If you're hoping to snag a high-paying job after graduation, you may want to consider earning one of these degrees.
When choosing a major, it's never a bad idea to consider your
post-graduation goals before buying the books. In some cases, a certain
skill set or passion drives a student's motivation to go to school.
Other times, students are interested in earning as much as possible with a high-paying job.
If you fall into the latter camp, do you know which degrees could prepare you for a career that pays well?
"All of the degrees below require some of the same basic skill sets,
which include strong communication, analytical and critical thinking
skills, and being detail oriented. In addition, according to the U.S.
Department of Labor, these fields are expected to grow faster than
average for all occupations," says Amber Lennon, director of the Oxley
Career Education Program at the College of Mount Saint Vincent.
Interested to see if any of these in-demand degrees get you excited enough to step into the classroom?
Keep reading to learn about six degrees that could help you pursue a job that pays a median annual wage of at least $45,000.
Degree #1: Accounting
Have you always breezed through your tax returns and balanced your
checkbook without batting an eye? If so, a bachelor's degree in
accounting could give you real-world skills that could put you on the
path to a well-paid future.
In this program, you could take typical courses like accounting,
auditing, and business law, and you'll learn how to analyze financial
information and risks for an organization, says the College Board, a
not-for-profit organization committed to excellence and equity in
education.
The High-Pay Factor: Additional government
regulations and reporting requirements have led to more demand at the
same moment when baby boomers are starting to retire, says Allen Wass,
president of the Sanford Rose Associates Owner's Association Board, an
executive recruitment firm in Hudson, Ohio.
Lennon agrees: "Due to recent financial crises and changes in
financial regulations, there is a high demand for detailed financial
documentation. Recent college graduates will have the opportunity to
enter public, management, or government accounting or internal
auditing."
Lennon adds that you'll need strong analytical, mathematical, and
communication skills, in addition to being detail oriented to succeed as
an accountant.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Accounting Program.
Potential Careers:
- Accountant ($63,550)*
- Management Analyst (78,600)*
Degree #2: Nursing
Are you interested in making a career out of caring for others?
Studying nursing could give you the tangible skills for this field and
could help you earn a great paycheck post-graduation.
The College Board says you can expect to take classes in adult
nursing, childbearing-family nursing, and health assessment. In a health
assessment course you could learn to conduct physical exams, take
health histories, and design a plan of care.
The High-Pay Factor: Lennon says that nurses are the front-line responders in the hospital and the vital link between the patient and their doctors.
"Not only do they spend more time with patients than the doctors do,
but they also have to interact with the patient's family members," she
adds.
So why are they paid so well?
"As a part of their training, nurses are taught how to assess, plan,
implement and evaluate care for individual patients, and they have to
adapt to an ever-changing, demanding environment," Lennon continues.
"This is why nurses deserve the pay they make and more."
She adds that you'll need to showcase patience, compassion, good
written and verbal communication skills, and emotional stability to
perform well in this field.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Nursing Program.
Potential Career:
- Registered Nurse ($65,470)*
Degree #3: Business Administration
Making it to the top of the corporate ladder has been on your wish
list for years and you're finally ready to take the next step in your
life to get there. Sound familiar? Earning a degree in business
administration could give you the educational background you need to
help pull in a hefty paycheck and take you further than the bottom rung
of the proverbial ladder.
A degree in business administration prepares you to plan and control
an organization's activities and may include classes like economics,
marketing, and business statistics, according to the College Board.
The High-Pay Factor: "With the shift to a service
economy, selling has become increasingly important," says Wass.
"Accordingly, companies need people for roles in sales, marketing, and
business development. A business administration degree program tends to
engage students through case analysis, project-based courses, and
experiential learning."
He also says that business admin students should be prepared to
manage and lead individuals, teams and projects. Possessing these
leadership skills could translate into higher pay post-graduation.
Potential Career:
- Financial Analyst ($76,950)*
Degree #4: Computer Science
Maybe you're a whiz at cleaning up computer bugs or have always had a
knack for figuring out complex problems. You could put that intuitive
curiosity to good use by earning a degree in computer science.
Computer science majors study how humans interact with computers in a
scientific way and may take classes like software engineering,
artificial intelligence, and digital system design, according to the
College Board.
The High-Pay Factor: Because just about everything
utilizes computers, Wass says a wide range of opportunities exist for
graduates of computer science. "This could include software engineering,
game design, computer graphics, internet systems and technology, and
hardware development," he adds.
He adds that because this is a fast-growing field, companies end up
competing for talented people who have strong analytical skills and
programming experience honed through a rigorous computer science
curriculum. In the end, that competition oftentimes shows up in the form
of a higher paycheck.
Potential Careers:
- Computer and Information Research Scientist in the Federal Government($102,190)*
- Applications Software Developer ($90,060)*
- Computer Programmer ($74,280)*
Degree #5: Emergency Management Technology
When a disaster occurs, the people on the ground sorting out the mess
often make huge impacts in the lives of the people affected. Think
you'd like to be part of those teams? A degree in emergency medical
technology could help put you on the path towards a high-paying and
exciting job after graduation.
Students could take courses in anything from emergency communication
and patient transportation, to crisis intervention and EMT rescue, and
also learn to care for patients in a medical crisis, according to the
College Board.
The High-Pay Factor: "Students in an undergraduate
emergency services administration program get real-world training from
professors - many of whom are still active in the field," explains
Abraham Levinson, program coordinator of emergency services
administration at Adelphi University.
"When students graduate from the program, they will be opened up to a
breadth of different experiences in disaster situations from all around
the world. Emergency management isn't a job that can be done without
appropriate training, which is something an employer sees value in and
is happy to compensate for," he adds.
Potential Career:
Degree #6: Health Care Administration
Maybe you've always dreamed of working in the medical field but don't
have the time or desire to drudge through medical school. Earning a
degree in health care administration could help you pursue the booming
and high-pay field.
In this program, you could take courses like health care law, human
resources management, and anatomy and physiology, the College Board
notes. You'll also learn the ropes behind managing health care
facilities.
The High-Pay Factor: The need for health care
administration graduates is expected to grow rapidly due to the aging of
the baby boomers, says Lennon.
Over time, she adds that the demand for skilled administrators will increase.
"These administrators not only serve as the face of the organization,
but they are responsible for overseeing all facets of operation
including business development, fundraising, clinical operations,
employee performance, facility expansion, and budget proposals," says
Lennon. "Most of the higher level management positions have larger
salaries due to the high demands of the position."
To be successful, she notes that students should be proficient in
analytical, communication, inter-personal, problem-solving, and
technical skills.
wth:* 32 percent, or 66,400 new jobs
Here's a degree that Carnevale says will likely be in demand in the
decades to come, because our grossly mismanaged health care system will
need people with management skills specific to health care to shape the
future of this vital industry.
As Carnevale stated, this master's degree could help improve your
salary and career. It's a must-have degree if you want to work as a
professional psychologist in any area, he says. Plus, he adds, because
many of these jobs are in health care, the nation's biggest driver of
jobs, it could really pay off.
Carnevale says that despite a lot of claims in some circles that MBAs
are not as hot as they once were, the data shows that an MBA is still a
very well-rewarded degree. He says that the bottom line is that an MBA
pays off, because employers know that a good MBA program prepares
professionals in many areas, from marketing to human resources
management to finance.
