All Southern Illinois University-Carbondale majors by area
- Science & Math · 18
- Humanities & Languages · 14
- Social Sciences & Public Service · 14
- Engineering · 12
- Business & Finance · 9
- Health & Medicine · 9
- Arts & Design · 5
- Communications & Media · 3
- Education · 3
- Technology & Computing · 3
- Trades & Applied Technology · 3
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soil Sciences | $55,076 | $74,026 | — |
| Agriculture | $39,700 | $57,596 | $18,000 |
| Biology | $28,206 | $51,947 | $27,000 |
| Forestry | $35,398 | $50,394 | $21,512 |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | — | $45,177 | — |
| Zoology / Animal Biology | $23,366 | $43,207 | $21,717 |
| Animal Sciences | $30,706 | $41,932 | $21,936 |
| Biochemistry | — | — | — |
| Botany / Plant Biology | — | — | — |
| Chemistry | — | — | — |
| Environmental Science / Conservation | — | — | — |
| Food Science and Technology | — | — | — |
| Geology / Earth Science | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | — | — | — |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | — | — | — |
| Physics | — | — | — |
| Physiology | — | — | $22,500 |
| Plant Sciences | — | — | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | — | $66,130 | — |
| Writing | — | $56,632 | — |
| History | $30,101 | $52,900 | $25,937 |
| Liberal Arts / General Studies | $37,545 | $43,236 | $28,544 |
| Linguistics | $25,921 | $42,905 | $24,500 |
| English | $24,145 | $37,786 | $26,500 |
| Classics | — | — | — |
| Ethnic / Gender Studies | — | — | — |
| Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other | — | — | — |
| German | — | — | — |
| International / Global Studies | — | — | — |
| Philosophy | — | — | — |
| Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | — | — | — |
| Spanish / French / Romance Languages | — | — | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial Production Technologies / Technicians | $73,283 | $87,442 | $22,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $69,454 | $86,238 | $24,250 |
| Computer Engineering | — | $85,056 | $24,500 |
| Electrical Engineering | $68,670 | $83,853 | $19,750 |
| Electrical / Electronic Engineering Technologies / Technicians | $72,495 | $82,901 | — |
| Civil Engineering | $65,269 | $81,888 | $19,781 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies / Technicians | $62,503 | $79,299 | $19,187 |
| Architecture | $43,248 | $63,104 | $25,000 |
| Biomedical Engineering | — | — | — |
| Engineering | — | — | — |
| Engineering Technologies / Technicians | — | — | — |
| Mining and Mineral Engineering | — | — | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration | $55,633 | $78,040 | $27,500 |
| Agricultural Business | $40,194 | $71,910 | $15,000 |
| Accounting | $54,694 | $70,478 | $23,251 |
| Finance | $48,708 | $67,349 | $20,447 |
| Economics | $37,798 | $60,612 | $25,049 |
| Marketing | $40,244 | $58,934 | $25,000 |
| Management Science / Analytics | $42,711 | $56,680 | $27,000 |
| Hospitality Management | — | $53,392 | $27,000 |
| Business Economics | — | — | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health (Imaging / Therapy / Tech) | $69,021 | $80,220 | $24,470 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $53,559 | $68,609 | $27,000 |
| Health Administration | $42,186 | $61,807 | $25,000 |
| Nutrition Science | — | $55,329 | $22,750 |
| Speech-Language Pathology / Communication Disorders | — | $55,217 | $22,225 |
| Kinesiology / Exercise Science | $29,258 | $55,039 | $22,750 |
| Rehabilitation / Therapy Sciences | — | $41,835 | $26,000 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | — | — | — |
| Nursing | — | — | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design | — | $61,493 | — |
| Studio Art | $33,285 | $44,902 | $26,500 |
| Film and Photography | $21,322 | $40,592 | $19,500 |
| Theatre | $27,004 | $39,926 | $23,500 |
| Music | — | — | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communications | $32,465 | $69,034 | $26,543 |
| Journalism | $40,575 | $49,880 | $25,500 |
| Broadcasting / Digital Media | $25,057 | $42,113 | $25,025 |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Subject Teaching) | $54,215 | $67,961 | $21,182 |
| Education (Elementary / Secondary) | $39,496 | $48,127 | $21,944 |
| Special Education | $44,429 | — | $22,875 |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $70,053 | $91,299 | $27,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $46,254 | $69,552 | $29,553 |
| Information Science / Studies | — | — | — |
| Major | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Transportation | $44,063 | $81,394 | $20,500 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies / Technicians | — | $78,712 | — |
| Funeral Service and Mortuary Science | $33,688 | $60,203 | $31,000 |
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
Education (Subject Teaching) → High school teacher
Median annual wage for all workers in this job. U.S. jobs projected to shrink 0.2% from 2025 to 2035. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree.
BLS OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35
Accounting → Accountant / auditor
Median annual wage for all workers in this job. U.S. jobs projected to grow 5.0% from 2025 to 2035. Typical entry education: bachelor's degree.
BLS OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35
Across all majors, former Southern Illinois University-Carbondale students earn a median $53,390 ten years after starting college, more than 30% of Illinois colleges we cover. 62% graduate within six years.
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale majors questions
How many majors does Southern Illinois University-Carbondale offer?
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale offers 93 bachelor's majors across 11 areas; the most majors are in Science & Math and Humanities & Languages.
What is the highest-paying major at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?
Fire Protection graduates from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale earn a median $108,135 four years after graduating, the highest of the 59 majors with reported earnings. Their median debt is $17,725.
Which Southern Illinois University-Carbondale majors earn the least?
Among majors with reported earnings, English graduates earn the least: a median $37,786 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 Southern Illinois University-Carbondale overview