There are numerous types of engineering careers, each of which has its own distinct earning potential and path to the career. Our list below presents the 10 most lucrative engineering jobs.

Preparing for the Best Engineering Jobs

If you have your eye on an engineering career, you need at least a bachelor’s degree. Some engineers have a master’s degree. Graduate education is more common in some engineering jobs than others, so whether you should enroll in a master’s degree program depends on the specific career in engineering you are most interested in.

Engineering students need a strong background in math and the sciences. Often, engineering majors have to take classes in science disciplines like physics, biology and chemistry and math classes like linear algebra, differential equations and calculus, as well as engineering principles.

RELATED: What Are the Highest Paying Jobs in Engineering Technology?

The Highest Paying Engineering Jobs, Ranked

1. Petroleum Engineer

Petroleum engineer is the highest paying engineering job. For 2021, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported a median annual salary of $130,850 for petroleum engineers. The best-paying of the top employing industries for this career, management of companies and enterprises, paid a median wage of $165,480. Even the lowest-paying top employment industry, support activities for mining, still paid a median wage of $123,820.

The highest-earning 10 percent of petroleum engineers made more than $208,000 per year in 2021, while the lowest-earning 10 percent of the occupation reported salaries below $78,390, the BLS reported.

What Do Petroleum Engineers Do?

The primary concern of petroleum engineers is extracting fuel resources from oil and gas deposits beneath the Earth’s surface. More specifically, a petroleum engineer might devise the plan for extracting these resources from oil and gas deposits, design the machines and equipment used to perform this work and evaluate the effectiveness of extraction efforts. Some of the industries that employ petroleum engineers include the oil and gas extraction industry, support activities for mining, petroleum and coal products manufacturing and engineering services.

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Coursework in Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum engineering is closely linked to the topics of energy production and the environment, so many petroleum engineering programs include at least one class that touches upon these topics. Some of the coursework involved in a petroleum engineering program is somewhat general, including studies of engineering mechanics, such as statics and the mechanics of solids. Thermodynamics and phase behavior, especially as they pertain to petroleum fluids, are also relevant, as are petrophysics and the properties of petroleum fluids.

Petroleum engineering programs typically include some coursework in the geological sciences, including the foundations of geology and of sedimentary rocks, as well as classes in geostatistics. Prospective petroleum engineers will also learn about rock formation evaluation, resource economics and valuation in the petroleum industry, reservoir engineering, reservoir geomechanics, drilling and well completions and petroleum engineering production technology and design. Aspiring petroleum engineers should expect to study the design and analysis of geosystems, transport phenomena in geosystems and the formulation and solution of problems that arise in geosystems engineering.

RELATED: What Are the Highest Paying Jobs with a Degree in Petroleum Engineering?

2. Aerospace Engineer

Another of the highest-paid engineering jobs is aerospace engineer. For aerospace engineers, the BLS reported a median salary of $122,270 in 2021. The lowest-paid aerospace engineering professionals reported annual earnings below $77,440, while the highest-paid professionals in this field made more than $168,370 in a year. The top-employing industry for aerospace engineering careers, aerospace product and parts manufacturing, paid a median wage of $126,780 to the 33% of aerospace engineers it employed.

The 8% of aerospace engineers working in research and development in the physical, engineering and life sciences industry enjoyed the highest wages, with a median salary of $128,020. Of the top employment industries for aerospace engineers, engineering services, which amounted to 18 percent of the workforce, paid the least. However, the median salary in this industry, $120,640, was still well into the six-figure range.

What Does an Aerospace Engineer Do?

Aerospace engineers design and develop solutions that pertain to aircraft and spacecraft. In general, aerospace engineering encompasses everything from the structural design of airplanes and spaceships themselves to the propulsion systems, navigation controls, instrumentation, communications systems and other components that make these vessels work. Often, an aerospace engineer will specialize in one area of expertise.

Besides coming up with designs, aerospace engineers are responsible for ensuring that their designs meet product quality standards. Quality is particularly important in this field, because a malfunction can be devastating if it occurs on a commercial jet filled with people 35,000 feet in the air or on a manned spaceship in outer space, too far away to wait for outside help. Aerospace engineers can determine whether a design or product meets quality standards by running tests, such as computer simulations and hands-on examinations and tests of prototypes.

Careers in aerospace engineering can be further broken down into two categories. Aeronautical engineers deal with aircraft and vessels intended to stay within the Earth’s atmosphere, while astronautical engineers are concerned with spacecraft and other craft that are meant to perform both within and outside the Earth’s atmosphere (in other words, in space).

Coursework in Aerospace Engineering

Some of the coursework involved in a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in aerospace engineering is, literally, rocket science. Dynamics, or mechanics as they pertain to motion and force, is a major area of concern for aerospace engineers. Aerospace engineering students often study spacecraft aerodynamics, low-speed aerodynamics and flight dynamics. Additionally, propulsion and compressible flow are common topics of study in this engineering degree program.

Majoring in aerospace engineering also requires learning about the different systems used in aircraft and spacecraft, including electromechanical systems, feedback control systems and linear systems. Aerospace engineering students must also become familiar with the properties and performance of aerospace materials.

3. Computer Engineer

Computer engineering can be said to encompass two major types of careers, both of which rank among the highest-paying engineering jobs. Computer hardware engineer is the job most commonly associated with the field of computer engineering, but the work of software engineers also revolves around computer systems and computer technology.

For computer hardware engineers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a median salary of $128,170 in 2021. Software engineers in roles like software developers earned a median wage of $110,140.

What Do Computer Engineers Do?

Computer engineers are a type of electrical engineers that focus on the electrical equipment used in computer systems. A computer hardware engineer is a computer engineering professional who primarily develops the physical components for computers. The types of components that a computer hardware engineer may work on include circuit boards, memory devices and microprocessors.

Software engineering revolves around designing and developing software programs and applications. Software engineers are generally more involved in conceptualizing programs and applications to be developed with computer programming languages than with putting together physical computer components. However, like computer hardware engineers, software engineers focus more on high-level design and development of solutions to complex problems. Software engineers don’t just write computer code. Rather, software engineering is about creating detailed plans for how a software application should function. 

Coursework in Computer Engineering

The coursework that computer engineers need depends on whether they want to design hardware or software. Hardware engineers, as a specialized subset of electrical engineers, focus more on electrical and electronic circuits for computer systems. Software engineering is the engineering career at the intersection between engineering design and computer science, so software engineers should expect to study computer science and develop advanced skills in programming. Of course, software engineers must also learn the principles of engineering design. Computer engineering coursework can also prepare students for roles such as computer and information research scientists.

4. Nuclear Engineer

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a median salary of $120,380 for nuclear engineers in 2021. Earnings in excess of $169,000 per year characterize the top 10% of earners in this occupation, while the lowest-paid 10% of nuclear engineers reported an annual income below $75,460.

