Purdue University Main Campus campus

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Purdue Salaries

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Salaries by Major

Salaries by Major at Purdue University Main Campus

This page shows median first-year earnings for Purdue 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 $47,200 per year; after ten years, average earnings are $61,200. See post-graduation earnings for full trends over time.

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

The highest-paying undergraduate degree is Computer Science, with median first-year earnings of $84,800 , followed by Computer Engineering at $71,600 , and Mechanical Engineering at $69,200 .

Among graduate and professional degree programs, the highest-paying program is Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degree), with median first-year earnings of $110,200 , followed by Engineering, Other (Master's Degree) at $89,400 , and Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degree) at $87,000 .

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

Median first-year earnings for Purdue University Main Campus graduates ranked by degree type and major
Major Earnings
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degree) $110,200
Engineering, Other (Master's Degree) $89,400
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degree) $87,000
Computer Science (Bachelor’s Degree) $84,800
Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degree) $78,300
Computer Engineering (Bachelor’s Degree) $71,600
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor’s Degree) $69,200
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor’s Degree) $68,900
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor’s Degree) $68,300
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor’s Degree) $66,000
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor’s Degree) $65,900
Computer and Information Sciences (Bachelor’s Degree) $65,800
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Bachelor’s Degree) $63,900
Agricultural Engineering (Bachelor’s Degree) $63,700
Civil Engineering (Bachelor’s Degree) $62,000
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor’s Degree) $61,600
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor’s Degree) $61,200
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor’s Degree) $59,300
Engineering Technology (Bachelor’s Degree) $58,400
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor’s Degree) $56,300
Communication and Media Studies (Master's Degree) $56,200
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor’s Degree) $56,000
Education (Master's Degree) $54,200
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor’s Degree) $53,700
Communication and Media Studies (Graduate/Professional Certificate) $53,400
Statistics (Bachelor’s Degree) $52,600
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations (Bachelor’s Degree) $48,900
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) $47,500
Economics (Bachelor’s Degree) $46,900
Agricultural Business and Management (Bachelor’s Degree) $46,500
Hospitality Administration/Management (Bachelor’s Degree) $43,700
Liberal Arts and Sciences Studies and Humanities (Bachelor’s Degree) $42,600
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other (Bachelor’s Degree) $41,900
Political Science and Government (Bachelor’s Degree) $41,300
Air Transportation (Bachelor’s Degree) $40,300
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor’s Degree) $40,000
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services (Bachelor’s Degree) $39,700
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor’s Degree) $39,300
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor’s Degree) $37,600
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor’s Degree) $37,600
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor’s Degree) $36,100
Sociology (Bachelor’s Degree) $35,900
Computer Software and Media Applications (Bachelor’s Degree) $35,000
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services (Bachelor’s Degree) $33,800
Biology (Bachelor’s Degree) $33,500
Animal Sciences (Bachelor’s Degree) $32,800
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services (Bachelor’s Degree) $31,200
Research and Experimental Psychology (Bachelor’s Degree) $28,700
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Bachelor’s Degree) $27,300
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor’s Degree) $24,200

Other Colleges to Consider

Students considering Purdue University Main Campus often consider these colleges

Data source: NCES / IPEDS https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=243780.

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

Last updated: August 2026