Top 10 Most Promising College Majors for the Future (Salary, Job Market)
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| Best College Majors for the Future |
It takes time and money to get a bachelor's degree. Choosing a major with your career goals in mind is a great approach to make sure your money is well-spent. A well-paying job may be waiting for you after you graduate from some majors that seem antiquated, but others might be more relevant and timely.
So that you can make an informed decision, we have compiled a list of the top ten degrees for the future. Read on to discover which degrees offer the best opportunities for employment.
Learn more: Top 10 Hottest College Majors in the US Based on Salary, Unemployment Rate
#1 Petroleum Engineering
Starting Median Salary: $84,000
Mid-Career: $126,000
Future Growth: 3% (2020-2030)
Petroleum Engineering tops our list of best college majors. It can be a promising major for young students. Despite the fierce competition, majors in this field can earn a lot.
Students who choose this major can expect a rigorous program with classes in engineering, economics, and environmental studies.
Because this major has high competition for jobs, students should consider getting a master's or PhD to improve their chances of success in the job market.
A strong math and science background may make this the best college major. Petroleum engineering bachelor degrees are not entirely online, but some core coursework is.
#2 Cybersecurity Degree
Starting Median Salary: $75,000
Mid-Career: $116,000
Future Growth: 28% (2020-2030)
In an increasingly tech-dependent world, a bachelor's in cybersecurity can boost career prospects. Code and software development skills will be taught in this major, which will keep you up to date on industry developments.
Cybersecurity majors are likely to work in cybersecurity for a business or government agency, but there are other career paths.
This top college major is popular for software and application development, as well as other IT and technology jobs.
Bachelor's degrees in cybersecurity are among the best, and you can get them online.
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#3 Nuclear Engineering
Starting Median Salary: $68,000
Mid-Career: $109,000
Future Growth: 1% (2020-2030)
Nuclear Engineering ranks 3rd for best college majors. A bachelor's in this highly specialized major can yield excellent financial rewards in the long run.
Though niche, finding work can be very financially beneficial. The world is moving toward renewable energy, making jobs in this major more in demand and future opportunities easier to find.
Expect to work hard and practice math if you major in this field. Nuclear engineering majors must study nuclear physics, energy, and safety.
While this college major has lucrative job prospects, many employers may require engineers to have a Master's or PhD in the field to get the best jobs.
Bachelor degrees in this major aren't entirely online, but some core curriculum is.
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#4 Software Engineering
Starting Median Salary: $74,000
Mid-Career: $102,000
Future Growth: 21% (2020-2030)
Top college majors include software engineering 4th. Another computer-related college major that's growing in popularity. With technology job markets growing, this best college major's popularity should not be surprising.
A major in this specialty may teach application programming, core computer concepts, cloud technology, and database systems development. Engineers will learn transferable skills for other tech jobs.
Software and application programming and development are common career paths for software engineering majors.
Alternatively, you can earn your bachelor's in this top major online.
#5 Physics Degree
Starting Median Salary: $74,000
Mid-Career: $102,000
Future Growth: 9% (2020-2030)
Physics ranks 5th in best majors. Bachelor of physics programs can lead to continuing education and research jobs, making them a popular college major.
Physics graduates can become engineers or work in academia and research. This is a top college major because physics research is lucrative.
Physics majors must be good at math and science because the curriculum incorporates these subjects. Bachelor of engineering graduates often pursue doctorates for advancement and higher pay.
#6 Computer Science Degree
Starting Median Salary: $62,000
Mid-Career: $102,000
Future Growth: 16% (2020-2030)
Top college majors include computer science 6th. One of the most popular technology college majors. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that corporations, nonprofits, and other organizations are constantly hiring people with this expertise.
With driverless cars, data mining, cybersecurity, and AI, computer science majors are becoming essential to any company.
Students in this top college major may study cloud technology, program design, and software development. Computer science students will likely spend a lot of time coding and programming.
Graduates can work as software developers, systems analysts, computer hardware engineers, application developers, and more. You can get a master's and work in research.
Many colleges offer 100% online computer science degrees because it's a popular major.
