Bulgarian higher education graduates see 15% income rise

The Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science has released the 2026 Higher Education Rating System, highlighting significant growth in graduate earnings and employment. The average taxable income for graduates from the last five years has reached 1,625 euros, marking a 15% increase from 2025. Over the last decade, these wages have nearly tripled from 543 euros in 2016.

Data indicates that higher academic degrees correlate with better labor market integration. Approximately 86% of master's graduates work in fields related to their studies, compared to 69% for those with a master's following a bachelor's, and 51% for bachelor's degree holders alone. Doctoral graduates show the highest realization rate at 93%, with incomes nearly double those of bachelor's graduates.

In terms of specific fields, graduates in Military Science and Informatics reported the highest average incomes in 2025, exceeding 4,700 BGN. At the institutional level, master's graduates in Administration and Management from the American University reported the highest average taxable income at 10,108 BGN, followed by Informatics graduates from Sofia University and New Bulgarian University.