Why Should I Pursue a STEM-Designated Degree?

A STEM-designated degree can point you toward the fields where job openings are increasing faster than the rest of the economy, not just toward a “hot job” that may cool off by the time you graduate.

Student in a lab wearing safety goggles and writing notes.

Not every major that sounds technical is officially classified as STEM. The U.S. government maintains a specific list of degree programs that are “STEM-designated.” That label comes with real, practical advantages beyond just the subject matter itself.

Strong, growing demand

STEM occupations are projected to grow more than 8% between 2024 and 2034, compared to under 3% growth for non-STEM jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A STEM-designated degree can point you toward the fields where job openings are increasing faster than the rest of the economy, not just toward a “hot job” that may cool off by the time you graduate.

Higher earning potential

The median annual wage across all STEM occupations was $103,580 in 2024, more than double the $49,500 median for all occupations nationally, according to BLS. At Stevens specifically, student outcomes track that pattern. The average starting salary across undergraduate majors for the Class of 2024 was $84,800, with several individual STEM programs — including computer science, at $97,400 for the Class of 2025 — well above that average.

Built-in hands-on experience

STEM fields lend themselves to learning by doing, and employers increasingly reward that experience. Internship-to-full-time conversion rates reached their highest mark in five years for the 2024-2025 cycle, with offer rates climbing nearly 10% year over year, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

At Stevens, that’s built directly into the curriculum rather than offered as an optional extra. Every engineering student takes a hands-on, design-focused course called the “Design Spine” each semester. It culminates in a two-semester Senior Design capstone where teams work on real-world business problems, sometimes in direct collaboration with outside companies. Students have access to the MakerCenter’s MakerSpace, Machine Shop, and Prototype Object Fabrication Lab to build and test what they design.

Beyond the classroom, nearly 30% of Stevens engineering students participate in the university’s Cooperative Education Program. They alternate semesters of coursework with semesters of full-time, paid work at external companies.

A pathway to advanced study

A STEM-designated bachelor’s degree also opens the door to graduate credentials that pay off. Computer science master’s graduates are projected to be the highest-paid Class of 2026 master’s degree holders, with an average salary of $94,212 — an increase of nearly 11% over last year, according to NACE.

What this means for choosing a major

A STEM designation isn’t a guarantee of any individual outcome, and it shouldn’t be the only factor in choosing a major you’ll spend four years studying. But the advantages of pursuing a STEM-designated major are clear: a faster-growing job market, higher average pay, hands-on training that employers value and a more direct path to the advanced credentials in highest demand.