings, cars, aircraft, and surgical implements. But it’s also another STEM field where around 50% of graduates pursue advanced degrees.

17. Major: Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

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Median Income: $90,000

Yearly Student Loan Repayment of 10%: $9,000

Gross Income Remaining: $81,000

If you have a degree in industrial and manufacturing engineering, the most popular job opportunities are industrial engineers, general and operations managers, and management analysts.

18. Major: Materials Science

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Median Income: $94,000

Yearly Student Loan Repayment of 10%: $9,400

Gross Income Remaining: $84,600

To help them earn this median salary, an estimated 65% of materials science majors graduate with an advanced degree. Some go on to pursue careers as patent lawyers, which requires a law degree, but many choose advanced degrees because it opens the door to higher-paying positions in the future.

19. Major: Miscellaneous Engineering

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Median Income: $90,000

Yearly Student Loan Repayment of 10%: $9,000

Gross Income Remaining: $81,000

This is a catch-all term for other engineering majors not classified by the National Center of Education Statistics, but the general earnings are on par with what other engineers earn annually.

20. Major: Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering

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Median Income: $100,000

Yearly Student Loan Repayment of 10%: $10,000

Gross Income Remaining: $90,000

Graduates in this field go on to design, develop, and evaluate the operations of marine vessels and ship machinery. It has one of the highest median incomes on this list, and 40% of graduates pursue advanced degrees.

Bottom line

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Getting a degree in a STEM field isn’t a golden ticket out of student loan debt, but it can put you on the path toward paying off your debt and making brilliant money moves .

And if you’re already struggling with student loans, don’t forget that refinancing your student loans is an option that could help you work toward financial freedom.

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