The Impact of Undergraduate Major Choices on Graduate Education and Long-term Earnings: A Descriptive Study based on the American Community Survey 2009–2023

We analyze data collected from approximately 5 million college graduates in the American Community Survey (2009–2023) to examine the earnings trajectories associated with 10 undergraduate majors for college graduates throughout their working lives (22 to 60 years old). Extending prior research on short-term economic returns associated with college major choices, our analyses suggest that long-term earnings trajectories across undergraduate majors are much more complicated and nuanced. Overall, our analyses show that undergraduate majors shape long-term earnings trajectories in two fundamental ways. First, major choices strongly predict financial returns on college education over time, even among those with bachelor’s degrees only. Second, major choices influence the likelihood and benefits of pursuing graduate education, thereby shaping long-term earnings. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of how educational decisions affect career trajectories and financial success over the lifespan.