The federal government, which is the largest employer in the field of nuclear engineering and accounts for 18 percent of the workforce, is also the lowest paying of these top employment industries. The median annual salary for nuclear engineering professionals in this industry just exceeded the six-figure mark, at $100,650. Nuclear engineers working in the scientific research and development services industry – about 15 percent of the profession – reported the highest median salary, $151,980.

What Does a Nuclear Engineer Do?

Nuclear engineers are the professionals behind the development and production of nuclear energy and nuclear radiation. As such, nuclear engineers play a big part in energy production. They are also responsible for medical uses of radiation, including diagnostic imaging tests that use radiation to visualize the inside of the body and radiation-based treatments for conditions like cancer.

Unfortunately, the current job outlook for nuclear engineering professionals is discouraging. From 2020 through 2030, the BLS expects jobs in this field to decline by 8%, compared to the 8% increase predicted for all jobs as a whole and the 7% increase predicted for engineering careers in general. If you want to work in this career field, you should be prepared for a competitive job market.

Coursework in Nuclear Engineering

Coursework in this degree program often begins with an overview of the principles of nuclear engineering. Specialized coursework in this major includes nuclear reactor theory and design, nuclear plant systems, nuclear engineering systems design, experiments in nuclear engineering and the materials for nuclear energy applications.

Nuclear engineering is an interdisciplinary branch of engineering that draws from more than one of the major disciplines of the field. As such, students should expect to study the principles of electrical engineering, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, statics and particle dynamics and electricity and magnetism.

5. Chemical Engineer

Another of the six-figure engineering careers is chemical engineer. For chemical engineers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a 2021 median salary of $105,550. The 10% of chemical engineers who make the most money reported earning upwards of $187,430 per year, while the 10% of the chemical engineer occupation that earned the least brought in less than $62,730.

Industry of employment makes a big impact on the earning potential of chemical engineers. For chemical engineer careers in the engineering services industry, which make up 10% of the chemical engineering workforce, the BLS reported a median salary of $152,430. Chemical engineer roles in engineering firms are some of the highest-paying engineering jobs. The pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing industry, which employs 3% of the occupation, is the lowest-paying top employment industry for chemical engineers. Professionals working in this industry reported earning $96,220 annually in 2021.

What Do Chemical Engineers Do?

A chemical engineer is an engineering professional who uses the principles and practices of chemistry and other life and natural sciences to design solutions that range from the development of new chemicals to processes and equipment used in chemical production. Chemicals are a part of many facets of life, which means that chemical engineers play a role in products ranging from food, medicine and clothing to fuel, energy production and electronics.

Coursework for Chemical Engineers

As you might expect, an aspiring chemical engineer needs a strong background in chemistry and should expect to take laboratory courses in physical chemistry, organic chemistry, chemical practice and a more advanced level of principles of chemistry than other students typically take.

Specialized coursework for aspiring chemical engineers includes chemical engineering materials, the design and operations of the chemical engineering process, chemical engineering analysis, biochemical engineering, separation processes and mass transfer and transport processes. Additionally, students should study the design and analysis of chemical reactors.

6. Electrical Engineer

For electrical and electronics engineers, the BLS reported a median salary of $101,780 in 2021. The BLS further distinguishes between the job titles of electrical engineer and electronics engineer. According to the BLS, electronics engineers earn slightly more than electrical engineers – $104,820 compared to $100,420 in 2021. Among electronics engineers, the best-paid 10% earned more than $166,890, and the lowest-paid 10% made less than $73,630. Electrical engineers in the 90th percentile reported earnings of more than $162,930, while an electrical engineer in the 10th percentile would make less than $62,360 per year.

The highest-paying industry for electronics engineers is the navigational, measuring, electromedical and control instruments manufacturing industry, for which the median salary was $128,560. The lowest-paying top employment industry in this field, telecommunications, paid a median annual salary of $100,290.

For electrical engineers, the highest-paying engineering jobs are in research and development in the physical, engineering and life sciences industry. Electrical engineering professionals in this industry reported earning a median salary was $125,080. The lowest-paying top employment industry for electrical engineers, the engineering services industry, paid a median wage of $99,330. An electrical engineer or electronics engineer can expect earnings that approach, if not exceed, the six-figure range as they advance their career over the course of their work lifetime.

What Do Electrical Engineers Do?

Electrical systems and electronic equipment are the main areas of focus for electrical and electronics engineers, respectively. Both areas pertain to electricity in some way, but an electrical engineer is generally more concerned with the generation and distribution of electrical power on a larger scale, and electronics engineers typically focus more narrowly on electronic devices and equipment.

In either case, designing and developing products, equipment or processes used for an electrical system or electronic device, such as navigation systems, is the main job duty of engineers in these related areas of electrical engineering and electronics engineering.

Coursework in Electrical Engineering

Students majoring in electrical engineering should expect to take coursework in the foundations and design of electric circuits, electronic devices and the fundamentals of power and energy. Studies in digital logic design and design with microcontrollers are also common requirements in electrical engineering bachelor’s degree programs. Electrical engineering students should learn about electromagnetics in computing and wireless systems and about continuous and discrete signals and systems.

Gaining hands-on experience designing electrical circuits and systems is important for an aspiring electrical engineer. A bachelor’s degree in this area of study should include design studio coursework, internship or co-op opportunities or a senior project that facilitates the acquisition of hands-on electrical engineering work experience.

7. Biomedical Engineer

The median salary the BLS reported for bioengineers and biomedical engineers in 2021 was $97,410. A six-figure salary is well within the realm of possibility for biomedical engineers. The average salary for biomedical engineers and bioengineers, according to the US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, was $101,020 as of 2021.

Although the lowest-paid 10% of workers in the biomedical and bioengineering field reported making less than $60,680 per year, the highest-paid 10% of the field earned upwards of $154,750.

The 8% of bioengineers working in navigational, measuring, electromedical and control instruments manufacturing enjoyed the highest median salary of all top employment industries, at $108,690. Bioengineers working for colleges and universities earned the least, with a median wage of $62,650.

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What Do Biomedical Engineers Do?

A biomedical engineer is an engineer who designs and develops solutions based on or with applications in medical science. For most biomedical engineers, a passion for helping people and making a difference is what attracts them to this career that U.S. News & World Report had ranked as one of the best STEM jobs. Through their work in engineering design, most biomedical engineers create medical devices, equipment and processes that can be used to help diagnose and treat medical conditions.

Biomedical engineering isn’t just one of the highest paying engineering jobs but also one of the newer fields of engineering. It wasn’t until the late 1960s that the first college biomedical engineering departments were established, according to the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). Despite the relative recency of the field’s development, biomedical engineers have accomplished a great deal in a short time.

Coursework in Biomedical Engineering

To innovate and engineer solutions to biomedical problems, biomedical engineers first need to know a great deal about the body and biological systems. This means studying cell biology, biochemistry, biophysics, membrane physiology and the physiological systems of the body.

