Top-paying degrees
Whether you are in college or a prospective student, not all majors earn you the same salary. Of course, you should never choose a major just for the money. If you don’t enjoy the work, then all that money will never equal the dissatisfaction you have for your job.
Luckily, there are many majors in numerous fields of studies to choose from that will pay high starting salaries to recent graduates. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), here are the 10 top paying degrees and their starting salaries:
1. Chemical engineering ($59,218)
2. Electrical engineering ($55,333)
3. Mechanical engineering ($54,057)
4. Computer science ($53,051)
5. Civil engineering ($48,998)
6. Economics ($47,782)
7. Management information systems ($47,407)
8. Finance ($46,442)
9. Accounting ($46,292)
10. Business administration/Management ($43,256)
College distance from home
How far do students typically travel to enroll in college? The annual American College Freshman Study has found that student distance from their permanent home varies as follows:
Distance from home % of college freshmen
0 to 50 miles 35.4 percent
51 to 100 miles 17.9 percent
101 to 500 miles 33.3 percent
500-plus miles 13.4 percent
• Bob McDonnell is executive director of Arizona College Planners, L.L.C., a member of the College Planning Network, the National Association of College Funding Advisors and the National Association of College Acceptance Counselors. For questions, email Info@ArizonaCollegePlanners.com.
