PayScale is the world's largest compensation data website, publishing an annual report on U.S. college salary levels.
Its college salary rankings are based on 3.2 million survey respondents from over 4,000 colleges nationwide, using authoritative data to interpret the earning potential of institutions and majors.
A PayScale vice president once said, "While earning potential shouldn't be the only factor in choosing a college, it is an important one, especially when evaluating the cost of education."
Student debt is also heavier than ever, at historic highs. It's understandable that students and parents are paying more attention to future salaries and the long-term prospects of their chosen fields.
In other words: money isn't everything, but without money, you can't do anything!
Today, CheersYou（清柚教育） shares with you the highest-paying undergraduate majors of 2018-2019 according to PayScale.
No surprise, STEM majors have the best salary prospects after graduation, with a mid-career pay of $103,408. These graduates even out-earn Ivy League alumni.
Engineering graduates are particularly well compensated, with a mid-career salary reaching $114,670.
The top five highest-paying engineering majors are:
1. Petroleum Engineering ($183,600)
2. Actuarial Mathematics ($158,100)
3. Building Science ($135,000)
4. Systems Engineering ($131,200)
5. Chemical Engineering ($126,900)
Business majors, with some high-earning exceptions, generally earn about 13% less on average than STEM graduates.
The top five highest-paying business majors are:
1. Business Analytics ($129,800)
2. Actuarial Science ($123,500)
3. Government ($109,900)
4. Construction Project Management ($106,200)
5. International Economics ($105,900)
Humanities graduates earn somewhat less, with only Japanese majors exceeding $100,000 mid-career. But honestly, few humanities students chose their major based on salary prospects in the first place.
The top five highest-paying humanities majors are:
1. Japanese ($106,400)
2. European History ($94,600)
3. Political Science ($93,600)
4. Advertising Design ($89,900)
5. Industrial Design ($89,800)
Regardless of salary, we hope everyone can find their passion—having both bread and enthusiasm!
If you're preparing for 2020 applications and have any questions about college planning, come consult a CheersYou（清柚教育） counselor!
