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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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MIT Majors Overview: Salary, Courses & Career Outcomes

Every major at MIT with graduate salary, course catalog depth, and career preparation data.

#	Major	US Rank	MIT Salary	National Median	Premium	Degrees/Year	Courses
1	Computer Science	—	$133,687	$75,000	+78%	344	211
Featured Courses: 6.1020: Software Construction 6.1040: Software Design 6.1060: Software Performance Engineering 6.5060: Algorithm Engineering 6.5080: Multicore Programming
2	Engineering	—	$128,339	$72,000	+78%	403	557
Featured Courses: 2.000: Explorations in Mechanical Engineering 2.001: Mechanics and Materials I 2.002: Mechanics and Materials II 2.004: Dynamics and Control II 2.005: Thermal-Fluids Engineering I
3	Mathematics & Statistics	—	$110,514	$62,000	+78%	99	139
Featured Courses: 18.022: Calculus 18.031: System Functions and the Laplace Transform 18.032: Differential Equations 18.063: Matrix Calculus for Machine Learning and Beyond 18.065: Matrix Methods in Data Analysis, Signal Processing, and Machine Learning
4	Physical Sciences	—	$85,560	$48,000	+78%	81	280
Featured Courses: 8.006: Exploring Physics Using Python 8.011: Physics I 8.021: Physics II 8.033: Relativity 8.041: Quantum Physics I
5	Business	—	$85,250	$55,000	+55%	21	327
Featured Courses: 15.000: Explorations in Management 15.002: Leadership Challenges for an Inclusive World 15.003: Analytics Tools 15.004: Programming for Finance Professionals 15.005: Sloan Intensive Period Elective Requirement
6	Architecture	—	$74,400	$48,000	+55%	15	200
Featured Courses: 4.021: Design Studio: How to Design 4.023: Architecture Design Studio I 4.024: Architecture Design Studio II 4.031: Design Studio: Objects and Interaction 4.032: Design Studio: Information Design and Visualization
7	Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies	—	$65,100	$42,000	+55%	113	—
8	Biological Sciences	—	$65,100	$42,000	+55%	47	48
Featured Courses: 7.093: Modern Biostatistics 7.094: Modern Computational Biology 7.105: Ethics for Biologists and Engineers 7.1051: Ethics for Biologists and Engineers - Independent Inquiry 7.390: Practical Internship Experience in Biology
9	Liberal Arts & General Studies	—	$54,250	$35,000	+55%	10	—

Career Path Match at MIT 🎖️ DeepColleges Exclusive

How many courses at MIT align with each career direction. More relevant courses mean better preparation for your target career.

Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering 79

6.9970: Academic Job Search 6.9991: Academic Progress in PhD: Technical Proposal for Master of Science in EECS 6.9992: Academic Progress in PhD: Thesis for Master of Science in EECS 6.9993: Academic Progress in PhD: Research Qualifying Exam 6.9994: Academic Progress in PhD: Technical Proposal for PhD in EECS

Management Consulting & Strategy 69

6.910A: Design Thinking and Innovation Leadership for Engineers 6.9110: Engineering Leadership Lab 6.9120: Engineering Leadership 6.9130: Engineering Leadership Lab 6.9250: Leadership: People, Products, Projects

Mathematics & Pure Research 50

16.930: Advanced Topics in Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations 18.032: Differential Equations 18.1001: Real Analysis 18.1002: Real Analysis 18.100A: Real Analysis

Entrepreneurship & Startups 48

6.910A: Design Thinking and Innovation Leadership for Engineers 6.910B: Design Thinking and Innovation Project 2.723A: Design Thinking and Innovation Leadership for Engineers 2.723B: Design Thinking and Innovation Project 2.888: Professional Seminar in Global Manufacturing Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Linguistics & Translation 43

6.9550: Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs 12.163: Geomorphology 12.463: Geomorphology 12.467: Seminar in Geomorphology 12.717: Coastal Geomorphology

AI / Machine Learning 41

6.5930: Hardware Architecture for Deep Learning 6.5931: Hardware Architecture for Deep Learning 6.5940: TinyML and Efficient Deep Learning Computing 6.7250: Optimization for Machine Learning 6.7350: Numerical Algorithms for Computing and Machine Learning

Economics & Economic Research 38

6.5340: Topics in Algorithmic Game Theory 6.7240: Game Theory with Engineering Applications 15.012: Applied Macro- and International Economics 15.014: Applied Macro- and International Economics II 15.018: Current Debates of Macroeconomics and Public Policy

