College Majors That Offer The Best Pay, Job Prospects

The rising cost of college tuition and the burden of student debt mean salary and employment prospects may enter into the equation when deciding on a major.

WIth that in mind, Bankrate.com has issued a report that takes a look at college majors and rates their value in terms of the job prospects and starting they offer new graduates.

Bankrate.com researched 162 degrees comparing salaries, employment rates and how many professionals sought advanced studies. On average, the majors had an income of $72,616 and an unemployment rate of 2.9 percent.

But the Bankrate.com report also cautioned students to not over emphasize the importance of the major they choose. Every major should give students a foundation in important skills such as communication, work ethic, creative thinking, teamwork, the report noted.

“Essentially all a major does is say, ‘Hey, I studied a little bit more classes in this area than opposed to others,’” Harry Twyman, director of the Major Experience program at the University of Connecticut, told Bankrate.com. “Those big skills, for the most part, are built in any major.”

The following college majors, in ascending order, were deemed the most valuable by Bankrate.com:

10. Finance

Average Income: $100,448

Unemployment: 2.7%

Higher Degree Holders: 30%