Written by: Martha Sandoval
A paper published by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce in 2011, titled “The College Payoff,” analyzed the ever-present debate about the financial worthiness of a college degree, many times obtained through ballooning debt.
The study found that over a lifetime, “bachelor’s degree holders earn 31% more than those with an associate’s degree and 74% more than those with just a high school diploma,” and while there are instances where six-figure jobs are obtained by those whose secondary education ended at the baccalaureate level, it is the exception rather than the rule.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, those with the lowest earning potential are workers who did not complete high school, who on average will go on to earn $973,000 over a lifetime. Meanwhile the highest earners are professional degree holders, who can potentially make upwards of $3.6 million during their working years.
For those who chose to attend college, deciding on where to study—and which field of study to pursue—can be impactful. Each year, about 3 million undergraduate degrees are granted and 2 million of them are bachelor’s degrees. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the top three degree programs for the period 2009-2010 through 2019-2020 were business, health programs, and social sciences/history, with psychology, biological/biomedical sciences, and engineering not far behind.
Wage variation among fields can vary to an astounding degree. As reported by Stacker in March 2023, “On a national level, those who study nuclear engineering technologies or become technicians in that field have the highest median earnings three years after graduation at $107,804, followed by the fields of biomathematics, bioinformatics, and computational biology ($98,074).” This same report showed that in some states graduates in various liberal arts fields—such as English literature, music, and even education—see earnings as little as one-third of those of engineering grads.
Nonetheless, the disparity in potential future earnings does not necessarily detract from the popularity of such degrees. Best Universities compiled data from the Department of Education on the average number of students enrolled in a particular undergraduate program in the 2017 and 2018 school years, the most recent data available. Slides are sorted alphabetically by state and show the most common degrees awarded to students who attended college in those states.
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Alabama
#1. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 7,077 (9.8%)
#2. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 5,655 (7.8%)
#3. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 5,213 (7.2%)
#4. Business/Commerce, General: 3,978 (5.5%)
#5. Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services: 3,565 (4.9%)
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Alaska
#1. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 409 (9.5%)
#2. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 260 (6.0%)
#3. Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services: 207 (4.8%)
#4. Accounting and Related Services: 162 (3.7%)
#5. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 136 (3.1%)
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Arizona
#1. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 20,259 (11.4%)
#2. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 19,261 (10.8%)
#3. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 13,465 (7.6%)
#4. Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services: 10,142 (5.7%)
#5. Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies: 7,270 (4.1%)
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Arkansas
#1. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 6,748 (14.3%)
#2. Business/Commerce, General: 4,099 (8.7%)
#3. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 2,578 (5.5%)
#4. Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing, and Nursing Assistants: 2,331 (4.9%)
#5. Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services: 1,925 (4.1%)
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California
#1. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 99,222 (16.1%)
#2. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 61,299 (9.9%)
#3. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 25,685 (4.2%)
#4. Psychology, General: 22,734 (3.7%)
#5. Criminal Justice and Corrections: 19,506 (3.2%)
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Colorado
#1. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 10,178 (10.4%)
#2. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 8,325 (8.5%)
#3. Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services: 5,923 (6.0%)
#4. Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies: 4,568 (4.7%)
#5. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 3,496 (3.6%)
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Connecticut
#1. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 2,920 (6.9%)
#2. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 2,484 (5.9%)
#3. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 1,884 (4.5%)
#4. Psychology, General: 1,716 (4.1%)
#5. Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services: 1,620 (3.8%)
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Delaware
#1. Business/Commerce, General: 3,318 (21.6%)
#2. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 1,125 (7.3%)
#3. Criminal Justice and Corrections: 663 (4.3%)
#4. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 608 (3.9%)
#5. Accounting and Related Services: 572 (3.7%)
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Florida
#1. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 64,438 (17.9%)
#2. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 34,479 (9.6%)
#3. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 33,889 (9.4%)
#4. Health and Medical Administrative Services: 16,756 (4.7%)
#5. Criminal Justice and Corrections: 13,018 (3.6%)
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Georgia
#1. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 22,576 (11.3%)
#2. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 17,337 (8.7%)
#3. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 10,192 (5.1%)
#4. Health and Medical Administrative Services: 8,172 (4.1%)
#5. Criminal Justice and Corrections: 7,849 (3.9%)
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Hawaii
#1. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 11,634 (25.3%)
#2. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 3,632 (7.9%)
#3. Health and Medical Administrative Services: 3,333 (7.3%)
#4. Criminal Justice and Corrections: 2,756 (6.0%)
#5. Computer and Information Sciences, General: 1,952 (4.2%)
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Idaho
#1. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 3,989 (15.8%)
#2. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 1,731 (6.9%)
#3. Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services: 1,576 (6.2%)
#4. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 1,401 (5.6%)
#5. Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services: 1,072 (4.2%)
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Illinois
#1. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 20,153 (9.6%)
#2. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 19,875 (9.5%)
#3. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 18,020 (8.6%)
#4. Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing, and Nursing Assistants: 8,149 (3.9%)
