Stem Degrees Are Top But Liberal Arts Plus Grad School Can Also Do It
What is the college degree that you should have gotten? Maybe it’s the one you did get. But sometimes when people are getting out of collegeand they and their friends start hitting the job marketthey realize that the opportunities open to grads with their particular major are not necessarily in the career fields they’d like to go after. Or they realize that the fields they thought they wanted to pursue actually pay a pittance of what new grads with different majors are being offered.
The price of a college education these days is enough to make even the most well-heeled students gulp. So its worth thinking of your degree as an investment in your future, not just the next hurdle you have to get over in order to land that first job.
The most valuable degrees are the ones that not only provide an immediate payoff after college but also afford those who pursue them long-term career satisfaction and the possibility of earnings growth. Here are some degrees that can produce those kinds of resultsand that anyone still in school may want to consider.
When Do You Have To Declare Your Major And Can You Change It
When you apply to different universities, you will probably be asked for your intended major. This major is either the program you will enter into as an incoming freshman or, if your institution doesnt allow you to declare your major until later in your undergraduate studies, its the major you think you will declare when the time comes. Sometimes you will need to submit a supplemental application or a portfolio for your intended major.
In general, your intended major is exactly what it sounds like: an intention to study a discipline, not set in stone. And many students change their major throughout their undergraduate years.
Because universities require a certain number of total university credits for graduation, a students coursework is generally divided into three components: general education or distribution requirements, major requirements, and minor or elective courses. Students who are unsure about their major might take their elective courses in diverse fields when trying to come to a conclusion about their desired field of study. On the other hand, if you change your major too late, you may delay your graduation, so it is important to plan as you explore. It is also important to remember that, at many universities and colleges, it is easier to change your major within a school than between schools.
Generally, universities will ask you to declare your major by the end of your sophomore year.
Q How Important Is Choosing The Right Major For My Career
It depends on the career you want. Certain majors lead to specific careers, like doctor or lawyer. Some majors, like art and economics, can lead to several careers. If you’re still trying to determine your career path, identify the skills and knowledge you’ll gain from a particular major. Then, map out how you can use these skills in the professional world after graduation.
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Construction Services And Other Engineering Degrees Also Have A Low Unemployment Rate
Construction services came in as the second-most valuable major, followed by computer engineering. The top 25 majors had a median unemployment rate of just 2.3 percent and median incomes of $93,000.
Electrical engineering came in as the highest-paying degree. Americans with electrical engineering degrees reported a median income of $107,000. However, our index downgraded the major because it has a slightly higher unemployment rate and a high percentage of graduates who went on to earn advanced degrees .
Bachelors Degrees For Occupational Therapy
There isnt any particular undergraduate degree that you must earn before earning your MS in OT nearly any bachelors degree can suffice. The Regis MS in Occupational Therapy program, for example, accepts applicants from all academic backgroundsfrom art majors to chemistry majorsso long as certain prerequisite coursework is complete.
That being said, there are certain bachelors degrees and fields of study that can make transitioning into an occupational therapy career easier in the long run due to their focus on particular subjects. We explore some of these undergraduate degrees below.
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Best College Majors For The Future
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Weve ranked the 30 Best College Majors for the Future for 2022. Explore the best future majors, top salaries, and the best majors for future job market.
In search of the best college majors for the future? Our in-depth rankings guide will explore the most popular college majors with the highest paying salaries after graduation, projected job growth rate, and employer demand!
The market is poised for growth, and college graduates are in demand for a variety of lucrative jobs.
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What You Study Influences Your Future Pay And Employment Prospects Know What To Expect Career
College is often considered the surest path to a lucrative career. After all, while you can find some promising jobs without a college degree, the majority of the best jobs for the future require you to have at least a bachelor’s degree just to get your foot in the door. And this is especially true for those jobs with the biggest paychecks. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a worker with a bachelor’s degree typically earns 80% more than someone with just a high school diploma.
But not all college degrees are created equal. To determine which majors typically come with the best hiring prospects and pay, we studied the data for 102 popular college majors. We looked for courses of study that tend to lead to fat paychecksboth right out of school and further along your career path. We also sought out majors that are in high demand based on recent online job postings as well as long-term growth expectations for related occupations. Plus, we factored in the percentage of workers with given degrees who feel their jobs have a positive impact on the world because having a sense of purpose can be just as important as having a good payday.
