College Major Earnings Comparison Calculator
Explore how different majors may influence lifetime pay by modeling starting salaries and annual raises side by side. The calculator helps you weigh passion and financial outlook before committing to a program.
| Major | Estimated lifetime earnings | Average annual salary |
|---|---|---|
| Major 1 | ||
| Major 2 |
The earnings growth formula
Salaries that increase at a constant percentage follow a geometric series. If the starting salary is , the annual growth rate as a decimal is , and the career spans years, total earnings follow:
The calculator uses this expression for both majors and then divides the total by to estimate an average yearly salary. If a growth rate is zero, the formula simplifies to salary multiplied by career length.
Interpreting the results
The summary highlights the lifetime earnings for each major along with the difference. Large gaps can signal financial tradeoffs worth discussing with mentors or financial aid advisors. Smaller differences suggest other factors—internship availability, geographic fit, or personal interest—may matter more than projected pay.
| Field | Median starting salary | Typical growth range |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical engineering | $72,000 | 3%–5% |
| Business analytics | $62,000 | 3%–4% |
| Journalism | $42,000 | 4%–6% |
| Education | $40,000 | 2%–3% |
Scenario planning
Alongside the base calculation, the tool builds optimistic and conservative scenarios by shifting growth rates so you can see how economic cycles or graduate school choices may influence outcomes.
| Scenario | Major 1 earnings | Major 2 earnings | Difference |
|---|
Next steps for financial planning
Pair these results with net price estimates and loan projections to see how long it might take to cover tuition. Continue planning with the college net price calculator, stress-test borrowing with the student loan payoff calculator, and explore work-study impacts through the income-driven repayment calculator.