RELATED: Highest Paying Jobs With a Biology Degree – Degrees in Biology – Majors & Careers

Coursework in biomechanics, vascular mechanics and biotransport and kinetics also helps biomedical engineering students build a foundation for the work of engineering medical solutions. Specialized areas of study in this field may include medical device design, biomedical signals and imaging, biomaterials, biomedical computation, bioimaging, tissue engineering and immunoengineering.

8. Geological Engineer

The median salary for mining and geological engineers in 2021 was $97,090, the BLS reported. The highest earners in this career field made more than $162,720, while the lowest earners reported making less than $48,690.

Even the lowest-paying of the top employment industries for geological engineering professionals, metal ore mining, paid a median annual salary of $95,300. Geological engineers working in the oil and gas extraction industry enjoyed a median salary of $131,020.

What Do Geological Engineers Do?

Geological engineers locate mineral deposits below the surface of the Earth and plan for the extraction of these resources. Geological engineers design different kinds of mines and procedures for transporting and processing extracted resources.

Coursework in Geological Engineering

Courses in geological sciences – including structural geology, mineralogy, crystallography, stratigraphy and sedimentation, igneous and metamorphic petrology and rock mechanics – is essential for those seeking a career in geological engineering. Students also need a thorough understanding of fluid mechanics, metallurgical thermodynamics, engineering geophysics, geographic information systems (GIS) and computer-aided design.

Through their coursework, students of geological engineering should develop skills and knowledge pertaining to geotechnical engineering, petroleum drilling and production engineering and engineering for environmental geology. Gaining practical experience through geological engineering fieldwork and hands-on design projects is particularly valuable for students who want to enter this career.

RELATED: What Are the Highest Paying Jobs with a Degree in Mining and Geological Engineering?

9. Mechanical Engineer

In 2021, the median salary for mechanical engineers was $95,300, according to the BLS. The mechanical engineers with the highest salaries reported earning upwards of $136,210, but those with the lowest salaries made less than $60,750.

The scientific research and development services industry paid mechanical engineers the best, with a median salary of $102,050, while the machinery manufacturing industry paid a median wage of just $79,770.

What Do Mechanical Engineers Do?

Mechanical engineering is a broad discipline that encompasses any engineering application that involves movement and motion. While mechanical engineering work encompasses machines like robots, automotive engines and power grids, it can also include biomedical applications that pertain to the movement of the human body. Because they work in so many areas and industries, mechanical engineers develop solutions for a wide range of problems.

Coursework in Mechanical Engineering

The most important topics of study in a mechanical engineering program include computer-aided design software and techniques, the properties of materials, thermodynamics and the process of heat transfer and energy conversion, static and dynamic systems and the mechanics of matter – both fluids and solids. By the time they graduate, mechanical engineering students should know the fundamentals of machine theory and engineering design, and they often have an opportunity to concentrate on certain areas, like robotics or automotive vehicles, in their elective courses.

RELATED: What Are the Highest Paying Jobs With a Degree in Mechanical Engineering?

10. Civil Engineer

Civil engineering is one of the major engineering disciplines, but it encompasses other types of engineering job roles, including environmental engineer. The median salary for civil engineers in 2021 was $88,050, while environmental engineers specifically earned a median salary of $96,820 – making environmental engineers some of the highest-paid workers in the engineering industry.

What Do Civil Engineers Do?

Civil engineers design and implement infrastructure projects that range from roads and bridges to buildings.

The subdiscipline of environmental engineering focuses on engineering design work used to solve environmental problems. Example areas of focus for environmental engineers include the development of renewable energy systems and waste disposal systems.

Coursework in Civil Engineering

Studies in civil engineering include courses in statics and dynamics, structural engineering and structural analysis, construction materials and structural material behavior, soil mechanics and hydraulics.

RELATED: What Civil Engineering Courses Will I Have to Take for a Degree in Civil Engineering?

Environmental engineering may be a concentration within civil engineering or its own distinct degree program. In either case, coursework for aspiring environmental engineers emphasizes sustainability. Aspiring environmental engineers also study the chemical principles and microbial principles in environmental engineering work. Environmental engineer degree programs include coursework in environmental science topics, such as soil science, and in environmental regulations. Environmental engineers often start their careers off by gaining experience through an internship, co-op experience or field practicum.

RELATED: What Are the Highest Paying Jobs With a Degree in Civil Engineering?

Other Types of Engineering Occupations

These aren’t the only engineering careers out there. Other engineering jobs to consider include agricultural engineer, materials engineer and industrial engineer.

Agricultural engineer, as the job title suggests, is a field of engineering devoted to problem-solving in farming and agriculture. Agricultural engineers may develop new products, processes and procedures for cultivating, harvesting, storing and processing produce and other types of agricultural products. Although the BLS predicted a slower than average rate of job growth for agricultural engineers between 2020 and 2030, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported for this occupation a median salary of $82,640 per year in 2021 – not too shabby, considering this isn’t even one of the 10 highest-paying engineering jobs.

Materials engineers research the properties and uses of raw materials and existing combinations of materials for application in all engineering fields. Materials engineers combine existing materials into new substances that can be used to solve problems in medicine, construction, computer technology and even sports. In addition to studying materials themselves, a materials engineer may also develop methods of processing and testing materials more efficiently and with less waste of time, product, energy or expense. The BLS reported that materials engineers earned a median wage of $98,300 per year as of 2021, but the material engineer profession is considerably smaller than many other engineering occupations. There were only 25,100 materials engineers working in America as of 2020. Although materials engineers can look forward to an 8% job growth rate, that amount of growth would yield only 2,100 new jobs for materials engineers over the course of a decade.

Industrial engineering, which focuses on the efficiency of industrial processes and manufacturing processes, was one of the most in-demand engineering jobs as of 2020. The BLS predicted a much faster than average job growth rate of 14% for industrial engineers between 2020 and 2030. Industrial engineers focus on improving efficiency in production processes and manufacturing processes. For industrial engineers, the BLS reported an average salary of $95,520 in 2021.

Management Careers in Engineering

If you want to move up from any of these engineering jobs, you might work toward another of the highest-paying engineering jobs, engineering manager. If you’re making a determination based solely on earning potential, engineering manager is one of the best engineering career options.

Engineering managers are tasked with project management duties as well as supervisory duties. The median annual salary for engineering managers in 2020 was $152,350.

Talented engineers are needed for management roles in every field of engineering. Often, aspiring engineering managers prepare for this career path by pursuing a master’s degree. However, a master’s degree is not strictly required for aspiring engineering managers, because candidates may advance to this role with only a bachelor’s degree.

Master’s degree programs in engineering management focus on skills in leadership and administration – precisely the skills engineering managers most need. You are also likely to need several years of work experience to become an engineering manager. In some engineering disciplines, licensed Professional Engineers will have the best prospects for engineer manager jobs.

What Are the Best Engineering Careers?

Our ranking of the highest paying engineering jobs focuses on just one aspect of the different types of engineering careers: earning potential, based on median pay rates. Your ability to earn a comfortable or even lucrative living is one important factor in choosing the best career for you, but average salary potential shouldn’t be your only consideration when choosing between different types of engineering fields.

