Going to college may set the perimeters for earning money immediately after graduation and potentially over your lifetime. With the high cost of college, especially private or out of state tuition, and the potential debt of student loans, the decision on your major becomes more critical.
According to Bankrate.com, Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce conducted a study looking at the economic value of various college majors. Those identified as the best were:
STEM – Science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Graduates with one of these majors were considered high paying job potential. According to Mindy Baggish, the assistant dean of student career support and employer relations at the University of La Verne, “technology never stops.” Jobs requiring these majors were considered recession proof. It was also recommended that students dedicate some academic study to liberal arts subjects, especially communications.
Business – Business administration can lead to positions in a variety of industries that need people with financial knowledge. Accounting, banking, sales and marketing are a few professions that find Business degrees desirable.
Health – While the earnings potential may not be as much as STEM or Business, the job market is plentiful. As boomers age, the need for care increases. The positions may range from dental hygienist to health administration. Jobs in this area potentially offer flexible hours.
Arts and Humanities – A degree in this area may not provide the best paying job unless you are in some type of leadership role. However, many employers see this as a firm foundation for a person with a well-rounded education that can be trained for other areas. Many leadership roles start with this type of degree.
It is also a major that can be the underlying foundation for graduate programs in other areas such as communications, law, leadership, etc. Graduate degrees usually result in more pay.
Teaching and Social Work – The Georgetown study states that these majors produce some of the most “devoted” professionals. Students majoring in these areas are usually passionate about helping and serving others.
These positions don’t monetarily have the potential for higher pay as some of the other majors unless you earn a graduate degree. Personal drive maybe a factor as well.
As many of you know, Jill has a pet peeve about the lack of vocations schools. Not everyone is cut out for college nor do they want to incur student loans. Whether it is repairing computers, setting up sound systems, needing a good electrician or plumber, these types of services are needed. Why not offer vocational schools with apprenticeship programs?