#5. Health and Medical Administrative Services: 7,524 (3.6%)
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Indiana
#1. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 16,519 (14.1%)
#2. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 9,335 (8.0%)
#3. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 8,999 (7.7%)
#4. Business/Commerce, General: 4,867 (4.2%)
#5. Health and Medical Administrative Services: 4,614 (3.9%)
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Iowa
#1. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 6,297 (13.3%)
#2. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 2,496 (5.3%)
#3. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 2,159 (4.6%)
#4. Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing, and Nursing Assistants: 1,650 (3.5%)
#5. Health and Physical Education/Fitness: 1,465 (3.1%)
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Kansas
#1. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 6,540 (12.4%)
#2. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 4,744 (9.0%)
#3. Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing, and Nursing Assistants: 4,608 (8.7%)
#4. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 2,825 (5.3%)
#5. Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods: 2,010 (3.8%)
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Kentucky
#1. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 6,238 (8.6%)
#2. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 4,800 (6.6%)
#3. Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing, and Nursing Assistants: 4,063 (5.6%)
#4. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 4,038 (5.6%)
#5. Computer and Information Sciences, General: 3,803 (5.2%)
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Louisiana
#1. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 13,197 (16.7%)
#2. Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services: 6,013 (7.6%)
#3. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 5,772 (7.3%)
#4. Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services: 3,920 (5.0%)
#5. Precision Metal Working: 3,418 (4.3%)
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Maine
#1. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 870 (6.9%)
#2. Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services: 842 (6.7%)
#3. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 711 (5.6%)
#4. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 708 (5.6%)
#5. Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services: 355 (2.8%)
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Maryland
#1. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 9,808 (14.0%)
#2. Business/Commerce, General: 4,866 (7.0%)
#3. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 3,710 (5.3%)
#4. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 3,082 (4.4%)
#5. Information Science/Studies: 2,354 (3.4%)
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Massachusetts
#1. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 6,210 (6.4%)
#2. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 4,924 (5.1%)
#3. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 4,451 (4.6%)
#4. Psychology, General: 3,804 (3.9%)
#5. Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services: 3,237 (3.4%)
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Michigan
#1. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 16,114 (13.1%)
#2. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 13,207 (10.7%)
#3. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 6,809 (5.5%)
#4. Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services: 3,899 (3.2%)
#5. Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services: 3,864 (3.1%)
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Minnesota
#1. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 8,931 (11.3%)
#2. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 6,570 (8.3%)
#3. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 4,525 (5.7%)
#4. Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing, and Nursing Assistants: 3,176 (4.0%)
#5. Health and Medical Administrative Services: 2,794 (3.5%)
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Mississippi
#1. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 6,601 (14.3%)
#2. Business/Commerce, General: 3,671 (7.9%)
#3. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 2,506 (5.4%)
#4. Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services: 2,054 (4.4%)
#5. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 1,512 (3.3%)
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Missouri
#1. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 14,450 (16.5%)
#2. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 10,900 (12.4%)
#3. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 5,305 (6.1%)
#4. Business/Commerce, General: 3,075 (3.5%)
#5. Criminal Justice and Corrections: 2,116 (2.4%)
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Montana
#1. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 1,024 (10.6%)
#2. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 726 (7.5%)
#3. Business/Commerce, General: 447 (4.6%)
#4. Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods: 430 (4.5%)
#5. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 404 (4.2%)
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Nebraska
#1. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 2,545 (10.7%)
#2. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 1,592 (6.7%)
#3. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 1,456 (6.1%)
#4. Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods: 763 (3.2%)
#5. Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies: 753 (3.2%)
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Nevada
#1. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 13,751 (16.0%)
#2. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 13,152 (15.3%)
#3. Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services: 6,708 (7.8%)
#4. Health and Medical Administrative Services: 5,771 (6.7%)
#5. Criminal Justice and Corrections: 3,146 (3.7%)
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New Hampshire
#1. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 4,047 (16.9%)
#2. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 2,185 (9.1%)
#3. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 1,670 (7.0%)
#4. Psychology, General: 1,562 (6.5%)
#5. Accounting and Related Services: 963 (4.0%)
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New Jersey
#1. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 19,238 (13.9%)
#2. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 15,640 (11.3%)
#3. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 10,412 (7.5%)
#4. Criminal Justice and Corrections: 6,260 (4.5%)
#5. Health and Medical Administrative Services: 5,264 (3.8%)
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New Mexico
#1. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 7,255 (21.4%)
#2. Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services: 2,513 (7.4%)
#3. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 1,669 (4.9%)
#4. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 1,493 (4.4%)
#5. Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services: 1,071 (3.2%)
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New York
#1. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 23,555 (9.3%)
#2. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 17,753 (7.0%)
#3. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 12,924 (5.1%)