In fact, engineering jobs as a whole report average salaries that are well above the national average salary. For all architecture and engineering jobs, the BLS reported a median annual salary of $79,840. For all occupations in all types of careers across the United States, the BLS reported an average salary of $58,260 in 2021. That national average salary translates to $28.01 per hour.

While some engineering jobs pay more than others, all of them offer significant earning potential and the opportunity to use your knowledge and skills for real-world innovation, not just academic and theoretical contemplations. High salaries don’t always correlate with high job satisfaction, although having an earning potential that exceeds the national average salary certainly doesn’t hurt job satisfaction rates.

As you’re exploring options for a career in engineering, think about the types of technical skills you would enjoy using on a regular basis and the types of problems you’re most eager to solve. Do you prefer the hands-on work of building circuits out of physical materials or the conceptualization of software programs constructed out of computer coding? Are you more interested in climate change and other environmental issues or in tackling public health issues? Would you prefer to assemble computer hardware, test drug therapies, build aircraft and vessels for space exploration, find safe methods of using and securing useful yet dangerous chemicals or planning construction projects?

There’s no one right answer to any of these questions. Fortunately, the 10 highest paying engineering careers include a variety of areas of focus, each of which requires its own set of technical skills.

Demand for Different Types of Engineering Jobs

What else should you consider when choosing the best engineering career for you? Looking at the job market and job growth rates, as predicted by the BLS, is a wise idea. Although the demand for jobs in any industry and discipline can shift over time, it can be helpful to know going into your career preparation whether the projected rate of job growth for your profession over the next few years is characterized as an average, above-average or below-average rate.

RELATED: What Are the Fastest Growing Engineering Jobs?

Even if knowing the job growth rate for your intended occupation doesn’t change your big-picture career plans, this information can inform how you go about your job search and career advancement efforts. If you’re entering one of the engineering fields that is seeing less job growth, you may have to be less selective when it comes to applying for entry-level jobs. It might make more sense for workers in these engineering fields to pursue a master’s degree or get licensed as Professional Engineers when they’re working toward career advancement, so that they can stand out from the competition – most of whom are likely to have only a bachelor’s degree.

The most in-demand engineering jobs in 2020 were growing at above-average rates, and the job outlook for many engineering roles was consistent with the average growth rate. However, some engineering roles – like nuclear engineer – were expected to see a significant decline in job opportunities from 2020 through 2030.

Your Personal and Professional Interests

Full-time workers can expect to devote a third of their life (on workdays) to their jobs. Since there are few activities you will spend more time doing over the course of your life than working, you might as well choose an occupation that you can get excited about.

RELATED: Top 10 Paying Jobs That Involve Math

Engineers in all disciplines draw from the same general subjects: mathematics and the natural and physical sciences. Engineers working in many industries perform many of the same basic tasks, as well. For example, they design new products and processes, prepare technical reports that express the engineering specifications for their designs, run computer simulations and work closely with others involved in the project, from stakeholders to technicians. However, the technical work that different kinds of engineers do on a daily basis can be very different depending on the field of engineering they pursue.

RELATED: What Industries Have the Greatest Demand for a Degree in Engineering?

Do you want to develop building plans, put together electrical circuit boards, mix up chemical solutions, assemble machines or plan the development of software programs? Would you prefer to take on the task of solving environmental problems, or do you have no qualms about working in the petroleum and mining industries? (These goals, by the way, aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive, since petroleum engineers and mining and geological engineers often strive to improve the effectiveness of this work and to mitigate the harm it does to the environment.) Engineers are creating the future, so aspiring engineers choosing their path should consider both the big-picture matter of what kind of future they want to create and the smaller details of what an average day of work will look like.

Related Resources:

Highest Paying Degrees in Engineering – Majors & Careers

What Are the Highest Paying Jobs With a Degree in Mechanical Engineering?

What Are the Highest Paying Jobs With a Degree in Civil Engineering?

What Are the Highest Paying Jobs in Engineering Technology?

For Further Reading: 

Top 10 Paying Jobs With an Associate’s Degree

What Are the 5 Best Careers in Environmental Science?

How Much Can I Make With a Degree in Digital Marketing?

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1. University of Delaware

The University of Delaware is a public four year institution located in Newark Delaware. The institution offers associates, bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees as well as professional certifications. The University of Delaware currently enrolls 23,808 students and maintains a student a faculty ratio of 15 to 1. According to Carnegie, the University of Delaware it’s a doctoral university with very high research activity. To support the success of their students the University of Delaware offers academic and career counseling as well as distance learning opportunities. The institution has been accredited by the Middle States commission on Higher Education.

University of Delaware offers an online undergraduate program in mechanical engineering. In addition to the mechanical engineering majors students may elect to concentrate on aerospace engineering, automotive engineering, or manufacturing systems. Additionally, the University of Delaware offers two minors: biomechanical engineering and integrated design. The curriculum for the mechanical engineering major includes core courses, technical electives minors and concentrations as well as a senior design project. The required coursework is that in the following areas: introduction to engineering, maker series, statics, mechanics of solids, machine design, fluid mechanics, thermal labs and a senior design project. The senior design project is a final six credit capstone design course that is structured to imitate a real world scenario. For more information about this degree and to apply check out their website.

• Program Website

2. Arizona State University

Arizona State University is a public four year institution located in Tempe Arizona as well as campuses across the state. The university enrolls over 53,000 students and has a student to faculty ratio of 20 to 1. ASU offers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and professional certifications. The institution has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. According to Carnegie ASU is a doctoral university with very high research activity. US News and World Report ranks ASU as their 103rd best school in the nation as well as highly for undergraduate teaching, veterans, value, business, undergraduate engineering, computer science, and innovation. In fact, ASU ranks number one in the nation for their innovation score meaning that they have ranked highly for curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology and more. In recent years, ASU has expanded to create one of the largest online universities in the world. In fact, students may select from hundreds of programs both at the undergraduate and graduate level.

Arizona State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Egineering. Students from this program have the option to choose from one of two concentrations: computational mechanics and energy and environment. This is one of several online engineering programs offered at ASU. Some of the critical courses include those in chemistry, calculus, mechanics of particles and rigid bodies, physics, mechanics of materials, and thermodynamics. The program is 120 credit hours in length and includes course material in nano materials, computer control systems, economic analysis, and much more for more information about this degree and to apply check out their website.

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3. Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University is a public four-year institution located in Flagstaff. There are over 30,000 students enrolled and the student to faculty ratio is 19 to 1. NAU offers bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees as well as professional certifications. The institution has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. According to the US News and World Report, Northern Arizona University ranks highly as a national institution and highly for undergraduate engineering programming. To support the success of their students NAU offers academic and career counseling as well as undergraduate and graduate distance learning opportunities. Some of their most popular online programs are in the fields of business, communications, education, and health.

