Is double majoring worth it?

What the research says about the pay, cost and workload of a second major, plus what I saw from engineering peers who did it.

By Brennan, B.S. Engineering · Published · Updated

Double majoring can pay off if you really want both fields and you plan for the extra work. Two studies of 2003 survey data on college graduates found that double majors earned about 2% to 3% more than single majors on average, and the gain depends on which two fields you combine. The bigger costs are time and workload: a second major usually means more than 60 credits of major classes, and it can push you past four years.

I'm a chemical engineer, and I had peers in college who double majored in engineering. Most of them thought it was worth it. The key was that they knew early in college that they wanted to do it, so they could plan for it from the start.

Do double majors earn more?

A little, on average. The main pay studies all use national surveys of college graduates:

  • Double majors earned 2.3% more than single majors, and most of that gain came from combining majors in two different categories of fields (Del Rossi and Hersch, 2008, using 2003 survey data on graduates without graduate degrees).
  • Double majors earned 3.2% more on average, ranging from nearly 4% at research and comprehensive universities to no difference at liberal arts colleges (Hemelt, 2010, also using 2003 survey data).
  • Students who double majored in business and a STEM field earned more than single majors in those fields, but adding a liberal arts major to STEM or business didn't raise earnings (Del Rossi and Hersch, 2016, using 2010 survey data).

Newer research looks at risk, not just pay. A 2024 National Bureau of Economic Research working paper (not a peer-reviewed article) found that "double majors experience substantial protection against earnings shocks, of 56%." Put simply, when pay in one field took a hit, double majors felt less of it. A 2025 study in The American Economist used American Community Survey data from 2009 to 2022 to look at how majors and double majors affect job outcomes, but its published summary doesn't give a double major pay figure.

So the pay boost is real but small, and it depends on the pairing.

Is double majoring hard?

Yes, for most students. A 2012 Vanderbilt University study surveyed about 1,760 students at nine colleges, and the researchers note that double majors typically take more than 60 required credits across their two majors. In their transcript sample, double majors had taken about four more courses than single majors by their seventh semester, and 65% said their majors' requirements kept them out of classes they'd love to take. Among students who considered a second major and decided against it, 33% said they couldn't fit enough credits into four years. Still, the researchers found that most double majors managed both majors without giving up much outside class, even though many described frantic lives.

In engineering it's even harder. My peers who double majored took 20 or more credit hours a semester so they could finish both engineering majors in five years. They had very little free time, and most had no room for an internship or co-op. The few who did worked limited hours, sometimes 15 to 20 a week, at local engineering firms.

Does double majoring cost more?

It depends on whether the second major adds time. If both majors fit into four years, it often costs little or nothing extra. Some colleges charge one flat tuition rate for a full-time load. At Pittsburg State University, for example, tuition stays the same from 12 to 18 or more credits, and the school says that by taking extra courses each semester you can earn a double major without additional tuition expense.

If the second major adds a semester or a year, you pay for that time. For 2025-26, average published tuition and fees were $11,950 at public four-year colleges for in-state students and $45,000 at private nonprofit four-year colleges, according to the College Board, and that's before housing and food.

Many of my peers who double majored had full-tuition scholarships, which is a big reason they took on a second major, and the extra cost was small for them. I can't speak for students paying their own way. If that's you, price out the extra semester or year before you commit, and check whether your scholarships cover it.

What are the benefits of a double major?

  • A small pay boost on average, largest when the two majors come from different fields (see the studies above).
  • More jobs to choose from. My peers could apply for jobs in both of their engineering fields.
  • Broader thinking. Students in the Vanderbilt study said their two majors helped them think differently and approach assignments more creatively, especially when the fields were very different.
  • More research with professors. In the same study, 46% of double majors had done research directed by a professor, compared with 40% of single majors.

What are the downsides of a double major?

  • More time and possibly more money. An extra semester or year means more tuition.
  • Less room for electives. Most double majors in the Vanderbilt study felt their requirements kept them out of classes they wanted.
  • Little time for internships or co-ops. A full load in two majors leaves few open hours in the week.
  • No guaranteed edge with employers. A second major can show broader coursework and expertise, so it can help. But on the engineering hiring committees I've sat on, I haven't seen a double major give an applicant an advantage.

What are the best double majors?

