The Five College Degrees you will see a good ROI on

October 15, 2009 – 2:30 pm – No Comment

mba

In our economy, it is hard to find a job (as if I haven’t said that enough), but as someone who went to business school, I also know that some degrees are “worth” more than others. The college that you went to also matters in some cases.

Clare Kaufman from FindtheRightSchool.com compiled this list of degrees that are the best for return on investment. These are the degrees where you will earn the most in comparison to the amount you spent on the degree.

1. Master of Business Administration (MBA). This is, of course, the degree that any hard-core business person is going to get. I knew plenty of people who were going on to pursue their MBA, then again, I knew plenty of people who had simply had it with college altogether. MBA graduates see an average salary increase of 35%. The problem I have with trying to tell people to go out and get their MBA right now is that there are plenty of graduates out there who can’t find work, let alone find the kind of work that will pay their student loan bill every month.

2. Bachelor’s in Engineering. This is the top earner from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ bachelor degree list of highest earners. After getting a four year degree, an engineer can come out earning more than $50,00 per year. The highest paying fields for engineers are in the nuclear and petroleum industries. You can also expect an increase in demand for these engineers as the “green” movement really takes off.

3. Associate or Bachelor’s in Nursing. This is one of the degrees that I definitely agree with. I have a friend who graduated with a BSN and almost has all her loans paid off and she was able to buy a car. Another good thing about getting a Nursing degree is that most people can find good paying jobs right out of college and will still have several offers from different hospitals.

4. Bachelor’s in Accounting. This is a segment of the workforce that will likely bloom in the aftermath of the financial disaster. In 2007, the median salary for an accountant was just over $63,000 per year. CPAs earn a lot more at around $91,000 per year.

5. Associate degree in Computer Science. You could find yourself with some good prospects with this degree. You won’t be the highest earner in the country, but after only two years of school, you can find yourself making up to $67,000 a year as a computer administrator after working your way up the ladder.

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