NAU offers the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. This program includes undergraduate research opportunities as well as hands-on experience. The program has been accredited by the engineer ring accreditation commission of ABET. This program includes course material and design for practice, mechanical engineering, liberal studies, and electives. Students choose electives from the breath and depth electives. The breath electives are courses from engineering, the natural sciences, business and mathematics. The depth electives are mechanical design or fluid/thermal sciences courses. The main chemical engineering courses focus on mathematics as well as computer science and engineering. Additionally, students round out their degree with general elective courses. To complete this degree students must complete 124 units of credit. For more information about this degree check out their website.

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4. Siena Heights University

Siena Heights University is a private four-year institution located in Adrian Michigan. According to Carnegie, Sierra Heights is a masters college and university with small programming. The university offers associates, bachelors and masters degrees. Their student enrollment is 2337 and the student to faculty ratio is 12 to 1. Siena Heights university is affiliated with the Roman Catholic church. To support the success of their students the University offers academic and career counseling as well as credit for life experience and distance learning opportunities. According to the US News and World Report, Siena Heights is ranked regionally as the 91st best school in the region and 118th for social mobility. Undergraduate and graduate students may pursue their programming online.

Siena Heights University offers a standalone general engineer in program. Siena heights is partnered with UND to include a bachelors degree in mechanical electrical or chemical engineering. Students are expected to produce a portfolio to show their learning along the way. The program is based on active learning. This is a unique hands-on program. In addition students engage with internship opportunities. Internship opportunities offer students away to apply their knowledge to real-world settings. Along with the University of North Dakota Siena Heights offers a dual degree program. Students graduate with a bachelors degree from Siena Heights as well as an additional bachelors degree from UND. For more information about this program check out their website.

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5. University of North Carolina Charlotte

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a public four-year institution that enrolls nearly 30,000 students. UNCC offers bachelors masters and doctoral degree’s as well as professional certifications. The institution has been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools SACS. According to Carnegie, UNCC is a doctoral University with high research activity. The US News and World Report ranks the University of North Carolina Charlotte as the 227th best school in the nation as well as highly for business programming, computer science and undergraduate engineering programming. To support the success of their students UNCC offers academic and career counseling as well as distance learning opportunities. Some of their most popular online programs are in the field of education, health, and public administration.

UNCC offers a bachelor of science in engineering technology with a focus on electrical engineering or fire safety. The electrical track includes a curriculums with the following coursework: linear circuits, digital logic and systems, microprocessors microcontrollers and embedded systems, electronic circuits and systems, control systems, power systems. T

hose interested in pursuing the fire safety option will study fire behavior, building fire safety, industrial hazards in electricity, risk management, applied fire engineering design, professional leadership, and more. For more information about these two programs check out their website.

RELATED: The 10 Best Online Fire Science Degree Bachelor’s Programs

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6. Indiana State University

Indiana State University is a public four year institution located in Terre Haute, Indiana. According to Carnegie, Indiana State is a doctoral/professional university. The institution offers bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees as well as professional certifications. The current student enrollment is over 12,000 and the students to faculty ratio is 18 to 1. This university has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. To support the success of their students the university offers credit for life experiences as well as academic and career counseling, ROTC options, distance-learning and much more. Indiana State University ranks nationally according to the US News and World Report as well as highly for business and computer science. In recent years, Indiana State has expanded their online presence to offer undergraduate and graduate students online learning opportunities.

Among their online options is the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology. The program focuses on two areas: design and management. The the design portion of this degree focuses on mechanical tools machines and products. Graduates of this program may enter into a career ain design insulation, manufacturing, testing, evaluation, technical sales, maintenance or management of mechanical systems and processes.This program requires course material in the following areas: applied statics, engineering and technology, strength of materials, fluid power technology, manufacturing processes, and science and math required courses. For more information about this online degree check out their website.

• Program Website

7. University of North Dakota

The University of North Dakota is a public four year institution located in Grand Forks. The institution offers bachelors, masters and doctoral degree’s as well as professional certifications. The student population is 13,581 and the student to faculty ratio is 17 to 1. According to Carnegie UND is a doctoral university with high research activity. UND has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. To support the success of their students, the university offers academic and career counseling as well as credit for life experiences and distance learning opportunities. According to US News and World Report UND ranks highly for social mobility, business programming, computer science and undergraduate engineering programming.

The University of North Dakota offers a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. This is a 128 credit hour program 36 of those credits must be 300 or above classes. The program is divided into five main areas: essential required courses, mechanical engineering required courses, program required electives, college of engineering and mines requirements, and requirements outside of the college and engineering and mines course including those in calculus and physics. Additionally students have the option to select from the following concentrations: mechanical design, thermal sciences and manufacturing and materials. The aerospace concentration requires 133 credit hours for completion. The main mechanical engineering courses include the following: mechanical engineering, design lecture and design labs, fluid mechanics, design of machinery, thermo dynamics, manufacturing processes, mechanical engineering seminar, and engineering design. For more information about this program and to apply check out their website.

• Program Website

8. The University of Alabama

The University of Alabama is a public four year institution that offers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees. It is located in Tuscaloosa and currently enrolls over 38,000 students. The student to faculty ratio is 20 to 1. UA has been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools since 1897. According to Carnegie, the University of Alabama is a doctoral university with very high research activity. According to the US News and World Report the University of Alabama is a nationally ranked institution that ranks highly for veterans, value, business programming, computer science, and undergraduate engineering programming. In recent years, the University of Alabama has expanded their programming to include distance learning opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students. Their most popular online programs are in the fields of education, business, family consumer science is, health, and public administration.

The University of Alabama Online offers a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. This is a 126 credit hour program that is offered primarily online. The program has been accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology ABET. The curriculum includes general education courses, computer courses, mechanical engineering and technical elective courses, humanities and social sciences courses, writing courses in the mechanical engineering core. The mechanical engineering core courses include the following: engineering foundations, thermodynamics, statics, engineering materials, fluid dynamics, mechanics of materials, heat transfer, mechanical engineering design and much more. Studnets may also choose a number of electives which are approved by their advisor. For more information about this program and to apply check out their website.

• Program Website

9. University of Massachusetts-Lowell

The University of Massachusetts Lowell is public four year institution located in Lowell, Massachusetts. There are 18,300 enrolled and the student-to-faculty ratio is 17 to 1. The university offers associates bachelors masters and doctorate degrees as well as professional certifications. According to Carnegie the University of Massachusetts Lowell is a doctoral university with high research activity. To support the success of its students the institution offers academic and career counseling as well as distance learning opportunities.UMass Lowell has been accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education since 1975. In recent years, UMass Lowell has extended their programming to include a very large distance learning campus. Their online campus includes course material in education, business, psychology, engineering and more. According to the US News and World Report UMass Lowell ranks as the 176 for school in the nation and highly for veterans, social mobility, business programs, computer science and undergraduate engineering.

