You finally committed to your dream college and now it's time to pick your major. But there are countless questions that come to mind: Do I want to work in this field for the rest of my life? Can I get a job related to what I'm studying? Will I make enough money to justify my student loans? Don't worry, you're not alone. Selecting the ~perfect~ major is not an easy task, but perhaps knowing which fields pay back the most (a.k.a. the highest paying college majors) will give you some ideas.
Tanya Baynham, Vice President of Graduate Programs for Success Division at the Milton Hershey School, notes that the primary high-paying jobs tend to be in the STEM fields. "Whether you're aiming for engineering, nursing, or something else, you'll want to make sure your academic course load prepares you for your college course load," Baynham explains. Don't stress if science isn't your strong suit, though, because Baynham notes that there are lucrative non-STEM jobs in business, supply chain management, law, or even web design.
In order to set yourself up for success throughout college, Baynham recommends utilizing your resources to gain a well-rounded understanding of the field you're hoping to enter. "Make sure you're researching people in that career field, looking for internship opportunities, or speaking to and interviewing alumni that previously attended your school," she explains. "And most importantly, building the portfolio of your academic record to make sure you're academically prepared for a demanding job."
Whether you're on the hunt for internships, extra tutoring, or summer intensive courses, check in with your dedicated advisor to see what options are available to you. Your hard work will pay ($$$) off, but don't forget that it's important to find a major that you'll enjoy learning about, too. "[Money] shouldn't be your primary motivating factor," says Baynham. "It's important that when you show up to work, you know that you love it and that you're making a difference."
Check out the highest-paying college majors below to help you decide what you might want to pursue this fall. You can see the full list here.
Highest Paying Jobs With a Bachelor’s Degree
- Petroleum Engineering ($93,200 - $187,300)
2. Operations Research & Industrial Engineering ($84,800 - $170,400)
3. Electrical Engineering & Computer Science (EECS) ($108,500 - $159,300)
4. Interaction Design ($68,300 - $155,800)
5. Public Accounting ($59,800 - $147,700)
6. Operations Research ($83,500 - $147,400
7. Applied Economics and Management ($66,100 - $146,400)
8. Business Computing (BC) ($73,000 - $143,600)
9. Actuarial Mathematics ($64,300 - $143,400)
10. Electrical Power Engineering ($76,100 - $142,600)
11. Information & Computer Science ($58,600 - $140,900)
12. Aeronautics & Astronautics ($77,600 - $139,600)
13. Systems Engineering ($77,700 - $139,200)
14. Econometrics ($64,200 - $139,000)
15. Pharmacy ($68,600 - $138,700)
16. Aerospace Studies ($55,800 - $136,600)
17 & 18. Building Science, Chemical Engineering (tied) ($53,800/$76,900 - $135,900)
19. Cognitive Science ($68,700 - $135,200)
20. Actuarial Science ($67,700 - $134,400)
Hannah is the assistant shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, covering all things from cute apartment decor to trendy fashion finds, TikTok products that are actually worth your $$$, and the perfect gift to buy for your boyfriend's mom. She previously wrote for Seventeen and CR Fashion Book. Follow her on Instagram for hot takes on red carpet fashion and unhinged updates on the books she’s reading on the train.
Yerin Kim is the Assistant Editor for Snapchat Discover at Seventeen, covering beauty, sex & health, lifestyle, and entertainment. Originally from New Jersey but raised in Seoul, she is a proud Syracuse grad who loves fluffy puppies and a good Instagram opp. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram!
