Civil engineering graduates are likely to secure jobs earlier and repay their student loans faster than graduates from most other fields, according to a new study.
A survey released in July by US-based digital personal finance company Achieve found that civil engineering graduates generally enter the workforce quickly and earn higher incomes on average compared to many other degree holders.
"They enter the workforce earning $75,000 (Sh9.7 million) annually on average, with only 2.3 per cent remaining unemployed," the report said.
The study found that civil engineering graduates take slightly more than five years to clear their student loans, which average $25,000 (Sh3.2 million).
"Good pay, steady work and a short repayment window put these graduates ahead of peers in nearly every other field," the report said.
The survey analysed three key employment factors that determine how quickly graduates can repay their education debt.
Early-career wages were used to measure repayment ability, while unemployment and underemployment rates reflected the state of the job market and the likelihood of securing work related to one's degree.
The study also considered median student debt, which varies across disciplines, alongside disposable income to provide a clearer picture of graduates' financial position during repayment.
"Higher debt payoff scores mean faster timelines and stronger financial outcomes," the survey said.
Nursing ranked second, recording an almost similar score to civil engineering, with graduates earning starting salaries of about $70,000 (Sh9.1 million) annually.
With only 2.1 per cent of graduates unemployed and fewer than 13 per cent working in jobs that do not require their degree, nursing recorded the lowest unemployment rate among the top five majors.
"With $23,000 (Sh2.9 million) in student debt, they typically become debt-free in 5.1 years. Solid wages and strong demand for their skills make those monthly payments feel manageable from day one," the study said.
The findings help explain why the United States remains a leading destination for Kenyan nurses, supported by recruitment programmes such as the government's Kazi Majuu Initiative and strong demand among local applicants seeking CGFNS VisaScreen Certification.
Kenya ranks third globally in the number of nurses applying for US VisaScreen credentials, behind only the Philippines and Canada.
Within Africa, Kenya is the leading source of migrant nurses heading to the US, ahead of countries such as Nigeria and Ghana, largely due to the higher earning potential and comprehensive benefits offered in the American healthcare sector.
Economics graduates ranked third and recorded the fastest student loan repayment period among the top five majors, clearing their debt in about 4.5 years.
The shorter repayment period is attributed to strong starting salaries of about $72,000 (Sh9.3 million) and relatively lower student debt, averaging $21,000 (Sh2.7 million).
"Unemployment stands at 3.5 per cent, a touch above nursing but still well below the US average," the survey said.
Finance ranked fourth, with graduates earning entry-level salaries of about $70,000 and taking approximately 5.1 years to repay their student loans.
Fewer than three out of every 100 finance graduates are unemployed, placing the course among those with the lowest joblessness rates in the ranking.
The typical student debt stands at $23,000 (Sh3 million).
The study noted that finance careers offer a combination of strong earnings and a wide range of job opportunities, helping graduates manage their education loans from the beginning of their careers.
Mechanical engineering completed the top five most marketable graduate majors, with graduates earning the highest starting salaries among the ranked courses at about $80,000 (Sh10.4 million) annually.
The study found that mechanical engineering graduates accumulate average student debt of $25,000 (Sh3.2 million), extending their repayment timeline to about 4.9 years.
"The only downside is unemployment, which averages 4.4 per cent, 0.2 per cent higher than the US median, but strong wages still make the overall burden tolerable," the survey said.
Other highly ranked degree programmes based on job absorption and starting salaries include Computer Science (Sh11.3 million annually), Mathematics (Sh9.1 million), Accounting (Sh8.8 million), Marketing (Sh7.8 million) and Business Management (Sh7.2 million).
Graduates searching for a job // A.I