UMass Lowell offers an Online Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. The strength of the program is hands-on experience. UMass Lowell uses the methodology of design build test where students build and test their own designs. This program has been accredited by the engineering accreditation commission. The course material includes those in kinetic projects, mechanical engineering, a computer aided design, aerospace, thermodynamics, materials science for engineers, applied strength of materials, kinematics of mechanisms, control of mechanical systems, conduction and radiation heat transfer, and much more. For more information about this program and to apply check out their website.

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10. Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw State University is a public institution located in Kennesaw Georgia. They enroll over 37,000 students and have a student to faculty ratio of 21 to 1. The institution offers bachelors masters and doctoral degrees as well as professional certifications. According to Carnegie, Kennesaw State is a doctoral university with high research activity. To support the success of the students the institution offers academic and career counseling as well as credit for life experiences, and distance-learning opportunities. In recent years, Kennesaw State has expanded their online offerings to include a wide array of opportunities for undergraduate and graduate the like. Some of the most popular courses by enrollment are in marketing, education, and engineering. According to the US News and World Report, Kennesaw State is a nationally ranked university.

Kennesaw State offers a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering BSME. This program requires training in basic science and engineering principles as well as computer aided design, instrumentation and planning and managing projects. The curriculum includes 42 credit hours of general education courses as well as course material in the lower division major math, and science classes upper division major, and upper division technical electives for a total of 130 credit hours. The upper division major requirements including material and fluid mechanics materials, electronic circuits, machines, dynamic assistance in control theory as well thermodynamics and others. All students are required to complete a senior design project. From our information about this program and to apply check out their website.

• Program Website

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1. School Principal

If you enjoy teaching but also have great management skills outside the classroom, school principle – the highest paying education career – might be an excellent career for you. Principals work in schools large and small at the elementary, middle and high school levels. School principals at any level can have numerous responsibilities. They must make sure the school meets academic, performance, budgetary, security and technology goals as well as government requirements.

They set class and school maintenance schedules, supervise and assess teacher performance, help create curricula, make sure the school stays under budget, attain supplies and comply with district, state or federal regulations. Principals still meet directly with students, but they often do so for the purpose of addressing problem behavior. They may also work with teachers, support staff members and parents to address students’ behavioral problems.

Additionally, school principals have some important responsibilities beyond the day-to-day school operations. They serve as the point of contact between the school and the public. With school safety a major concern across the nation, these education professionals are responsible for creating and coordinating safety procedures. They may play a role in the hiring process and set up professional development experiences for teachers and staff members. School principals receive student achievement data, like standardized test scores, to evaluate and use as the basis of school performance reports. They also manage counseling, special education and childcare programs, if the school offers these programs. Some principals have help from assistant principals, instructional coordinators and other support staff, while other school principals take on all of these responsibilities on their own.

Principals start out their careers in the classroom. They usually have at least five years – and often, a lot more – of teaching experience. To become a principal, candidates must also earn a master’s degree in either education administration or education leadership. One such program will prepare candidates for responsibilities like managing school staff members, setting and following budgets, planning to achieve goals and interfacing with parents and community members.

Median Salary: $87,760

Education: Master’s Degree in Education Leadership or Education Administration

2. Postsecondary Teachers

Not every teacher works with children. If your passion lies in educating adults, a career in postsecondary education could be a great choice for you. These educators, often called professors or instructors, work at two-year and four-year colleges, universities, business schools, technical and trade schools, hospitals and other career training institutions. While postsecondary teachers do teach in the classroom, laboratory or lecture hall, they also often conduct their own research in their subject area.

Subject area is important for postsecondary teachers – much more so than for elementary school teachers, for example. These educators develop expertise in their field through many years of schooling not just at the undergraduate level, but at the master’s or Ph.D. level. They learn and contribute to the field through their own research work, thesis or dissertation. Postsecondary teachers, particularly those who work full-time at major universities, continue their research work and publish their findings scholarly journal articles and books even as they teach classes in their subject area. As teachers, of course, they juggle the responsibilities of devising lesson plans, syllabi, assignments and exams and grading student work. Professors may advise students in their programs on topics like courses to take and academic and career paths to pursue.  Some postsecondary teachers supervise students in graduate programs as they complete work for their thesis or dissertation.

Earning an advanced degree is only one part of the process of becoming a college professor. Full-time professors often attain a good deal of experience in their subject area, either conducting research, working in the field, teaching at the college level or through some combination of these experiences. Many postsecondary teachers begin a career in academics as adjunct professors, which means they teach part-time. It’s not uncommon for adjunct professors to teach part-time at multiple schools or while working in another role while they cultivate the experience necessary to attain a full-time position.

Median Salary: $68,970

Education: Master’s degree or Ph.D. in their subject area

3. Instructional Coordinators

If you’re as interested in what and how students are learning as you are in the act of teaching, then a role as an instructional coordinator might be your ultimate career goal. These education professionals, who typically have years of experience as teachers themselves, focus primarily on developing and coordinating curricula, instructional materials and teaching standards. They choose textbooks and other course materials that align with educational goals and curricula. Instructional coordinators also suggest what technologies and teaching methods teachers should use in the classroom.

A big part of what instructional coordinators do is working with the instructors. These professionals set up and oversee teacher training, including workshops and conferences. Instructional coordinators create the curriculum and the processes teachers use to implement it. They evaluate teachers and serve as mentors in helping them attain new skills and improve existing ones. To determine the effectiveness of curricula, procedures, materials, technology and teaching methods, instructional coordinators evaluate students’ performance on tests.

Instructional coordinators go by many names, including instructional coaches, assistant superintendents of instruction and curriculum specialists. Some may work exclusively on developing, implementing and assessing curricula for particular grades or subject areas.

The position of instructional coordinator is no entry-level job. First, candidates must attain plenty of experience teaching, which requires earning an undergraduate degree in education (and possibly a subject area) and a teaching license. After they have the experience to advance into an instructional coordinator role, candidates must earn a graduate degree in education or curriculum and instruction. In these master’s programs, aspiring instructional coordinators will study teaching theory, curriculum design and how to analyze student performance data. Some programs allow students to delve into an area of focus, like a specific level of education.

Median Salary: $60,050

Education: Master’s Degree in Education or Curriculum and Instruction

4. Librarians

Education doesn’t always take place in the classroom. If you want to help people of all ages and education levels learn and do research for school, work and personal purposes, consider a role as a librarian. More than half of all librarians work in schools of some type, from the elementary to college level at both public and private institutions. More than one-quarter find employment in public libraries. Others work in specialized settings, like corporate libraries, government libraries, medical libraries and law libraries. Some librarians, particularly those who work in very large libraries, specialize in one main responsibility, like helping patrons or doing administrative work.

Work as a librarian is all about helping people locate the information they’re looking for. This means interacting with library patrons – such as students, professionals and community members – to answer questions and guide research efforts. Librarians organize materials and carefully maintain collections and the databases that provide information about those materials. They acquire new books, materials, equipment and technology. To stay under budget, they have to choose materials carefully, researching books and considering information like reviews and catalog blurbs.

