The decision to go to college can be on of the best choices a teenager makes. In the four years ahead of them, they'll make new friends, learn exciting new things, and reach graduation as an entirely different person than they were when they entered. But what many colleges fail to include on their brochures is that students are also very likely to graduate with thousands and thousands of dollars worth of debt.When you're racking up that much debt, you want a job that can ensure you pay off your loans while still allowing you to move out of your parent's house. Here are 10 of the highest paying majors that can allow you to do just that without needing to get your graduate degree:
10. Biology
While many individuals with a biology will choose to continue their education to become a doctor or some other career that requires years and years of schooling, just a Bachelor’s Degree in biology can set you up for a pretty lucrative career. Many individuals who graduate with a degree in biology will go on to work in research, becoming laboratory managers or health and safety supervisors. Those that choose a career path with a biology degree can expect to make median salaries around $80,000 for exploring the way living organisms work.When deciding what your major should be when you enter college can be difficult. With so many options to choose from, you want to select something that you can ensure will pay off after graduation. Whether you’re interested in business, sciences, or math, you can be sure to find something that fits your needs. As many of these majors can easily be adapted to fit into the industry of your choosing, any student can find a lucrative career path that fits their dreams.
9. Economics
Economics majors look at the way things are produced and how they are sold around the world. They also look at the way distribution works, how supply and demand play into one another, and the ways various companies and even countries price and produce the products they sell. While economic majors still involve some math and science, the application of the processes are much different than in an engineering degree. Economics can be another great option for students who are not entirely science oriented but still looking to make a decent salary after graduation. For many economic majors, they can expect median salaries around $100,000.
8. Human Resources
Like something that isn’t engineering, getting a degree in human resources can pay off extremely well. Companies will pay human resource agents a lot of money to help them bring in the best candidate for open positions. Meaning you can make around $80,000 a year to read resumes, interview potential candidates, train new employees, and maintain a happy, healthy, and productive office environment. For anyone who is more person-oriented than math or science oriented, getting a bachelor’s degree in human resources can ensure you graduate with a well-paying job at the end of your four-year education.
7. Computer Science
Computer science is usually either grouped with engineering or mathematics. Either way, those who graduate from a computer science program can expect to make a pretty decent salary after graduating with just a Bachelor’s degree. Individuals with a computer science degree can go on to work in Information Technology departments across the country, become a computer systems analyst, or a security engineer. Salaries for most computer science graduates begin somewhere around $66,000 but can increase to $112,000 at mid-career.
6. Electrical and Computer Engineering
Many of the tech leaders of the world probably got their education in electrical and computer engineering. There are a number of things an individual who decides to pursue this career path can do after graduation, including creating robots that can perform surgery, develop electric-powered cars, or even make robots more human-like. The focus of many electrical and computer engineers is on designing safer or more productive ways of doing things that can genuinely help people. Those who graduate from an electrical and computer engineering program can go on to make around $66,000 as a starting salary, but because it opens so many doors for the individual, it can vary.
5. Electronics & Communications Engineering
As an electronics and communications engineering student, you will need to take classes in electrical networks, semiconductor devices, digital communications and more, all relating to the way we store and retrieve energy and electricity. These kinds of engineers often move on to work in the broadcast industry, assisting with radio or television, or may even work with the military. After graduating from their program, electronics and communications engineering students can expect to find a job with a starting salary of around $64,000, with an increase to around $113,000 at mid-career.
4. Chemical Engineering
The engineering world continues to dominate the top of the list with chemical engineering. There are a number of things individuals with a chemical engineering degree can do that stems to many areas and industries all over the world while still expecting an entry-level salary of around $69,000. Chemical engineers often find jobs working in gas and oil, which we have already determined can be incredibly rewarding. They may also pursue jobs in pharmaceuticals, toiletries, food and drink, plastics and metals, or fibers and polymers. It is the chemical engineers of the world that help us to create new materials and products.
3. Nuclear Engineering
With an engineering degree topping this list, there is no surprise that another branch of engineering would come in the top three. Nuclear engineering majors may not make as much post-graduation as those with a petroleum engineering degree, but they can still expect to find an entry-level job with a starting salary of around $67,000 with only their Bachelor’s Degree. Individuals who graduate with a nuclear engineering degree can expect to find new ways to use radiation in the medical world, create nuclear reactors, and find ways to dispose of nuclear waste while maintaining the safety of the environment.
2. Actuarial Mathematics
A bachelor’s degree in actuarial mathematics can set students up for a career in some pathways. For anyone who enjoys math, a degree in actuarial mathematics can open a lot of doors for the future, all with high paying salaries. Some of those jobs include actuary, logistician, and market research analyst. While the highest paid job of these options is as an actuary, graduates of an actuarial mathematics program can expect to make at least $60,000 post graduation without the need to go to graduate school.
1. Petroleum Engineering
While any engineering can set you up for a high paying job, petroleum engineers are in particularly high demand. Petroleum engineering majors go on to hold jobs in gas and oil production and areas with similar products and services. Getting a degree in petroleum engineering will require a lot of science and math classes, but if you can excel in those areas, you may find yourself with a starting salary of over $100,000 after graduation, all without the need to continue your education beyond your Bachelor’s Degree.
