Here are the top six-figure earning college majors for two-year associate degrees

In today’s world, money seems more important than ever. The price of groceries—and just about everything else—is too high, and your bottom line doesn’t go as far as it did even a year or two ago. That means finding a well-paying job is a priority for many—especially those considering a college degree.

A new report from salary data provider Payscale looked at the educational and employment history of 3.1 million college graduates. From the data, it ranked schools and majors based on potential future earnings for graduates.

According to the 2024 report, it aims to help students research schools, majors, and potential salaries before enrolling. “You can use this information to help you determine which fields of study offer the most income opportunities, and which are transferable to different career fields,” the report reads.

As the cost of school increases, many potential students may not consider enrolling in a four-year college. Enrollment rates have been falling, and as some employers have begun to loosen the college degree requirement for workers, there is less incentive to go to college.

But a two-year degree can be a valuable asset in many fields. According to research, associate degrees from several schools can lead to a six-figure income.

The top-earning two-year degree came from the Helene Fuld College of Nursing, with an average career salary of $108,400. In second place was Labore College of Healthcare at a median salary of $103,200, followed by Pacific Union College at $100,900. New York University was fourth on the list with a median salary of $98,100. Lawrence Memorial Hospital School of Nursing and Belanger School of Nursing came in fifth and sixth. Of the top 10 programs with the highest-paying students, many appear to be majoring in nursing and health care.

Meanwhile, among the highest-paying majors for two-year degrees, Instrumentation Technology tops the list with a median salary of $116,300. That was followed by Software Engineering at $112,400, Radiation Therapy at $109,500, Fire Technology at $102,500, and Equipment and Control Engineering at $101,900.

A full list of the highest paying degrees in 2024 can be found on the Payscale website here.

When it came to four-year degrees, STEM seemed to dominate. Students pursuing science, technology, engineering, and math majors had the highest earnings.

A bachelor’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology came in first for earning potential, with a median salary of $196,900. Princeton University came in second with $194,100. In third place was the United States Naval Academy, with the median graduate earning $187,800. Other Ivy League schools also made the list, with Dartmouth College in eighth, the University of Pennsylvania in ninth, and Harvard University in 10th.

As some students may wonder if college is really right for them, seeing potential salary projections can be important. Not only do graduates face job uncertainty, they often have crippling student loans, so they need to know what they’re signing up for, and what’s in it for them.