Top Ranked Programs
University of Dayton's program mix is anchored in business and engineering fields, reflecting the institution's applied-professional identity. Mechanical Engineering is the largest program with 214 graduates annually, followed by Finance, Digital Marketing, Communication and Media Studies, and Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General. The highest-aggregate-return major is Mechanical Engineering, which combines substantial enrollment with solid median earnings of $88,339 four years after enrollment. Among the institution's highest-earning programs, Finance graduates earn median earnings of $95,925, while Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering graduates earn $95,595 and Mechanical Engineering graduates earn $88,339 four years after enrollment. These earnings reflect strong early-career outcomes in fields where employers actively recruit and compensation grows steadily through the career arc. The program portfolio emphasizes applied business, engineering, and professional fields where graduates enter the workforce directly and earnings reflect national labor-market outcomes. Business represents the dominant concentration, positioning University of Dayton as a career-focused institution aligned with employer demand in the Midwest and beyond. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with labor-market trends and hiring patterns.