Top College Majors That Lead To Big Bucks
There are many majors worth pursuing as an undergrad, but if you’re keen on making a solid profit right after graduation, you’ll want to pay close attention.
CEO Magazine, a publication that explores both the professional and personal lives of business leaders, recently highlighted the top majors and what fresh grads can expect to make.
TOP MAJORS FOR HIGHEST PROFITS
Year after year, CEO Magazine has found Health professionals holding steady at the top of the list of highest-paying majors. With hefty starting salaries ranging from $85,000-$100,000, the constant need for healthcare workers makes this skilled major a standout for high pay.
Close behind and also related to health are the Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science majors, who are also consistently in demand. Recent graduates can score a starting salary from anywhere between $70,000 and $100,000. International healthcare is on the rise too which has created even more of a demand for pharmacy professionals.
Business & Management ranks as the next highest-paying major. Its versatility opens doors to a very broad spectrum of leadership roles across various industries, with starting salaries that typically range from $70,000 to $100,000.
FASTEST GROWING MAJORS
Next down the line for profitability is the Computer Sciences major, which actually holds the most financial variability and could be said to be the most profitable. On the low end, graduates are making $65,000 and on the high end, they’re earning $120,000 in their first year – a rather large variance.
This is also one of the fastest growing majors. The WSJ recently reported the number of students in the U.S. majoring in computer and information science has jumped 40% in five years, to more than 600,000 as of 2023.
Engineering is next, with a starting salary ranging from $60,000 to $100,000.
Next up is a major that often flies under the radar and typically sees lower enrollment numbers than others but is a fantastic option: Actuarial Science. A great option for those who plan to build on their mathematical and statistical skills, this major can earn students anywhere from $60,000 – $70,000 initially. In the same ballpark is the Math & Statistics major, which earns grads nearly the same as actuaries at $55,000 – $70,000.
Finally, comes the ever-popular Economics and Finance majors, with a wide range of a $55,000 – $100,000 starting salary.
On the contrary, some of the lowest paying post-grad jobs are found in liberal arts, performing arts, and theology, with an annual median salary of $38,000 five years after graduating college, according to a study by the New York Federal Reserve.
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