Career Series - Top Earning Degrees

Education has long been an important part of our society. Now, more than ever, college degrees are becoming more and more crucial as businesses continue to stress the criteria to secure a high paying position:topping the list is a college degree, and preferably an advanced degree. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately one out of every three people over the age of 25 hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Due to the number of college-educated young people, there is an increased amount of competition in the job market which means that selecting your major is not something that should be taken lightly. Regardless of the degree path you choose, attaining a college education is becoming outrageously expensive, so it's even more critical that you pursue a degree in a field that will yield a high salary in order to justify the expense of getting your degree. This is something that everyone should be sure to keep in mind and keep abreast of the trends in careers that will best suit your financial needs as well as allow for room to advance in order to climb the proverbial corporate ladder.

College is not only expensive it is also going to require significant energy, time, and hard work. So it should be fairly obvious that if you are going to take the time to obtain a college degree, you should consider selecting a major that will lead to well-paying jobs and plenty of opportunities. When selecting your major, make sure to carefully consider choosing something that you will enjoy doing (and hopefully one that will earn you plenty of cash).

Studies have shown that people who earn college degrees will typically earn an average of $2.4 million over the course of his or her lifetime. This is not a small sum, and it is definitely something worth fighting for. Below is a list of college majors that are likely to put plenty of money in your pocket (and help pay off those pesky student loans).

• Agriculture: Students who choose to study agriculture are projected to start at a higher salary than most, with earnings of over $51,000 per year. This means that after you spend some time gaining work experience and truly learning the industry, you'll be able to earn much more than this as you get promoted.

• Business: Business (and economics) have long been a popular major, and they are continuing to earn more than the typical college grad, with average starting salaries of over $63,000. This is a degree that can be used in a variety of ways in a variety of industries, and thus the opportunities for earnings are endless. There is no ceiling when it comes to business.

• Computer Science: Computer science degrees are continuing to rake in the cash. While this can be a challenging degree to obtain (and will likely require concentration and countless hours spent in the library), it is a degree that has proven to pay off, literally. With an average starting salary of over $69,000, the possibilities are endless. Those with a specific concentration are likely to earn even higher salaries.

• Engineering: Engineering is a major that is often seen at the top of the "best college majors" list," and this is for good reason. Research has shown that on average, engineers have earned approximately $3.5 million over their lifetimes, which happens to be more than any other college major. In 2015, petroleum majors are projected to earn the highest starting salaries, at approximately $80,000 per year.

• Math and Science: While this might not be the most popular major, it is certainly one of the most lucrative. Furthermore, it is definitely a major in which only a few people are truly able to excel. Physics majors are projected to earn the highest starting salaries, coming in at almost $67,000 per year.

Bottom Line: College is able to provide endless opportunities; think about your major carefully and make those dollars spent earning your degree work for you.

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