Everyone told you to follow you dreams when you were young. You felt like you could hold the world in your hands because your ability to dream was limitless. When you got to the point of making a decision for college education, you realized you had to be more practical. You also dream about having a good life after college, so your career path has to lead you in that direction. In other words – you need to make your education useful.
College is all about exploring your passions, but it’s wise to keep your interests within the limits of reason. You can’t expect to make a fortune with a degree in medieval literatures and languages, for example. Here is a list of the most useful college degrees in 2016:
- Computer Science
- Actuarial Mathematics
- Financial Planning
- Civil Engineering
- Logistics
Let’s dig a little deeper and see how these degrees will help you build a successful future:
Computer Science
Everything revolves around computers. This is not an exaggeration: programmers are responsible for the progress of all aspects of contemporary society. The tuition and fees for 2015-2016 are around $40,000, depending on the school you choose. Currently, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is ranked first on the US News list for computer degrees. The career opportunities are constantly on the rise; and the salary for software developers ranges from $45,958 to $112,626. There is a great difference between the lowest and highest salary in this area, but that leaves space for a lot of progress.
So how can this degree be useful for you? First of all, you can easily get a job right after graduation. If you don’t land a perspective position in a great company, you can work as a freelancer and manage your own workload. Not everyone is born to be a computer scientist, though. You need a high level of imagination, mathematical logic, and love for this type of work. If you possess those qualities, then go for it!
Actuarial Mathematics
Who thought math would be useful in the real world? It is; and it can lead you into a very successful career. Actuarial mathematicians work in the finance and insurance industries. They analyze and determine the percentage of risk and uncertainty. Stanford, which is ranked among the top universities for math degrees, charges $46,320 for 2015-2016 tuition and fees. The University of Oxford is another great choice for this type of degree. The annual tuition fees for overseas students are £23,415.
According to statistics, a position as an actuary can get you around $88,000 per year. As you gain more years of experience, the earnings will be higher.
Financial Planning
People’s budgets are limited, and their needs increase on a daily basis. That’s why so many companies and individuals need to rely on professional financial planners, who will discover the most efficient way for them to distribute the resources. Most universities offer broader education in finance, but you can get a specific BA program at Franklin University.
The tuition and fees are relatively low at this university – around $11,000 for 2014-2015. That’s certainly a smart investment, since the salary for this profession goes from $41,075 to $120,845, depending on your experience and the clients you work for.
Civil Engineering
What’s the exact connection between engineering and civil’? This discipline deals with processes of design, construction and maintenance of bridges, airports, buildings, canals, roads, and other works needed for people’s existence. It sounds like architecture? Well, it’s similar, but different – the architect takes care of the floor plan and design of the building, whereas the civil engineer deals with the materials. He designs the building in a way that it can support its own weight.
At the University of California – Berkeley, this degree costs $26,322 per year for students out of state. Stanford also has a great program, but it costs more – $47,073 per year. Your efforts will certainly pay off, since the salary for this profession ranges between $46,905 and $91,603.
Logistics
When you say you work in logistics, most people won’t understand what you’re talking about. That’s because this profession has a really broad definition. The job of a logistician is to find the most creative way of moving products from production to consuming. Companies that ship products from one location to another need logistic managers to achieve the best results. This profession is required in every single industry, so you’ll have plenty of chances to find your true calling.
Bellevue University offers a specialized online program for Supply Chain and Logistics Management Degree, which costs $395/credit hour. In the U.S., the median salary for logistics managers is $62,351. Of course, the market offers endless options, so your salary can exceed $90,000 over time.
Successful Future Takes Planning!
Before you pick a major, think whether or not your degree will make financial sense. You need to get useful education that will launch you into the open market. Student loan is not easy to pay; you need to start building a successful career as soon as you get out of college.
If you don’t know where to start, the list above will give you the initial hints. Needless to say, you also have to love the niche you devote your life to. Consider your options and make a nice balance between dreams and value – pick a program you like, but make sure it contributes towards a prosperous future.