#4. Psychology, General: 10,390 (4.1%)
#5. Criminal Justice and Corrections: 9,480 (3.7%)
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North Carolina
#1. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 17,260 (10.2%)
#2. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 17,244 (10.2%)
#3. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 14,075 (8.3%)
#4. Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies: 6,256 (3.7%)
#5. Criminal Justice and Corrections: 6,030 (3.6%)
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North Dakota
#1. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 3,091 (14.0%)
#2. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 2,454 (11.2%)
#3. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 1,378 (6.3%)
#4. Health and Medical Administrative Services: 1,276 (5.8%)
#5. Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods: 1,167 (5.3%)
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Ohio
#1. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 23,988 (14.3%)
#2. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 10,854 (6.5%)
#3. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 10,561 (6.3%)
#4. Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services: 7,361 (4.4%)
#5. Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing, and Nursing Assistants: 5,907 (3.5%)
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Oklahoma
#1. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 4,375 (7.4%)
#2. Precision Metal Working: 3,655 (6.2%)
#3. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 3,093 (5.2%)
#4. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 2,761 (4.6%)
#5. Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services: 2,542 (4.3%)
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Oregon
#1. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 9,134 (19.5%)
#2. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 2,298 (4.9%)
#3. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 1,526 (3.3%)
#4. Psychology, General: 1,470 (3.1%)
#5. Accounting and Related Services: 1,123 (2.4%)
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Pennsylvania
#1. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 9,740 (5.8%)
#2. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 9,719 (5.8%)
#3. Finance and Financial Management Services: 6,085 (3.7%)
#4. Business/Commerce, General: 5,514 (3.3%)
#5. Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services: 5,276 (3.2%)
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Rhode Island
#1. Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services: 1,913 (8.3%)
#2. Culinary Arts and Related Services: 1,381 (6.0%)
#3. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 1,114 (4.8%)
#4. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 990 (4.3%)
#5. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 973 (4.2%)
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South Carolina
#1. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 5,335 (8.1%)
#2. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 4,133 (6.3%)
#3. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 4,081 (6.2%)
#4. Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services: 3,699 (5.6%)
#5. Business/Commerce, General: 3,687 (5.6%)
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South Dakota
#1. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 1,026 (9.3%)
#2. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 736 (6.7%)
#3. Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods: 378 (3.4%)
#4. Biology, General: 330 (3.0%)
#5. Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing, and Nursing Assistants: 325 (2.9%)
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Tennessee
#1. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 10,090 (10.6%)
#2. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 7,100 (7.4%)
#3. Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services: 5,351 (5.6%)
#4. Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services: 4,415 (4.6%)
#5. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 4,409 (4.6%)
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Texas
#1. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 48,320 (12.5%)
#2. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 33,255 (8.6%)
#3. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 29,131 (7.5%)
#4. Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services: 18,450 (4.8%)
#5. Criminal Justice and Corrections: 12,462 (3.2%)
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Utah
#1. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 15,087 (14.9%)
#2. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 12,633 (12.4%)
#3. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 10,240 (10.1%)
#4. Health and Medical Administrative Services: 4,033 (4.0%)
#5. Computer and Information Sciences, General: 3,222 (3.2%)
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Vermont
#1. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 626 (7.3%)
#2. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 458 (5.4%)
#3. Psychology, General: 345 (4.0%)
#4. Natural Resources Conservation and Research: 338 (4.0%)
#5. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 336 (3.9%)
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Virginia
#1. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 16,442 (12.5%)
#2. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 14,822 (11.2%)
#3. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 9,977 (7.6%)
#4. Business/Commerce, General: 4,608 (3.5%)
#5. Psychology, General: 4,583 (3.5%)
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Washington
#1. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 19,585 (18.7%)
#2. Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services: 7,090 (6.8%)
#3. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 3,669 (3.5%)
#4. Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods: 3,290 (3.1%)
#5. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 3,274 (3.1%)
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West Virginia
#1. Business/Commerce, General: 3,741 (10.8%)
#2. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 3,689 (10.7%)
#3. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 3,065 (8.9%)
#4. Criminal Justice and Corrections: 1,704 (4.9%)
#5. Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services: 1,620 (4.7%)
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Wisconsin
#1. Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing, and Nursing Assistants: 7,353 (8.1%)
#2. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 6,943 (7.7%)
#3. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 5,482 (6.1%)
#4. Health and Medical Administrative Services: 3,375 (3.7%)
#5. Accounting and Related Services: 2,766 (3.1%)
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Wyoming
#1. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing: 437 (6.5%)
#2. Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies: 437 (6.5%)
#3. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities: 399 (5.9%)
#4. Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods: 263 (3.9%)
#5. Precision Metal Working: 262 (3.9%)
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Washington D.C.
#1. Business/Commerce, General: 3,305 (9.2%)
#2. Business Administration, Management, and Operations: 1,583 (4.4%)
#3. Psychology, General: 1,489 (4.2%)
#4. Political Science and Government: 1,474 (4.1%)
#5. Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other: 1,335 (3.7%)