The top of our rankings present interested scholars with the best shots at success and satisfaction in the workplace, complete with generous incomes and an abundance of job opportunities. Check out the best college majors for a lucrative career.
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- Mid-career salary: $123,500
- Annual online job postings: 21,252
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Top Choice #1 Petroleum Engineering
- Starting Median Salary: $84,000
- Mid-Career: $126,000
- Future Growth: 3%
Petroleum Engineering is first on our list of rankings for the best college majors. It can be one of the most fruitful majors for young students. While the market is insanely competitive, the financial rewards for majors in this field can be incredibly high.
A student who selects this major can expect a high-intensity program featuring a diverse collection of classes, including engineering, economics, and environmental studies.
Because of the high competition levels for future jobs in this major, students should consider taking a masters or even a PhD in this field for furthering their chances of success once they enter the job market in the future.
If you have a good background in math and the sciences, this may be the best college major for you. Although some core courses for this major may be completed online, petroleum engineering bachelor degrees are not offered entirely online.
Geology And Earth Science
The study of the structure, properties, and processes of the earth is a vast field. Earth science looks at rocks, soil, water, air, and everything related to those elements to learn how our planet got to be the way it is and how it might change in the future. Geology and earth science graduates can find opportunities with government departments, environmental consulting firms, and energy companies.
- Median salary: $69,000
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Accounting And Computer Systems
– Early career pay: $63,000- Mid-career pay: $117,300- Share of alumni who say their work makes the world a better place: 37%
This degree is an appropriate fit for people with passion for business and technology. With an accounting and computer systems degree, alumni often pursue certification as a certified public accountant. Graduates also have the additional skill set of deeply understanding software and databases frequently used in business. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 12% expected job growth in the industry by 2028.
– Early career pay: $75,500- Mid-career pay: $117,400- Share of alumni who say their work makes the world a better place: data not available%
A degree in engineering mechanics offers a variety of important postsecondary career opportunities. Combining both basic sciences and engineering sciences like thermodynamics, mechanics, electrical engineering, and engineering mechanics is essential in fields such as aerospace and engineering. Graduates most often find work as architectural and engineering managers, engineers, or engineering professors.
– Mid-career pay: $117,400- Share of alumni who say their work makes the world a better place: 44%
Most Useful Majors To Get Your Degree In
Most people want to major in a field that is both interesting to them and that will allow them to earn a living once they graduate. Several majors are considered useful, with some of the most valuable majors being in engineering and medicine. In this article, we explore 25 of the most useful college majors you can pursue to increase your chances of landing a high-paying job after graduation.
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Information And Computer Science
– Early career pay: $58,600- Mid-career pay: $140,900- Share of alumni who say their work makes the world a better place: 62%
Using both concrete and abstract principles, information and computer science majors learn to solve problems and explore new areas using computers. Graduates will leave school with the ability to create algorithms, understand different programming languages, and utilize artificial intelligence, data mining, and security skills. The need for these professionals is expected to grow at a rate well above the national average, although obtaining a masters degree is a wise choice to further enhance job prospects.
– Mid-career pay: $142,600- Share of alumni who say their work makes the world a better place: 68%
Designing, manufacturing, and maintaining electrical equipment are the fields of expertise for graduates with electrical power engineering degrees. A downturn in manufacturing and telecommunications will have an adverse effect on job prospects in the next decade, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting only 3% growth. Students can get ahead by completing internships, and will have to pass the Fundamentals of Engineering exam to become an engineer-in-training, while further work experience is needed before becoming a professional engineer.
– Mid-career pay: $143,400- Share of alumni who say their work makes the world a better place: 51%
Law And Accounting Double Major
Like Business, Accounting is a flexible double major option that you can combine with just about any subject. Another double major option combined with accounting is Law. A Law and Accounting double major is excellent for students interested in working in the financial compliance field.
If students plan to attend law school or prepare for the CPA examination, a double major in Law and Accounting is perfect, too! Tax law, for instance, is one branch of law and is an emerging sector in the labor market.
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Best Majors For Travel: What To Study For Jobs To See The World
A lot of us share the dream of traveling around the world full-time. In reality though, we have bills to pay and we have to be able to feed ourselves. For most of us, that means a job that we can do while were traveling or one that involves travel for work. I spent a lot of time in college trying to explore the best way to do this and Ive talked to many people on how they balance their careers and their travels. After some research, I wanted to share my list of the best majors for travel !
