I've worked with young people for 25 years. Here's what actually leads to a high-paying job—it has nothing to do with your college major

After 25 years in higher education, working with thousands of students on college success and career outcomes, I’ve come to a conclusion that surprises many families: We’re asking the wrong question about college.

Too often, young people are told to focus on picking the “right” major, usually defined as the one that leads to the highest starting salary. It’s the benchmark many chase, and the one I see students stressing over most.

But that’s not how careers actually unfold. Over time, I’ve watched students from vastly different majors land in similar places professionally. I’ve seen liberal arts and communications graduates catch up to peers in business and STEM. I’ve also seen students in “practical” majors plateau earlier than expected.

Time and time again, I tell students and their parents that what matters most is how you use your time in college, not the major itself.

Research from the Burning Glass Institute supports what I’ve seen firsthand: While some majors lead to higher starting salaries, those differences don’t stay fixed. Many graduates in nontechnical fields close the gap within a decade.