Published:
The Earnings for Graduates Dashboard reports on earnings over time for those obtaining a postsecondary credential at a Washington public CTC or four-year institution by program, institution, and industry. Using data underlying that dashboard, this brief reports on median earnings across different credentials for the top 10 highest-earning programs 10 years after graduation.
Key Findings
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs consistently rank among the highest-earning programs.
- Early-career earnings do not always predict longer-term earnings.
- Popular programs are often not the highest-earning options in the long run.
- Graduate degrees often yield substantial returns, but the payoff often depends on field.
- Earnings can vary across institutions as much as they vary across programs or credential level.
