15 College Degrees With the Best Starting Salaries

Afifa Mushtaque
11 min read

In This Article:

In this article, we will look at the 15 college degrees with the best starting salaries. We have also discussed the declining popularity of college education in the US. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, head straight to the 5 College Degrees With the Best Starting Salaries. 

Cost of Attending College in the US

The cost of college is a major concern for many prospective students and their families. According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the average net price of attending a four-year college for first-time undergraduates varies widely depending on the type of institution. In the 2020–21 academic year, this average net price was $14,700 at public institutions, $28,400 at private nonprofit schools, and $24,600 at private, for-profit institutions.

Tuition and fees have been steadily increasing over the past decade across public and private nonprofit colleges and universities. The highest increase was observed in private nonprofit institutions, with annual tuition and fees rising by 14% between the 2010–11 and 2021–22 school years.

Despite financial aid opportunities, the total cost of attendance remains substantial. For students living on campus, the average total cost of attending a public four-year institution in 2021–22 was $26,000, while attending a private, for-profit school cost $32,900, and a private nonprofit college cost $55,800 annually.

Student loans are becoming increasingly common, with 38% of first-time, full-time college students awarded loans in the 2020–21 academic year. However, the average loan amount awarded has decreased slightly over the past decade, and education debt is now the fastest-growing form of debt in the United States, totaling approximately $1.76 trillion.

The Decreasing Popularity of College Degrees

In November 2023, recent college graduates faced a stark reality that despite impressive resumes, including internships and athletic achievements, they struggled to secure employment. The unemployment rate for recent graduates stood at 4.4 percent, higher than the overall unemployment rate and nearly double that of all workers with a college degree. 

The pandemic exacerbated the situation, creating a mismatch between available jobs and graduates' preferences. Industries experiencing worker shortages, such as hospitality and childcare, were not appealing to recent grads. Conversely, sectors like tech and finance, where graduates desired employment, faced layoffs and hiring freezes. This disconnect left many feeling disillusioned about their economic prospects post-graduation.

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