Petroleum engineering ranks as the highest-paying bachelor’s degree based on midcareer salary potential at $212,100, according to the 2024 College Salary Report by Payscale. Instrumentation technology paid the most for those with a two-year associate degree at $116,300. 

Here’s Payscale’s list of highest-paying bachelor’s degrees at midcareer: 

1. Petroleum engineering, $212,100 
2. Operations research and industrial engineering, $202,600 
3. Electrical engineering and computer science, $192,300 
4. Interaction design, $178,800 
5. Building science: $172,400 

The highest-paying associate degrees at midcareer are: 

1. Instrumentation technology, $116,300 
2. Software engineering, $112,400 
3. Radiation therapy, $109,500 
4. Fire technology, $102,500 
5. Instrumentation and control engineering, $101,900 

“There’s no doubt that higher education is unaffordable, and employers are increasingly valuing alternative ways to gain skills, but the fact remains that a college degree significantly impacts earning power,” Amy Stewart, principal, research & insights at Payscale, said in a press release. “Our research shows that college graduates earn 37% more than those with only a high school diploma.” 

Ivy League and technical schools delivered some of the highest pay for four-year grads, according to Payscale. Some of the top schools were. 

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, $196,900 
2. Princeton University, $194,100 
3. United States Naval Academy, $187,800 
4. Harvey Mudd College, $185,900 
5. Babson College, $181,400 

Nursing schools were among two-year institutions providing the highest pay at midcareer for grads: 

1. Helene Fuld College of Nursing, $108,400 
2. Laboure College, $103,200 
3. Pacific Union College, $100,900 
4. New York University, $98,100 
5. Lawrence Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, $97,700