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#7 Chemistry Major
Starting Median Salary: $66,000
Mid-Career: $99,000
Future Growth: 6% (2020-2030)
Chemistry ranks as the sixth best major, despite the fact that many students find it difficult. Many students choose chemistry as their major because of its prominence in the scientific community. Physical, inorganic, and organic chemistry are the three main components of a chemistry course.
Multiple job paths can be explored with a chemistry degree. A chemist's job is among the most common for chemistry majors, but many also find success in chemical research and other laboratory-related fields.
When a chemistry major finishes their bachelor's degree, continuing their education is a common choice. Many students go on to research or doctoral programs after completing a master's degree in chemistry, which is a common next step.
#8 Economics Major
Starting Salary: $58,000
Mid-Career: $98,000
Future Growth: 8% (2020-2030)
A business degree finally lands in 8th place for top college majors. Selecting a college major in Economics is an excellent way to take advantage of the current demand for data experts.
Studies in this top major will not only provide you with more knowledge about the economy and finance in general but will also sharpen your data analysis skills and provide you with a useful transferable skillset.
A college degree in this major can open up a wide range of possibilities for potential students. Many economist jobs are government-based and offer very competitive salaries, but there’s the option of becoming a data analyst elsewhere or finding other work in the finance sector.
This is the best college major for someone who enjoys math and business and has strong analytical skills. You’ll study the history of economies for the purpose of putting modern markets into perspective.
#9 Electronics Engineering
Starting Salary: $64,000
Mid-Career: $95,000
Future Growth: 2% (2020-2030)
The ninth best major is electronics engineering. This is an area that is always getting bigger. Engineers who can design and build electronics are in higher demand every day, which means that the job market is also growing. There is a clear line between electrical engineering and electronics engineering, but they are still two separate fields.
Getting a college degree in this top major will keep you up to date on the latest changes in the field and add a lot of useful skills to your resume. A big part of the major will be project management and product design.
With this major, you can get a lot of different jobs after you graduate. The most obvious choice would be to work as an electronics engineer, but you could also work in other fields, like product design. If you like math or design and pay close attention to details, this is the best major for you.
#10 Information Technology
Starting Salary: $60,000
Mid-Career: $93,000
Future Growth: 5% (2020-2030)
This top college major combines tech and business. As the world becomes more tech-dependent, majoring in IT can be beneficial.
Information Technology majors have many job options. Information technology graduates can work in programming, cyber-security, software development, application development, and other computer-related fields.
Basic computer operations, system analysis and design, networking basics, and database administration are IT bachelor's degree subjects. Students may have many opportunities to improve their coding and programming skills, which are crucial for post-graduation employment.
IT majors can become developers, database administrators, network architects, or computer and information research scientists. The best college major for business and technology enthusiasts may be this.
This program emphasizes technology and computers, but it's not a computer science degree. Information Technology programs emphasize business and communication, while Computer Science programs emphasize science.
You can earn your bachelor's in this top major online from home. IT is a popular major at online universities.
FAQs
What college majors pay the most?
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, graduates with majors in computer science and engineering make the most money when they first start working. The people who made the most were chemical engineers, computer engineers, computer science majors, and aerospace engineers.
What is the happiest major?
A ZipRecruiter survey found that those who studied computer science, psychology, criminology, engineering, nursing, health, business administration, or finance were the happiest with their college major.
What is the hardest major?
A lot of people think that STEM degrees (science, technology, engineering, and math) are the hardest to get into college, better than majors in the social sciences, liberal arts, and education. A survey from the National Survey for Student Engagement found that engineering students spend the most time on schoolwork.
Are degrees losing their value?
When you think about how much college costs have gone up over the last few decades and how little wages have gone up at the same time, degrees may not be worth as much as they used to be. However, the Institute for Higher Education Policy says that most college degrees still give a good return on investment.
What is the easiest degree to get?
The National Survey for Student Engagement found that students majoring in communications, business, and social services spent the least amount of time studying for class. This could mean that those degrees are easier to get.
In Conclusion
Our investigation focused on the most popular college majors that are associated with the highest paying salaries after graduation, as well as the projected job growth rate and the demand from employers. College graduates are in high demand for a wide range of lucrative jobs, and the market is poised to experience growth in the near future.
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