Ive included links to relevant Woman of the Week interviews where Ive talked with working women from around the world to find out what they do and how it helps them travel. Ive also included some relevant links for more information about these majors.
Remember a degree is just a start and doesnt mean you have to work in this field or that youre limited in your career. But here are some of the top majors that make finding a job with travel options easiest.
Collegevines Top 10 Hardest Majors
To help you start thinking about which major is best for you, we put together a ranked list of the ten hardest majors. We used a combination of lowest average GPA, highest number of hours spent studying, and lowest return on investment to determine which majors are the hardest to pursue. In these listings, youll notice the statistic, 20-year ROI. A 20-year ROI is the difference between the 20-year median pay for a graduate with a bachelors degree in the listed major and the 24-year median pay for an individual with only a high school diploma, minus the total 4-year cost of obtaining a bachelors degree. It effectively tells how much better off graduates are financially due to obtaining a bachelors degree in a specific area.
This list is by no means exhaustive, and your list of hardest majors likely would be different than ours. As you read, think about what makes some of these majors easier or harder for you.
Average Weekly Study Hours: 16.5
Predicted 20-Year ROI: -$163,600
Potential Careers Paths and Median Salaries for Fine Arts Graduates:
- Professional Artist: $49k
Average Weekly Study Hours: 16
Predicted 20-Year ROI: $202,000
Potential Career Paths and Median Salaries for Philosophy Graduates:
- Non-Profit Professional: $70k
- Lawyer : $127k
- Philosophy Professor : $88k
- Public Policy Professional : $125k
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The Purposes Of A College Minor
A college minor is an academic field formally declared and committed to by a student which is secondary in importance to their .
While students must choose a major in order to receive a bachelor’s degree, a minor is usually optional.
There are several reasons why your student might want to commit to a college minor, including:
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Materials Science And Engineering
- Base Salary: $69,400
- Median Salary : $92,390
- Job Outlook : 2%
Although the job outlook for materials engineers isn’t that high, this major and career should still give you a good shot at making a decent amount of money in the long run.
A materials engineering program integrates the fields of math and science, allowing students to study an array of materials, from glass and plastic to metals and ceramics. A materials science major is extremely similar but normally has a bigger emphasis on improving the function and composition of materials. Some colleges combine the two majors into a single materials science and engineering program.
Classes typically include calculus, physics, chemistry, engineering design, properties of materials, thermodynamics, kinetics of materials, smart materials, and sustainable energy technologies.
- Median Salary : $93,280
- Job Outlook : 11%
Biochemistry is a useful science major to consider if you’re passionate about biological processes and lab work. Biochemists currently have high job growth and a median salary of $93,000.
Although you’ll need a graduate degree to become a biochemist, you can use your bachelor’s in biochemistry in positions such as biological technician or pharmacy technician, which are presently experiencing faster-than-average employment growth .
- Median Salary : $88,190
- Job Outlook : 33%
Bachelor Of Computer Science Or Mathematics
Job: Operation Research AnalystsMedian pay in 2020: $86,200
If youre the type of person that believes that data reveals the true nature of a problem, then this is the job for you. Operations research analysts play an integral role in the future of business. They are experts at critical thinking and have excellent math skills that enable them to better track results, forecast trends, solve business problems and make better decisions. Operations research analysts use a combination of math, engineering, and science to analyze human behavior, study complex organizational issues, and more. They are involved in all aspects of an organization and use statistical modeling to analyze information and provide solutions.
Most employers only require a bachelors degree in computer science or mathematics for these jobs, though some may require a masters degree. Operations research is still quite a specialized field, so few schools offer programs specific to this field. As a result, many analysts have degrees in related computer science or mathematics fields.
This career is projected to grow by 25% in the near future and adding 25,600 jobs to the market.
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The 17 Best College Majors For Finding A Job
College Info , General Education
Trying to figure out what to major in? Then you’re probably curious about what the best college majors are in terms of how much money they can make you and what kinds of jobs you can get with them.
Here, we go over the criteria we used to determine the 17 best degrees to get. After, we cover some quick tips for identifying the best major for you.