If you want to make more money in Arizona, major in engineering or computer science

Engineering and computer science graduates from Arizona's public universities bring in the more money than other graduates, and more than double their counterparts who majored in gender studies or communications.

That's according to a new report from the Arizona Board of Regents that details the earning power of the state's public university graduates by major.

The report breaks down earnings of 2012 graduates compared to the amount of debt they incurred to get their degrees.

The graduates largely took on similar amounts of debt, but their earnings varied widely depending on their field of study.

And all graduates, regardless of majors, brought in more money per month than people with high school diplomas and no college, even when deducting monthly loan payments, the report found.

The median annual salary among the 9,406 graduates five years after graduation was $49,130.

The annual median salary for people with only high school diplomas in Arizona was $27,708, according to the Board of Regents.

Arizona engineering grads topped the charts at all three schools, bringing in $74,500 on average. Just narrowly trailing engineers were those who majored in computer and information sciences.

On average, student loan debt for graduates who took out debt while studying at the three universities was $23,844 in fiscal year 2017. The national average was just over $30,000 in 2015, the most recent year of available data.

The analysis focused on 2012 graduates who lived and worked full-time in Arizona in 2017.

Regent Ron Shoopman said the report provides university leaders and regents with data to back up the point that Arizona university degrees are worth the money.

“It’s already a talking point in my brain — if you’re a graduate from an Arizona university, you’re going to do better than someone with a high school diploma, no matter what you major in,” Shoopman said at Friday’s Board of Regents meeting.

The report can help the universities battle anecdotes that claim degrees aren't worth the money, particularly at the Arizona Legislature, where “anecdote often trumps data,” said John Arnold, the interim director of the Board of Regents.

Here's how majors measured up.

Highest earners:

1. Engineering: income of $74,500; average debt of $21,089

2. Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services: income of $74,183; average debt of $24,890

3. Engineering Technologies/Technicians: income of $71,676; average debt of $23,781

4. Science Technologies/Technicians: income of $61,753; average debt of $21,358

5. Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences: income of $61,643; average debt of $20,430

Lowest earners:

1. Communications, Technologies/Technicians and Support Services: income of $33,460; average debt of $19,068

2. Area, Ethnic, Cultural, and Gender Studies: income of $38,531; average debt of $21,336

3. Visual and Performing Arts: income of $39,162; average debt of $19,572

4. English Language and Literature/Letters: income of $40,266; average debt of $18,486

5. Philosophy and Religious Studies: income of $41,654; average debt of $22,453

Reach reporter Rachel Leingang at rachel.leingang@gannett.com or 602-444-8157. Follow her on Twitter @rachelleingang or find her on Facebook.

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