Chemical & Materials Engineering 37

6.2080: Semiconductor Electronic Circuits 6.2540: Nanotechnology: From Atoms to Systems 6.6520: Semiconductor Optoelectronics: Theory and Design 10.345: Fundamentals of Metabolic and Biochemical Engineering: Applications to Biomanufacturing 10.442: Biochemical Engineering and Biomanufacturing Principles

Climate & Earth Science 37

1.009: Climate Change 12.001: Introduction to Geology 12.002: Introduction to Geophysics and Planetary Science 12.092: Current Topics in Geology and Geochemistry 12.093: Current Topics in Geology and Geochemistry

Electrical & Hardware Engineering 34

6.2000: Electrical Circuits: Modeling and Design of Physical Systems 6.2040: Analog Electronics Laboratory 6.2080: Semiconductor Electronic Circuits 6.2090: Solid-State Circuits 6.2092: Solid-State Circuits

Physics & Astrophysics 31

6.2370: Modern Optics Project Laboratory 6.6310: Optics and Photonics 2.710: Optics 22.016: Seminar in Fusion and Plasma Physics 22.101: Applied Nuclear Physics

Software Engineering 29

6.1000: Introduction to Programming and Computer Science 6.100A: Introduction to Computer Science Programming in Python 6.100L: Introduction to Computer Science and Programming 6.1010: Fundamentals of Programming 6.5080: Multicore Programming

Marine & Ocean Science 27

2.682: Acoustical Oceanography 2.981: New England Coastal Ecology 2.982: Ecology and Sustainability of Coastal Ecosystems 12.096: Current Topics in Atmospheric Science and Oceanography 12.097: Current Topics in Atmospheric Science and Oceanography

Environmental Engineering 25

2.814: Exploring Sustainability at Different Scales 2.982: Ecology and Sustainability of Coastal Ecosystems 1.005: Experiential Sustainability 1.013: Senior Civil and Environmental Engineering Design 1.020: Modeling and Decision-Making for Sustainability

Aerospace Engineering 23

2.611: Marine Power and Propulsion 2.612: Marine Power and Propulsion 22.315: Applied Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer 22.316: Computational Fluid Dynamics for Multiphase Flows 16.004: Unified Engineering: Thermodynamics and Propulsion

Architecture & Spatial Design 23

6.1020: Software Construction 1.383: Underground Construction 1.577: Data-Centric Engineering Studio 4.021: Design Studio: How to Design 4.022: Introduction to Architectural Design Techniques

Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Research 23

6.5130: Introduction to Program Synthesis 1.831: Environmental Organic Chemistry 10.534: Bioelectrochemistry 10.568: Physical Chemistry of Polymers 10.569: Synthesis of Polymers

Data Science & Analytics 20

6.100B: Introduction to Computational Thinking and Data Science 6.1830: Software Systems for Data Science 6.5830: Database Systems 6.5831: Database Systems 6.7830: Bayesian Modeling and Inference

Space Industry & NewSpace 18

16.801: Topics in Aerospace Systems 16.851: Introduction to Satellite Engineering 16.853: Advanced Satellite Engineering 16.891: Space Policy Seminar 12.002: Introduction to Geophysics and Planetary Science

International Relations & Diplomacy 17

14.540: International Trade 17.407: Chinese Foreign Policy 17.408: Chinese Foreign Policy 17.410: Globalization, Migration, and International Relations 17.411: Globalization, Migration, and International Relations

Pre-Med / Clinical Medicine 16

6.4900: Introduction to EECS via Medical Technology 10.443: Future Medicine: Drug Delivery, Therapeutics, and Diagnostics 10.950: Seminar in Immunology and Immunoengineering 10.984: Biomedical Applications of Chemical Engineering 10.997: Theoretical and Computational Immunology Seminar

Public Policy & Government 16

15.018: Current Debates of Macroeconomics and Public Policy 15.230: Public Policy and the Private Sector 14.003: Microeconomic Theory and Public Policy 14.200: Industrial Organization: Competitive Strategy and Public Policy 14.410: Public Finance and Public Policy

Game Development & Design 15

6.5340: Topics in Algorithmic Game Theory 6.7240: Game Theory with Engineering Applications 2.141: Modeling and Simulation of Dynamic Systems 1.021: Introduction to Modeling and Simulation 10.333: Introduction to Modeling and Simulation

