University of San Diego campus

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USD Salaries

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Salaries by Major

Salaries by Major at University of San Diego

This page shows median first-year earnings for USD graduates by major, based on federal College Scorecard data. Six years after enrolling, former students who are working and no longer in school report average earnings of $55,100 per year; after ten years, average earnings are $70,200. See post-graduation earnings for full trends over time.

Below, majors are ranked by median first-year earnings.

The highest-paying undergraduate degree is Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering, with median first-year earnings of $71,400 , followed by Mechanical Engineering at $63,900 , and Accounting and Related Services at $61,100 .

Among graduate and professional degree programs, the highest-paying program is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degree), with median first-year earnings of $112,900 , followed by Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degree) at $87,400 , and Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degree) at $85,700 .

First-year earnings data come from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and reflect IRS-reported income for University of San Diego graduates who received federal grants or loans. Some programs are omitted for privacy.

Median first-year earnings for University of San Diego graduates ranked by degree type and major
Major Earnings
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degree) $112,900
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degree) $87,400
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degree) $85,700
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (Master's Degree) $73,500
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor’s Degree) $71,400
Education (Master's Degree) $69,300
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor’s Degree) $63,900
Law (First Professional Degree) $62,100
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor’s Degree) $61,100
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor’s Degree) $57,800
Curriculum and Instruction (Master's Degree) $49,100
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degree) $47,900
International Business (Bachelor’s Degree) $47,600
Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degree) $47,300
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology (Bachelor’s Degree) $45,200
Marketing (Bachelor’s Degree) $43,500
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor’s Degree) $42,400
Legal Support Services (Graduate/Professional Certificate) $40,600
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Master's Degree) $36,700
International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor’s Degree) $36,300
Neurobiology and Neurosciences (Bachelor’s Degree) $34,700
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor’s Degree) $33,800
Biology (Bachelor’s Degree) $33,000
Political Science and Government (Bachelor’s Degree) $31,900
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor’s Degree) $30,100
Sociology (Bachelor’s Degree) $29,200
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor’s Degree) $29,100
English Language and Literature (Bachelor’s Degree) $27,500
Psychology (Bachelor’s Degree) $27,100

Other Colleges to Consider

Students considering University of San Diego often consider these colleges

Data source: NCES / IPEDS https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=122436.

First-year earnings by major: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Last updated: August 2026