Librarians may also be responsible for teaching informal classes on research and locating resources and for planning events and educational programs for library visitors. Some librarians in leadership roles train and oversee library employees, including assistants and technicians.

An advanced education is essential for a career as a librarian. While there’s no one undergraduate program that’s the right choice to prepare candidates for the career, the Master of Library Science, or MLS, degree is a standard qualification employers seek in candidates for librarian positions. Earning this degree typically takes one to two years of additional study beyond the undergraduate level and covers subjects like online and offline research methods, library materials selection, information organization and how to use online reference systems. Candidates for librarian roles in specialized libraries may need a degree in the field in which they specialize – like law, medicine or business – as well as library science. Librarians may need to attain certification to work in schools or to work at all in some states.

Median Salary: $55,370

Education: Master of Library Science, Master of Information Studies or Master of Library and Information Studies

5. Special Education Teachers

Some students need extra help. Special education teachers are the educators who instruct students who have mental, physical, emotional and learning disabilities that make it difficult for them to learn and succeed in a more traditional learning environment. Some students need help learning basic life skills, while others require general study help, and still others need assistance in particular subject areas where they may struggle.

Special education teachers often work one-on-one with students, creating Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) tailored to each student that outline goals and the services available to help the student meet those goals. For students with mild to moderate disabilities, these plans might include how to adapt standard course materials and lessons to help the student more successfully grasp the material. The curriculum itself might be similar to that of general education classes in the same grade, but the use of different teaching techniques and requirements helps students with disabilities absorb and process the information. Special education teachers also teach basic skills in literacy and communication to students who suffer from severe disabilities. Throughout the school year, special education teachers are responsible for updating IEPs to report progress and performance toward these goals.

Special education teachers also work with small groups of students, as well as overseeing the class as a whole. Sometimes they have help from classroom teacher assistants, while some special education students also have their own aides. Special education teachers often work closely with school counselors, general education teachers, their students’ parents and even school superintendents to help students succeed to the best of their abilities. Special education teachers find work in all grade levels, from elementary to high school. Some work in inclusive classrooms that mix general education and special education students, teaching in conjunction with general education teachers. Others work in resource rooms or in classrooms exclusively for special education students who need individual attention. Special education teachers may work with students who have a specific type of disability, like blindness or deafness, or they may work with students who have a variety of different disabilities that may affect their education in different ways.

A bachelor’s degree in education is essential for a career as a special education teacher. Probably the best preparation for this career is an undergraduate program in special education specifically. These programs delve in-depth into subjects valuable for success, like the various kinds of disabilities special education teachers may encounter and how to teach material in ways that students with these disabilities can understand. However, some special education teachers start the career with a background in elementary education, with or without studying a content area. In some states, special education teachers must attain a master’s degree in special education. Any education program should require college students to gain work experience in the form of supervised student teaching. After graduating, aspiring special education teachers must attain a license or certification from the state in which they intend to teach.

Median Salary: $55,060

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education, Elementary Education or Content Area

6. High School Teacher

By high school, students should know the basics of subjects like reading, writing, mathematics and social studies. High school teachers impart more advanced knowledge and lessons to students. They prepare students in the ninth through 12^th grades for life after graduation, whether that means college, technical school or a transition right into the workforce. High school teachers typically concentrate on a single general subject area, like science, math, history or English, but they may teach a variety of classes within the subject during the day. They teach courses at different grade levels and difficulty levels, including advanced and college preparatory classes.

Like teachers at other grade levels, high school teachers develop and implement lesson plans. They cover material through in-class lectures, discussions and activities and assign homework, papers and projects. High school teachers grade assignments to assess students’ performance and their understanding of the course material. While high school teachers manage entire classes of students, they also work with kids in small groups and individually to enhance their strengths and improve their weaknesses. They must prepare their students to pass standardized tests, cultivate a solid educational background in subjects that they will pursue further in college, and develop the skills to succeed in the real world. High school teachers may discuss progress and academic performance with their students’ parents. Many high school teachers choose to get involved in extracurricular activities, like school clubs and sports.

Because high school teachers instruct students in a specific subject area, it’s important for them to have an education in that subject area themselves. An aspiring science teacher might choose to major in biology, chemistry or physics. A bachelor’s degree in history would be appropriate for an aspiring high school social studies teacher, while majoring in mathematics would prepare a candidate for a high school math teacher role. Aspiring high school teachers should also study education or teacher preparation during their college career to learn about child and adolescent psychology and ways to successfully instruct students. This may mean they will have to double major in education and the content area of their choice. During their college career, they will participate in student teaching opportunities to gain work experience. After graduation, aspiring high school teachers will need to earn either a high school or secondary certification or license in the state where they intend to teach.

Median Salary: $55,050

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Education and Content Area

7. Middle School Teacher

Bridging the gap between the basics of elementary education and the advanced concepts and preparation for adulthood of elementary school is middle school, typically considered grades six through eight. Like high school teachers, many middle school teachers focus on teaching just one or two subject areas, like math, science, English or social studies to several classes of students each day. They have the sometimes challenging job of expanding the fundamental knowledge and skills students learned in each subject during elementary school so they will be able to grasp more complex concepts and succeed in the more academically rigorous environment of high school. They must also get students ready for success on standardized tests.

Middle school teachers develop lessons, assignments and classroom activities to convey course material. They administer quizzes that test students’ knowledge and grade participation, classwork, homework, projects and exams. Sometimes middle school teachers assign group work and facilitate teamwork within small groups. At times, they may work with students individually to help them if they are struggling with the course material or to challenge them to reach their full potential. In the classroom, middle school teachers establish and implement rules for behavior. Outside the classroom, they may be responsible for supervising students in the hallways, the cafeteria, the gymnasium, the playground or even during school field trips.

During the course of their careers, middle school teachers work with many other adults to help the children they teach succeed. They hold conferences with parents to inform them of their child’s progress, performance, strengths and academic needs. They collaborate with other teachers, especially in schools where teachers of different subject areas work in teams to facilitate meeting big-picture education goals. Middle school teachers may refer students to school counselors, special education teachers or school administrators for help with various problems, from emotional challenges to learning difficulties and discipline for behavioral problems.

While aspiring middle school teachers need an undergraduate college degree in education, exactly what they choose to major in can vary. Some enroll in elementary or even early education programs, while others may find degree paths in middle school education or middle grades education. By studying education in college, aspiring middle school teachers will learn child and adolescent psychology and effective teaching methods for conveying lessons. They will develop real-world experience through student teaching. Many students also choose to major in the content area they intend to teach – in fact, some states and colleges require education majors to double major in a subject area. Upon graduation, candidates will need to attain a teaching license or certification. Exactly which certification they pursue depends on the requirements of their state, but can range from elementary school to secondary school certification.

For candidates who already have a bachelor’s degree but don’t have a teaching background, there’s also an alternate route to teaching certification. This path allows candidates to take their education courses long after they have earned a degree, sometimes even while they begin their teaching career.

