Programs & majors brief

Vanderbilt University Majors & Programs

Updated

Which majors earn the most at Vanderbilt University?

Azimuth ranks four of Vanderbilt University's bachelor's programs nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions, and the contrast between higher- and moderate-earning fields is sharp. Computer Science leads the largest programs with a median of $160,021 four years after completion, on 205 degrees awarded.

Economics follows at $140,337 with 251 degrees awarded and an Azimuth national rank of #9 in its field. Social Sciences — the university's top-ranked program at #1 nationally — reports $103,229 on 245 degrees awarded.

The largest program by degrees, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, sits at a more moderate $86,559 with 279 degrees awarded and an Azimuth national rank of #5.

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.

  • Social sciences657 · 27.0%
  • Interdisciplinary studies361 · 14.9%
  • Computer science205 · 8.4%
  • Engineering204 · 8.4%
  • Biological sciences185 · 7.6%
  • Other818 · 33.7%

45 of 45 programs shown

Four-year earnings · first six matching programs
Computer Science 205 degrees awarded
$160,021
Mathematics 151 degrees awarded
$141,171
Economics 251 degrees awarded
$140,337
Chemical Engineering 26 degrees awarded
$121,641
Biomedical/Medical Engineering 50 degrees awarded
$116,662
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics 59 degrees awarded
$114,368

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
ProgramDegrees awarded4-yr earningsField rank
Computer Science205$160,021#21
Mathematics151$141,171#5
Economics251$140,337#9
Chemical Engineering26$121,641—
Biomedical/Medical Engineering50$116,662#4
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics59$114,368#1
Social Sciences, General245$103,229#1
Political Science and Government104$102,789#3
Mechanical Engineering52$101,345#31
Public Policy Analysis42$91,265—
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other279$86,559#5
Sociology38$83,649—
Civil Engineering small degree count13$82,744—
Psychology, General100$71,584#14
History49$69,820#23
English Language and Literature, General63$60,439#31
Neurobiology and Neurosciences103$59,575#25
Music44$59,217#6
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods35$55,188—
Architectural History, Criticism, and Conservation small degree count5Too few graduates to report—
Area Studies small degree count17Too few graduates to report—
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies small degree count11Too few graduates to report—
Communication and Media Studies28Too few graduates to report—
Education, General small degree count18Too few graduates to report—
Special Education and Teaching small degree count12Too few graduates to report—
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas small degree count9Too few graduates to report—
Engineering Science37Too few graduates to report—
Computer Engineering small degree count13Too few graduates to report—
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering small degree count13Too few graduates to report—
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services21Too few graduates to report—
Non-Professional Legal Studies21Too few graduates to report—
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology68Too few graduates to report—
Biology, General small degree count14Too few graduates to report—
Cognitive Science45Too few graduates to report—
Science, Technology and Society25Too few graduates to report—
Classical and Ancient Studies small degree count12Too few graduates to report—
Philosophy21Too few graduates to report—
Chemistry21Too few graduates to report—
Physics small degree count12Too few graduates to report—
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences small degree count11Too few graduates to report—
Research and Experimental Psychology29Too few graduates to report—
Anthropology small degree count19Too few graduates to report—
Fine and Studio Arts23Too few graduates to report—
Film/Video and Photographic Arts small degree count11Too few graduates to report—
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft small degree count5Too few graduates to report—

Program data and definitions · How to evaluate program rankings

What are the largest programs at Vanderbilt University?

Ten largest programs by degrees awarded
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
279
Economics
251
Social Sciences, General
245
Computer Science
205
Mathematics
151
Political Science and Government
104
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
103
Psychology, General
100
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
68
English Language and Literature, General
63

Counts describe degrees awarded in the reporting period, not current enrollment. Program data and definitions

How do Vanderbilt University majors rank nationally?

National program rankings

  1. Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics#1
  2. Social Sciences, General#1
  3. Political Science and Government#3
  4. Biomedical/Medical Engineering#4
  5. Mathematics#5
  6. Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other#5
  7. Music#6
  8. Economics#9
  9. Psychology, General#14
  10. Computer Science#21
  11. History#23
  12. Neurobiology and Neurosciences#25
  13. Mechanical Engineering#31
  14. English Language and Literature, General#31

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

Further analysis

At Vanderbilt University, what graduates earn four years after completion depends heavily on field of study. 19 programs carry published earnings data, and 14 of those have an Azimuth national rank.

Social Sciences is the largest degree family, accounting for 27.0% of bachelor's degrees awarded. Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies follows at 14.9%, and Computer & Information Sciences at 8.4%.

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies leads in volume at 279 degrees awarded a year and ranks #5 nationally within its field, with completers earning $86,559 four years after completion. Economics ranks #9 nationally, with completers earning $140,337 from 251 degrees awarded.

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.