Robotics & Autonomous Systems 15

6.7110: Multivariable Control Systems 6.4210: Robotic Manipulation 6.4212: Robotic Manipulation 6.8210: Underactuated Robotics 6.9010: Introduction to EECS via Interconnected Embedded Systems

Investment Banking & Finance 15

15.402: Corporate Finance 15.417: Laboratory in Investments 15.418: Laboratory in Corporate Finance 15.425: Corporate Finance 15.434: Advanced Corporate Finance

Marketing & Brand Strategy 15

15.567: The Economics of Information: Strategy, Structure and Pricing 15.570: Digital Marketing and Social Media Analytics 15.725: Marketing Strategy for General Managers 15.726: Pricing 15.732: Marketing Management

Actuarial Science & Insurance 15

6.3700: Introduction to Probability 6.3702: Introduction to Probability 6.7710: Discrete Stochastic Processes 1.010: Probability and Causal Inference 1.010A: Probability: Concepts and Applications

Neuroscience & Brain Research 12

2.184: Biomechanics and Neural Control of Movement 9.011: Systems Neuroscience Core I 9.014: Quantitative Methods and Computational Models in Neurosciences 9.017: Systems Neuroscience Core II 9.330: Biophysics, Neural Circuits, and Neuropharmacology

Biotechnology & Genetics 12

10.495: Molecular Design and Bioprocess Development of Immunotherapies 10.595: Molecular Design and Bioprocess Development of Immunotherapies 10.989: Seminar in Biotechnology 20.215: Macroepidemiology, Population Genetics, and Stem Cell Biology of Human Clonal Diseases 20.265: Genetics for Biological Engineering

Sociology & Anthropology 11

1.055: Traveling Research Urban eXperience (TRUX): Fieldwork 1.091: Traveling Research Environmental eXperience (TREX): Fieldwork 1.565: Traveling Research Urban eXperience (TRUX): Fieldwork 3.997: Graduate Fieldwork in Materials Science and Engineering 15.928: The Sociology of Strategy

UX / Product Design 10

6.4500: Design for the Web: Languages and User Interfaces 6.8510: Intelligent Multimodal User Interfaces 6.910A: Design Thinking and Innovation Leadership for Engineers 6.910B: Design Thinking and Innovation Project 2.723A: Design Thinking and Innovation Leadership for Engineers

Bioinformatics & Computational Biology 9

1.088: Genomics and Evolution of Infectious Disease 20.213: Genome Stability and Engineering in the Context of Diseases, Drugs, and Public Health 20.260: Computational Analysis of Biological Data 20.460: Computational Analysis of Biological Data 20.490: Computational Systems Biology: Deep Learning in the Life Sciences

Music Industry & Production 9

6.1060: Software Performance Engineering 2.065: Acoustics and Sensing 2.066: Acoustics and Sensing 2.681: Environmental Ocean Acoustics 2.683: Marine Bioacoustics and Geoacoustics

Accounting & Audit 8

15.501: Corporate Financial Accounting 15.511: Financial Accounting 15.515: Financial Accounting 15.516: Corporate Financial Accounting 15.521: Accounting Information for Decision Makers

Supply Chain & Logistics 7

2.871: D-Lab: Supply Chains 1.266: Supply Chain and Demand Analytics 16.701: Topics in Flight Transportation 16.886: Air Transportation Systems Architecting 15.090: Common Experience in Operations Research

Public Health & Epidemiology 7

1.088: Genomics and Evolution of Infectious Disease 20.101: Metakaryotic Biology and Epidemiology 20.213: Genome Stability and Engineering in the Context of Diseases, Drugs, and Public Health 20.215: Macroepidemiology, Population Genetics, and Stem Cell Biology of Human Clonal Diseases 7.093: Modern Biostatistics

FinTech & Blockchain 6

15.235: Blockchain and Money 15.455: Advanced Mathematical Methods for Financial Engineering 15.456: Financial Engineering 15.492: Blockchain, Crypto Finance, & Money 15.562: Web3 and Strategy: Blockchain, Metaverse, and NFT Essentials

Clean Energy & Sustainability Engineering 6

2.626: Fundamentals of Photovoltaics 2.627: Fundamentals of Photovoltaics 1.086: Physics and Engineering of Renewable Energy Systems 1.861: Physics and Engineering of Renewable Energy Systems 22.003: NEET Seminar: Renewable Energy Machines

