Majors With the Least Student Loan Debt

Student loan debt by major can swing by tens of thousands of dollars depending on what a graduate chose to study, with behavioral sciences majors carrying a median of $42,822 in debt compared to just $7,591 for biological and physical science majors.

Where the Numbers Land

That $35,231 gap between the two extremes shows how much a field of study can shape a graduate's financial starting point. Tuition costs, program length and expected earnings all factor into how much students end up borrowing, and those variables differ wildly from one discipline to another.

At the bachelor's degree level, the median student loan debt at graduation in 2022 was $23,796. Behavioral sciences sat at the top of that list, while science technologies and technicians, general, came in lowest at $9,529. Associate degree borrowers generally owed less overall, with a median balance of $14,160. Among those students, alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems carried the heaviest debt load at $38,533, while biological and physical science again came in lowest at $7,591.

Why the Gaps Exist

Roughly one in six American adults carries federal student debt, and the size of that debt tends to track closely with field of study. Some programs run longer, some require pricier equipment or clinical training, and some simply lead to higher starting salaries that justify heavier borrowing. A nursing or engineering student might take on more debt but also step into a job that pays enough to manage it. A behavioral sciences graduate, by contrast, may borrow just as much or more without the same salary cushion waiting on the other side.

What Heavier Debt Loads Mean Day to Day

A degree can widen career options and boost lifetime earnings, but the monthly payment attached to that degree carries its own weight. Graduates with larger balances sometimes delay buying a home, starting a family or putting money toward retirement simply because their loan payments eat into what's left over each month.

There's also a less obvious cost. Some graduates feel locked into a job or a city they wouldn't otherwise choose, because the salary there makes loan payments more manageable. That pressure can quietly steer someone away from work they'd find more meaningful.

Weighing Major Choice Against Student Loan Debt

Higher earning potential doesn't automatically mean higher debt, and a modest salary doesn't guarantee a modest loan balance either. The mismatch between what a field pays and what it costs to study is exactly what students and families need to look at closely before committing to a program.

Comparing expected earnings against likely borrowing, program length and career goals gives a clearer picture than looking at tuition sticker price alone. For many students, that comparison ends up mattering just as much as the choice of school itself.