Top Five High-Paying Bachelor's Degrees
By Natalie Morris
Heading back to school to increase your earning potential, but not sure which degree will fit the bill? Just a bit of digging can help you find out which undergrad degrees not only fit the bill, but pay the bills, too. While graduate degrees are growing more and more common, earning the big bucks with a bachelor's degree is still possible, especially if you are highly skilled in technology or economics. Engineering, analytical, and math-related jobs will offer the highest salaries throughout your career, particularly with demand for these jobs increasing faster than the number of available graduates. If you're hoping for a career that will show you the money, consider job training in one of these top-earning degrees from the Payscale College Salary Report:
Environmental engineering
Engineering degrees make up seven of the top ten on Payscale's list of best undergrad degrees by salary. Nearly all entry-level jobs require at least a bachelor's degree in engineering, and the skills required tend to be highly specialized. Engineers use their analytical, math, and scientific knowledge to solve problems and develop products and processes. You've likely heard of chemical, aeronautical, and electrical engineering, but what do you know about environmental engineering? As public concern about the environment increases, the demand for engineers who can solve problems related to the environment is expected to grow. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates that demand for these specialized engineers will grow 25 percent by 2016, much faster than the average for most careers.
Median starting salary: $53,400
Median mid-career salary: $94,500
Computer science
If you love computers, complex problem-solving, and discovering new technologies, a career in computer science might be for you. A bachelor's degree in computer science will prepare you for work as an inventor or researcher in a corporate or university setting. Because the computer field changes continually with every technological breakthrough, you should be excited about learning new things throughout your career and today's knowledge will become obsolete quickly. Given the increasing complexity and sophistication of computer technologies and a limited number of workers with the appropriate skills, the BLS reports that job growth for computer scientists will be among the fastest growing in the United States through 2016, at an incredible 37 percent.
Median starting salary: $56,400
Median mid-career salary: $97,400
Economics
Earning a bachelor's degree in economics will prepare you for a number of high-paying jobs including economist and actuary. Although not a high-profile or glamorous career, actuaries play an essential role in analyzing statistics and predicting risk, particularly for the insurance industry. The BLS expects that increased opportunities in health care and consulting will lead to much faster that average job growth of 24 percent within the next decade. If you love crunching numbers, spreadsheets, and analysis, a traditional or online degree in economics might be worth the risk.
Median starting salary: $50,200
Median mid-career salary: $101,000
Finance
A bachelor's in finance can provide many possible paths to the big payday you want. Possible finance careers include financial analyst, banker, company executive, investment broker, and personal financial advisor. The ability to work with numbers is essential, but working with people is important, too, and many finance jobs offer good opportunity for promotion into management. Job growth for financial managers should remain solid into the next decade, according to BLS reports.
Median starting salary: $48,500
Median mid-career salary: $89,400
Marketing
If the mere thought of a computer or math-related degree makes you cringe, you can still find a top-earning bachelor's. A career in marketing does require analytical skills, but offers a broader scope and significant creative opportunity. Marketing managers typically have a high profile in companies, creating product and promotion strategies, analyzing pricing and competition, and developing plans for the future. Because marketing offers significant visibility and influence, competition for positions in this area can be high, but the BLS anticipates strong job growth into the future and well-qualified candidates should be in demand.
Median starting salary: $41,500
Median mid-career salary: $81,500
Degrees leading to high-paying jobs almost always require highly specialized career training. A traditional or online bachelor's degree in one of these fields can give you a career that satisfies both your intellect and your checking account.