Choosing a degree that’s profitable
April 22, 2013
Considering the price of school, prospective students with college scholarships may wonder which degree choice will benefit them best. Unique fields of study and major concentrations abound for students to choose from, but shooting for certain careers over others may help graduates find monetary success after graduation.
Getting a college degree is known to improve a student's post-graduation income. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that on average college graduates made over $13,000 in October, November and December 2011 combined while individuals without a post-secondary degree made a mean of about $6,500 during those months.
Though this suggests an overall success rate for college graduates, Forbes recently noted that the cost of college might be worth it for students with specific majors. The source refers to a website, CollegeRiskreport.com, that shows how getting an art degree can take years to pay off, and careers in the field typically don't pay well. Jobs that spring from engineering degrees may more easily generate enough money for graduates to pay off their debt quickly after school.
Students have many choices in their studies. A LiveScience report notes fermenting beer and puppetry as possible college majors. Despite the allure of these fields for some, students with grants for parents may want to look into the industry's job market to ensure that their eventual incomes pay off the cost of getting these degrees.