The best double majors are pairings that research shows pay off, or that share enough classes to stay manageable. When I compare the data with what I've seen, these pairings make the most sense:

  • Majors from two different categories. In the 2008 study, most of the pay gain came from combining fields across different major categories rather than two closely related majors. The 2024 working paper found the same pattern for risk: the protection was "more pronounced when the two majors are more distantly related."
  • Business plus a STEM field. In the 2016 study, this was the pairing that earned more than either single major. See what you can do with a business degree for the jobs it leads to.
  • A liberal arts major, for reasons other than pay. Adding one to STEM or business didn't raise earnings in the 2016 study, but it was linked with more research and development work, and Vanderbilt students reported the biggest creativity gains when they combined very different fields.
  • In engineering, majors that overlap. My peers combined computer and electrical engineering, or mechanical and electrical. Pairs like these share coursework, which keeps the extra load from being even heavier.

Economics and business administration were popular choices among double majors in the Vanderbilt study, and many students picked complementary pairs, such as biology and chemistry or finance and accounting. To compare pay across fields, see our list of the highest paying college majors.

Should I double major?

Is a double major worth it for you? Ask yourself these questions first:

  • Do you have a strong, genuine interest in both fields?
  • Can you decide early? My peers who were glad they did it planned for it from early in college.
  • Do the two majors share classes?
  • Can you handle the cost if it takes an extra semester or year?

In my opinion, you should only double major if you're very motivated and have a keen interest in both fields. In engineering especially, it's very difficult to handle.

If you want a second skill set without a second major, look at a certificate or a minor. For computer, electrical, mechanical and several other engineering majors, adding a certificate is very doable. In chemical engineering it can be harder to fit one in, so look for a niche specialty you can add in about 6 to 12 credit hours, such as a polymer engineering certificate or specialized courses in chemical engineering design, if your school offers them. A minor is another lighter option: in the Vanderbilt study, about 60% of students who considered a double major and decided against it ended up with a minor instead.

Not sure which two fields fit you? Your top few results on the quiz can show whether two of your interests are worth combining.

Other double major questions

Do employers care about a double major?

Sometimes. A second major can show broader coursework and open up more kinds of jobs. In my experience hiring engineers, though, it hasn't made an applicant stand out.

Is a double major better than a minor?

Not always. A minor takes far fewer credits and leaves more room for electives and internships. A double major makes more sense if the career you want calls for deep training in both fields.

Can you double major and still graduate in four years?

Yes, if the majors overlap and you plan early. Taking 15 credits every fall and spring adds up to 120 credits in four years, a common minimum for a bachelor's degree. Engineering double majors often need longer, so map out both majors' classes in your first year.

If you're still deciding

Not sure whether you'd get one degree or two? See double major vs. dual degree. You can also read how to choose a college major.

Take the college major quiz

Sources

Pay figures are from studies by Del Rossi and Hersch, Hemelt, Hanks and colleagues, and Tebaldi and colleagues; workload figures are from the Vanderbilt report; costs are from the College Board and Pittsburg State. Each number was checked against the original source.

  1. Del Rossi, A. F., and Hersch, J. (2008). Double your major, double your return? Economics of Education Review, 27(4), 375-386. ideas.repec.org
  2. Hemelt, S. W. (2010). The college double major and subsequent earnings. Education Economics, 18(2), 167-189. ideas.repec.org
  3. Del Rossi, A. F., and Hersch, J. (2016). The private and social benefits of double majors. Journal of Benefit-Cost Analysis, 7(2), 292-325. cambridge.org
  4. Hanks, A. S., Jiang, S., Qian, X., Wang, B., and Weinberg, B. A. (2024). Do double majors face less risk? An analysis of human capital diversification. NBER Working Paper 32095. nber.org
  5. Tebaldi, E., Elmslie, B., and Gittell, R. (2025). The earnings premium: Major, gender, and double majors in economic cycles. The American Economist, 70(2), 214-237. doi.org
  6. Pitt, R. N., and Tepper, S. A. (2012). Double Majors: Influences, Identities, & Impacts. Curb Center, Vanderbilt University, for the Teagle Foundation. vanderbilt.edu (PDF)
  7. Pittsburg State University. Flat-Rate Tuition. pittstate.edu
  8. College Board. Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2025: Highlights. research.collegeboard.org