New York Fed research suggests students aiming for top early-career earnings may see the strongest outcomes in engineering fields, with computer engineering graduates leading among the highest-income majors within five years. The analysis highlights that 80% of the top 10 majors by five-year income are engineering degrees, while liberal arts and humanities are positioned at roughly half the earnings level. The study also notes within-field variation, with specialized engineering disciplines tending to outperform generalist tracks. While higher education leaders and advisors typically emphasize broader outcomes, the findings intensify calls for transparent program-level employment and earnings reporting, particularly for families evaluating affordability and return on education.