Biomedical Engineering 6

2.184: Biomechanics and Neural Control of Movement 10.966: Seminar in Drug Delivery, Biomaterials, and Tissue Engineering 3.052: Nanomechanics of Materials and Biomaterials 20.345: Bioinstrumentation Project Lab 20.375: Applied Developmental Biology and Tissue Engineering

Film & Video Production 6

10.987: Solid Thin Films and Interfaces 4.330: Documentary Production 4.331: Documentary Production 4.346: Aesthetic Revolutions: Crafting Avant-Garde Film & Video 4.347: Aesthetic Revolutions: Crafting Avant-Garde Film & Video

Civil Engineering & Infrastructure 5

1.037: Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Design 1.054: Mechanics and Design of Concrete Structures 1.364: Advanced Geotechnical Engineering 1.541: Mechanics and Design of Concrete Structures 12.809: Hydraulic Phenomena in Geophysical Fluid Flows

Pharmacy & Drug Development 5

10.424: Pharmaceutical Engineering 10.443: Future Medicine: Drug Delivery, Therapeutics, and Diagnostics 10.524: Pharmaceutical Engineering 10.966: Seminar in Drug Delivery, Biomaterials, and Tissue Engineering 9.330: Biophysics, Neural Circuits, and Neuropharmacology

Graphic & Visual Design 4

15.846: Branding 4.053: Visual Communication Fundamentals 4.502: Advanced Visualization: Architecture in Motion Graphics 4.562: Advanced Visualization: Architecture in Motion Graphics

Psychology Research (Non-Clinical) 4

9.190: Computational Psycholinguistics 9.357: Current Topics in Perception 14.163: Algorithms and Behavioral Science 24.212: Philosophy of Perception

ESG & Impact Investing 4

6.9260: Multistakeholder Negotiation for Technical Experts 15.270: Ethical Practice: Leading Through Professionalism, Social Responsibility, and System Design 15.326: Effectively Managing Stakeholders 15.499: Practice of Finance: Climate and Social Impact Investing

Cybersecurity 3

6.5610: Applied Cryptography 6.5630: Advanced Topics in Cryptography 15.630: Law, Ethics, and Data Privacy

Nonprofit & Social Impact 3

9.918: BCS Grant Writing Workshop 17.317: US Social Policy 17.320: Social Policy

Journalism & Media 3

22.017: Nuclear in the News 16.120: Compressible Internal Flow 4.566: Advanced Projects in Digital Media

Fashion & Luxury Industry 2

4.318: Toxic Textiles/Fashion Fables 4.319: Toxic Textiles/Fashion Fables

Cloud Computing & DevOps 1

6.5920: Parallel Computing

Quantum Computing 1

24.111: Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics

AR / VR / Spatial Computing 1

6.4400: Computer Graphics

Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation 1

2.184: Biomechanics and Neural Control of Movement

Pre-Law / Legal Studies 1

6.9310: Patents, Copyrights, and the Law of Intellectual Property

Food Science & AgTech 1

1.579: Materials in Agriculture, Food Security, and Food Safety

Highest & Lowest ROI Majors at MIT

Highest-Earning Majors

Computer Science

$133,687/yr

Engineering

$128,339/yr

Mathematics & Statistics

$110,514/yr

Lowest-Earning Majors

Liberal Arts & General Studies

$54,250/yr

Biological Sciences

$65,100/yr

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

$65,100/yr

Popular Majors at MIT

The most popular fields of study, ranked by the number of degrees awarded.

Engineering

29.7%

Computer Science

27.7%

Mathematics/Statistics

11.0%

Multidisciplinary

9.8%

Physical Sciences

7.8%

Best Majors at MIT →

MIT Majors FAQs

What are the most popular majors at MIT?

MIT's most popular majors by share of degrees awarded are: Engineering (29.7%), Computer Science (27.7%), Mathematics/Statistics (11.0%). The full ranking by graduate salary is in the table above.

Which major at MIT pays the most?

The highest-earning major at MIT is Computer Science, with a median 4-year-out salary of $133,687 — well above the school-wide median of $143,372.

Are some majors at MIT harder to get into than others?

Yes. MIT's overall acceptance rate is 4.7%, but selective programs (computer science, business, engineering, nursing) often admit at lower rates than the school-wide average. Check program-specific admission stats where available.

Should I pick my major based on salary at MIT?

Salary should be one factor, not the only one. Major choice impacts earnings (engineering and CS typically lead) but career fit, course interest, and graduation-rate within the major also matter. The salary table above shows the median pay by program at MIT.