Investing in college still pays off, but the choice of degree program makes all the difference. According to the University Report 2025 by the JobPricing Observatory, salaries in STEM disciplines stand out among recent graduates: a chemical engineer earns an average of 36,275 euros annually, compared to 30,798 euros for those who studied history or philosophy. A gap that can reach +76% in the over-55 bracket. The most profitable degrees are all engineering: at the top is chemical and materials engineering, followed by nuclear, mechanical, management and computer science. Economics and mathematics also exceed 35,000 euros annually in the 25-34 age group. Despite these figures, only 29.4% of 25-34 year olds in Italy have a bachelor's degree, compared to the EU average of 47%, a gap that weighs on national competitiveness.