Columbia University in the City of New York majors, earnings & debt

Columbia University in the City of New York offers 67 bachelor's majors across 8 areas. Graduates in Computer Engineering earn the most: a median $194,365 four years after graduating. Earnings below are for this school's own graduates in each major, not national averages.

All Columbia University in the City of New York majors by area

Humanities & Languages · 17 majors
MajorEarnings, 1 yrEarnings, 4 yrsMedian debt
Liberal Arts / General Studies—$99,679—
History$53,828$98,079$22,000
Area Studies$41,479$96,884$22,486
English$35,838$59,396$25,500
Philosophy$52,668$56,885$20,062
Ethnic / Gender Studies$55,206$55,472$18,799
Writing$36,244$47,702—
Classical and Ancient Studies———
Classics———
Climate Science———
German———
Linguistics———
Middle / Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics———
Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other———
Religious Studies———
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics———
Spanish / French / Romance Languages$54,327—$20,250
Science & Math · 17 majors
MajorEarnings, 1 yrEarnings, 4 yrsMedian debt
Mathematics—$117,252—
Sustainability Studies$53,957$85,545$18,070
Neuroscience$33,893$70,244$27,000
Biology$40,935$53,698$19,892
Applied Mathematics$91,559——
Astronomy and Astrophysics———
Biochemistry———
Chemistry———
Cognitive Science———
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology———
Environmental Science / Conservation———
Geology / Earth Science$34,658—$21,065
Materials Sciences———
Physical Sciences, Other———
Physics———
Science Technologies / Technicians, Other———
Statistics———
Engineering · 13 majors
MajorEarnings, 1 yrEarnings, 4 yrsMedian debt
Computer Engineering$102,083$194,365—
Operations Research$110,457$167,572—
Electrical Engineering$84,019$143,332$12,000
Mechanical Engineering$72,036$111,491$16,960
Civil Engineering—$108,246—
Architecture———
Biomedical Engineering$62,895—$19,500
Chemical Engineering$55,154——
Engineering Mechanics———
Engineering Physics———
Engineering, Other———
Environmental Engineering———
Industrial Engineering———
Social Sciences & Public Service · 8 majors
MajorEarnings, 1 yrEarnings, 4 yrsMedian debt
Sociology$58,541$101,536$31,000
Political Science$61,077$100,245$22,943
Psychology (Research)$53,156$86,946$20,500
Anthropology—$83,493$34,500
Social Sciences, Other$34,845$65,085$26,000
International Relations———
Public Administration———
Urban Studies / Affairs———
Arts & Design · 5 majors
MajorEarnings, 1 yrEarnings, 4 yrsMedian debt
Visual and Performing Arts, Other—$46,535$26,971
Dance———
Music$32,924——
Studio Art$51,435—$26,853
Theatre———
Technology & Computing · 4 majors
MajorEarnings, 1 yrEarnings, 4 yrsMedian debt
Computer Science$118,636$188,265$20,397
Data Science———
Information Science / Studies———
Mathematics and Computer Science———
Health & Medicine · 2 majors
MajorEarnings, 1 yrEarnings, 4 yrsMedian debt
Nursing———
Nutrition Science———
Business & Finance · 1 major
MajorEarnings, 1 yrEarnings, 4 yrsMedian debt
Economics$83,135$137,710$25,000

College Scorecard field of study, latest release: median earnings of graduates who received federal aid, 1 and 4 years after graduating; median federal loan debt. — means too few graduates to report.

From major to career

Computer Science → Software developer

$166,830
New York
$166,180
New York
$135,980
U.S.

Median annual wage for all workers in this job. U.S. jobs projected to grow 10.2% from 2025 to 2035. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree.

BLS OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35

Mechanical Engineering → Mechanical engineer

$109,990
New York
$102,440
New York
$104,110
U.S.

Median annual wage for all workers in this job. U.S. jobs projected to grow 11.2% from 2025 to 2035. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree.

BLS OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35

Across all majors, former Columbia University in the City of New York students earn a median $102,491 ten years after starting college, more than 97% of New York colleges we cover. 96% graduate within six years.

Columbia University in the City of New York majors questions

How many majors does Columbia University in the City of New York offer?

Columbia University in the City of New York offers 67 bachelor's majors across 8 areas; the most majors are in Humanities & Languages and Science & Math.

What is the highest-paying major at Columbia University in the City of New York?

Computer Engineering graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn a median $194,365 four years after graduating, the highest of the 24 majors with reported earnings.

Which Columbia University in the City of New York majors earn the least?

Among majors with reported earnings, Visual and Performing Arts, Other graduates earn the least: a median $46,535 four years after graduating.

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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study); Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS, Employment Projections). Back to Columbia University in the City of New York overview