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Programs & majors brief

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# University of Colorado Boulder Majors & Programs

Updated September 30, 2026

[Overview](/school/university-of-colorado-boulder/)[Cost & aid](/school/university-of-colorado-boulder/cost/)[Outcomes](/school/university-of-colorado-boulder/outcomes/)[Admissions](/school/university-of-colorado-boulder/admissions/)Majors[Similar schools](/school/university-of-colorado-boulder/similar/)

**On this page**+

## Which majors earn the most at CU Boulder?

Program choice makes a wide difference in earnings at University of Colorado Boulder, from engineering and computing to design and biology. Computer Science has median earnings of $121,952 four years after completion and 473 degrees awarded; [Azimuth ranks](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) it #52 nationally in its field.

Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering reports $116,350 in median earnings, with 199 degrees awarded, and Azimuth ranks it #2 nationally in its field. Environmental Design sits at a more moderate $61,788 in median earnings four years after completion, alongside 150 degrees awarded; Azimuth ranks it #2 nationally in its field.

Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences records $71,444 and 310 degrees awarded, with an Azimuth national field rank of #4. The higher- and moderate-earning fields show that the earnings picture varies by program.

### Major mix · each dot ≈ 1% of completions

Share of reported completions in the bachelor’s programs included here. Each dot represents approximately 1% of those completions. Counts are credentials, not unique students; excluded programs are not zero activity.

-   Business**1,087 · 15.0%**
-   Engineering**891 · 12.3%**
-   Biological sciences**891 · 12.3%**
-   Social sciences**857 · 11.8%**
-   Communication**734 · 10.1%**
-   Other**2,808 · 38.6%**

Find a field

Sort programsLargest programsHighest four-year earningsBest national field rankProgram name

61 of 61 programs shown

Four-year earnings · first six matching programs

**Computer Science 473 degrees awarded**
$121,952

**Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering 199 degrees awarded**
$116,350

**Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering 26 degrees awarded**
$100,631

**Chemical Engineering 47 degrees awarded**
$95,780

**Civil Engineering 81 degrees awarded**
$94,960

**Mechanical Engineering 235 degrees awarded**
$93,073

Each bar is a field’s median. Program size counts degrees awarded, not unique people or the earnings sample.

Compare all matching programs

Reported bachelor’s programs · earnings, program size and field ranks

| Program | Degrees awarded | 4-yr earnings | Field rank |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Computer Science | 473 | $121,952 | #52 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 199 | $116,350 | #2 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 26 | $100,631 | #104 |
| Chemical Engineering | 47 | $95,780 | #87 |
| Civil Engineering | 81 | $94,960 | #21 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 235 | $93,073 | #71 |
| Mathematics | 117 | $90,635 | #33 |
| Architectural Engineering | 44 | $89,797 | #5 |
| Biochemical Engineering | 72 | $89,262 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 1,087 | $86,441 | #30 |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | 66 | $82,020 | #9 |
| Physics | 81 | $75,764 | #36 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 409 | $74,779 | #10 |
| Economics | 284 | $73,319 | #99 |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics | 58 | $72,698 | #2 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 145 | $71,942 | #11 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 310 | $71,444 | #4 |
| Political Science and Government | 235 | $69,651 | #65 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 154 | $68,579 | #11 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 73 | $68,488 | #31 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 204 | $66,623 | #35 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 214 | $63,337 | #26 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 66 | $62,119 | #34 |
| Environmental Design | 150 | $61,788 | #2 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 35 | $60,453 | #41 |
| International/Globalization Studies | 135 | $59,796 | #18 |
| Sociology | 216 | $58,026 | #45 |
| Geography and Cartography | 62 | $57,677 | #33 |
| Journalism | 64 | $57,079 | #36 |
| Psychology, General | 567 | $56,867 | #55 |
| Anthropology | 60 | $55,217 | #18 |
| English Language and Literature, General | 86 | $54,085 | #88 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 209 | $53,429 | #7 |
| History | 82 | $49,401 | #130 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 57 | $47,297 | #56 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 77 | $39,720 | #58 |
| Music | 48 | $38,701 | #111 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 43 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Area Studies small degree count | 11 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 57 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Information Science/Studies | 34 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 46 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas small degree count | 15 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Electrical and Computer Engineering | 69 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Engineering, General | 34 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Engineering Physics small degree count | 18 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General | 59 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 54 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 28 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 25 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics small degree count | 18 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities small degree count | 19 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Applied Mathematics | 46 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Statistics | 20 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Philosophy | 59 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Religion/Religious Studies small degree count | 9 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Chemistry | 28 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology small degree count | 16 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Community Organization and Advocacy small degree count | 7 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft small degree count | 17 | Too few graduates to report | — |
| Dance small degree count | 8 | Too few graduates to report | — |

[Program data and definitions](#page-sources) · [How to evaluate program rankings](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/)

## What are the largest programs at CU Boulder?

Ten largest programs by degrees awarded

**Business Administration, Management and Operations**
1,087

**Psychology, General**
567

**Computer Science**
473

**Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication**
409

**Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences**
310

**Economics**
284

**Mechanical Engineering**
235

**Political Science and Government**
235

**Sociology**
216

**Natural Resources Conservation and Research**
214

Counts describe degrees awarded in the reporting period, not current enrollment. [Program data and definitions](#page-sources)

## How do CU Boulder majors rank nationally?

### National program rankings

1.  Environmental Design**#2**
2.  Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering**#2**
3.  Astronomy and Astrophysics**#2**
4.  Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences**#4**
5.  Architectural Engineering**#5**
6.  Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology**#7**
7.  Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering**#9**
8.  Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication**#10**
9.  Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences**#11**
10.  Neurobiology and Neurosciences**#11**
11.  International/Globalization Studies**#18**
12.  Anthropology**#18**
13.  Civil Engineering**#21**
14.  Natural Resources Conservation and Research**#26**
15.  Business Administration, Management and Operations**#30**
16.  Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology**#31**
17.  Mathematics**#33**
18.  Geography and Cartography**#33**
19.  Communication Disorders Sciences and Services**#34**
20.  Communication and Media Studies**#35**
21.  Journalism**#36**
22.  Physics**#36**
23.  Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences**#41**
24.  Sociology**#45**

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.

[How Azimuth compares programs across colleges](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/)

## Further analysis

Azimuth evaluates programs by what federally aided completers earn four years after completion, the debt they carry and cohort size, not by reputation. University of Colorado Boulder has 36 ranked bachelor's programs and earnings data across 37 fields.

The award figures count degrees conferred in a single academic year rather than individual students. Business accounts for 15.0% of degrees awarded, while Engineering and Biological Sciences account for 12.3% and 12.3%.

The largest program is Business Administration and Management, which awards 1,087 degrees annually and holds an [Azimuth rank](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) of #30. Its graduates earn a median of $86,441 four years after completion.

The top-earning program is Computer Science, ranked #52, at $121,952. The best nationally ranked program is Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering at #2, with earnings of $116,350. 37.3% of degrees awarded are in STEM.

## Data & methodology

Sources and reporting periods: [methodology](/methodology/).

Analysis and methodology by [Daniel Rogers](/about/#founder), 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](/about/).