Earnings by College Major

Is a bachelor's degree still worth the investment? According to two reports by the Census Bureau, the answer is yes. The median earnings of college graduates who work full-time is well above average at $64,396 (versus about $35,000 for high school grads), and lifetime earnings are far above average at $2.4 million (versus $1.4 million for high school grads). Annual median and lifetime earnings vary greatly by college major, however. Take a look:

Engineering
Median annual earnings: $91,611
Lifetime earnings: $3.5 million

Computers and Math
Median annual earnings: $80,180
Lifetime earnings: $3.1 million

Business
Median annual earnings: $66,605
Lifetime earnings: $2.6 million

Liberal Arts
Median annual earnings: $58,761
Lifetime earnings: $2.1 million

Education
Median annual earnings: $50,902
Lifetime earnings: $1.8 million

Source: Census Bureau, Field of Degree and Earnings by Selected Employment Characteristics: 2011 and Work-Life Earnings by Field of Degree and Occupation for People with a Bachelor's Degree: 2011