Programs & majors brief
Stanford University Majors & Programs
Which majors earn the most at Stanford University?
40 of 40 programs shown
Each bar is a field’s median. Program size counts degrees awarded, not unique people or the earnings sample.
Compare all matching programs
| Program | Degrees awarded | 4-yr earnings | Field rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 277 | $214,907 | #4 |
| Cognitive Science | 64 | $131,650 | #2 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 49 | $117,072 | — |
| Engineering, Other | 91 | $115,206 | #1 |
| Economics | 108 | $112,700 | #34 |
| Science, Technology and Society | 40 | $107,375 | — |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 64 | $91,075 | — |
| English Language and Literature, General | 33 | $82,036 | — |
| Human Biology | 114 | $81,529 | #2 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 31 | $45,519 | — |
| Area Studies small degree count | 17 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 25 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 43 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 33 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Chemical Engineering small degree count | 12 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering small degree count | 11 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Materials Engineering small degree count | 10 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering small degree count | 6 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Civil Engineering small degree count | 6 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Engineering-Related Fields | 77 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services small degree count | 17 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics small degree count | 16 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Biology, General | 62 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Mathematics | 71 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Applied Mathematics | 43 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Philosophy small degree count | 17 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 38 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Physics | 27 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Chemistry small degree count | 11 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 71 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Public Policy Analysis small degree count | 18 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Political Science and Government | 78 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Sociology small degree count | 17 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Urban Studies/Affairs small degree count | 11 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Anthropology small degree count | 5 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 22 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Music small degree count | 12 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts small degree count | 8 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft small degree count | 5 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| History | 27 | Too few graduates to report | — |
Program data and definitions · How to evaluate program rankings
What are the largest programs at Stanford University?
Counts describe degrees awarded in the reporting period, not current enrollment. Program data and definitions
How do Stanford University majors rank nationally?
National program rankings
- Engineering, Other#1
- Cognitive Science#2
- Human Biology#2
- Computer Science#4
- Economics#34
Programs ranked in the national top 50, supplemented by the largest ranked programs when needed to show ten. Fewer appear when fewer ranks are reported. Each rank compares bachelor’s programs in the same field; field sizes differ.
Further analysis
Outcomes differ by program, and Azimuth ranks them using four-year earnings among completers, debt and cohort size rather than reputation. Azimuth publishes earnings data for 10 programs at Stanford University.
5 of them have a national rank. The mix is led by Social Sciences at 16.8% of degrees awarded, followed by Computer & Information Sciences at 16.4% and Engineering at 15.5%.
Engineering ranks #1 nationally, with graduates earning a median of $115,206 four years after completion. Human Biology ranks #2 nationally, with a median of $81,529.
Computer Science is the largest program at 277 degrees awarded and ranks #4 nationally; its graduates earn a median of $214,907 four years after completion.
Data & methodology
Sources and reporting periods: methodology.
Analysis and methodology by Daniel Rogers, founder of College Azimuth.
Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.
Figure notes link to sources and limitations. About College Azimuth.