In today’s world, money seems to matter more than ever. The price of groceries—and just about everything else—is sky high, and your buck doesn’t go as far as it did even a year or two ago. That means finding a job that pays well is top of mind for many—especially those who are thinking about getting a college degree. A new report from salary data provider Payscale looked at the education and employment history of 3.1 million college graduates. From the data, it ranked schools and majors based on the potential future salaries for graduates. According to the 2024 report, it aims to help students research schools, majors, and potential salaries before enrolling. “You can use this information to help you discover which fields of study offer the most income potential, as well as which are more transferable to different career paths,” the report reads. With the cost of school tuition soaring, many potential students may not be looking to sign up for a four-year college. Enrollment rates have been falling off, and as some employers have begun letting go of the college-degree requirement for employees, there is less incentive to go to college. But a two-year degree can also be an important asset in many fields. According to the study, associate degrees from several schools can lead to six-figure incomes. The top-earning two-year degree came from Helene Fuld College of Nursing, with an average mid-career salary of $108,400. The runner-up was Laboure College of Healthcare at a $103,200 mid-career salary, followed by Pacific Union College at $100,900. New York University was fourth on the list with an average mid-career salary of $98,100. Lawrence Memorial Hospital School of Nursing and Belanger School of Nursing were fifth and sixth. Of the top 10 programs with the highest-earning graduates, many seemed to specialize in nursing and healthcare. Meanwhile, for the highest-earning majors for a two-year degree, Instrumentation Technology topped the list with an average mid-career salary of $116,300. That was followed by Software Engineering at $112,400, Radiation Therapy at $109,500, Fire Technology at $102,500, and Instrumentation and Control Engineering at $101,900. The full list of highest-earning degrees for 2024 can be found on Payscale’s website here. When it came to four-year degrees, STEM seemed to reign supreme. Students who pursued science, technology, engineering, and math majors had the highest salary projections. A bachelor’s degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology came in first for salary potential, with an average mid-career salary of $196,900. Princeton University came in second at $194,100. In third place was the United States Naval Academy, with the average mid-career graduate earning $187,800. Other schools from the Ivy League made the list too, with Dartmouth College in eighth, the University of Pennsylvania in ninth, and Harvard University in 10th. With some potential students wondering if college is actually worth it, seeing potential salary projections could be crucial. Not only do graduates have to cope with job uncertainty, they often may have crushing student loans, as well, so they need to know what they’re signing up for, and what’s in it for them.

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