Median Salary: $53,430

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary or Middle School Education

8. Elementary School Teacher

How do young children learn the basics of reading, mathematics, science, social studies and other essential subjects? With the help of good elementary school teachers. These instructors typically work with students in grades one through five – generally, ages five to 11. However, some elementary schools include students up to eighth grade.

Elementary school teachers often spend the entire day teaching the same class of students, educating them in various subject areas. They manage classroom behavior, setting and enforcing rules for appropriate conduct. As students progress and gain fundamental skills, elementary school teachers present increasingly complex concepts, such as science experiments, reading assignments and group projects. They also help students develop the academic and communication skills they will need to succeed in school and in later life. In addition, elementary school students have to take standardized tests, which their teachers must prepare them to pass.

Elementary school teachers are responsible for developing lesson plans that present material in ways their students can understand and apply it. Successfully teaching this age group often requires hands-on activities, which teachers have to plan and implement. To determine how well students are understanding and applying the course material, elementary school teachers still have to assign and grade classwork, tests and even homework. Teachers at the elementary education level may have more regular communication with parents regarding individual students’ academic and behavioral performance than teachers at higher grade levels do. They also oversee student behavior during recess and mealtimes.

Naturally, a degree program in elementary education is the most straightforward choice for aspiring elementary school teachers. These programs include coursework in child psychology and development, teaching methods that are effective with young students and techniques for instructing students with different strengths, weaknesses and backgrounds.  They also include a student teaching component designed to help future teachers gain hands-on classroom experience. Some states and schools also require aspiring elementary school teachers to major in a subject area, though they will be responsible for instructing their students in all content areas. After earning their degrees, candidates will have to earn a teaching license or certification in early childhood education or elementary education. As with other types of teachers, aspiring elementary school teachers who have a bachelor’s degree in a different field can pursue an alternate route to a teaching certification.

Median Salary: $53,400

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education

9. Career and Technical Education Teacher

Not every student is cut out for a traditional college education or its corresponding career options – and that’s a good thing, because there are plenty of important jobs for which a college academic program isn’t the best preparation. Some students excel at subjects like culinary arts, hospitality and tourism, information technology, auto repair and assistant or technician roles in the healthcare industry. Career and technical education teachers instruct students in middle schools, high schools and postsecondary schools in these technical subjects so they can develop the skills necessary to enter the workforce. They work with students in classrooms, workshops and laboratories and often help students find opportunities to gain professional experience during their education.

Like other types of instructors, career and technical education teachers plan lessons and carry out activities. Through instruction and demonstration, they help students attain academic knowledge and the technical skills to apply it to the kind of real-world situations they will encounter in their future careers. They assign written and hands-on work for students to complete in and out of class and grade those assignments to measure students’ success. In middle and high school settings, career and technical education teachers may interact with parents to notify them of students’ performance, strengths and struggles. In technical schools and junior colleges, they record students’ progress toward a certificate or an associate’s degree.

The typical entry-level education requirement for career and technical education teachers is a bachelor’s degree in their subject area of expertise, though this requirement may change from one field to another. Some career and technical education teachers have only a high school degree, but many years of practical experience in the field and the credentials to prove it. Even aspiring career and technical education teachers who have a bachelor’s degree often need years of experience in the subject to begin teaching it. Career and technical education teachers who work in public middle and high schools, in particular, need a state-issued teaching license or certification. They may need to complete student teaching experiences, as well.

Generally, career and technical education teachers earn the highest salaries – a median wage of $55,160 – working in secondary or high school settings. Middle school career and technical education teachers earn a median salary of $54,220. The lowest median salary, $47,990, is found at postsecondary schools like business schools, trade schools, technical schools and two-year colleges.

Median Salary: $51,910

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Subject Area

10. Kindergarten Teacher

If your passion is to educate the youngest of young children, then kindergarten is the grade level for you. Kindergarten teachers work with children around age five. Some of these children have never been to school of any kind before, while others have some exposure to the classroom dynamic from enrollment in preschool or even a daycare program.

Kindergarten teachers develop and oversee classroom activities. They typically see a single class of students for the entire day and must develop hands-on projects that keep young children engaged, out of trouble and constantly learning. Kindergarten teachers may teach the entire class at one time, or they may break the class up into small groups and work with different groups at different times while still supervising the class as a whole. Though the work appropriate for kindergarteners is less complex than it would be for elementary school children or older kids, kindergarten teachers still have to explain the work, help students to complete assignments and determine how well they are progressing toward meeting age-appropriate goals. At this grade level, establishing and enforcing classroom rules is particularly important, since the youngest students may not yet know what behavior is acceptable in the classroom.

To become a kindergarten teacher, candidates must earn a college degree, attain work experience and complete the requirements to get a teaching license or certification. A bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or elementary education is typically an appropriate choice for aspiring kindergarten teachers. Besides learning how to manage a classroom and convey information to young children, these programs will also provide candidates with student teaching experience. In some colleges and states, even kindergarten teachers will have to major in a subject area as well as education. After earning a degree, aspiring kindergarten teachers will need to attain teaching certification in early childhood grades.

Median Salary: $50,120

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education

Editor’s Note: The information presented in this article comes from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a federal government agency that reports on the labor market. Wages, education requirements and other details about the education jobs listed can vary depending on location and employer. If you’re interested in a career in education, consider this list a guide you can use to begin your own research specific to your goals and location.

For Further Reading: 

Top 10 Paying Jobs With an Associate’s Degree

Top 10 Highest Paying Engineering Careers

Top 10 Paying Jobs That Involve Math

What Are the 5 Best Careers in Environmental Science?

The post The Top 10 Highest Paying Education Careers appeared first on DegreeQuery.com.

However, you might wonder if a statistics degree is a marketable choice for career preparation. Outsiders to the field may ask you what kind of job you could do with a statistics degree. The answer is, virtually any analytical job in any industry. Statistics jobs don’t always confer the job title of “statistician.” Instead, they may go by other job titles but draw upon your expertise in analyzing data.

What Can I Do With a Statistics Degree?

If you’ve been wondering what can you do with a statistics degree, you’re in the right place. It’s a good idea to explore the variety of statistics major jobs available.

Do All Statistics Majors Become Statisticians?

Is a degree in the field of statistics automatically a statistician degree? Many students assume that statistics majors always go on to become statisticians. You’re not exactly off base if you believe this, but the full range of career options is broader.

Many statistics students will pursue jobs with the title “statistician.” After all, this job role is clearly linked to their field of study. There are good reasons – including a high median pay rate and a rapid rate of job growth – to become a statistician.

Working Outside the Statistician Job Title

However, statistician roles aren’t the only jobs for statistics majors. Prospective students of statistics have a much broader range of job titles to consider. Most jobs that use statistics are analytical job roles of some kind. The reality is that many different industries and job roles require skills in data collection, manipulation and analysis. Earning a degree in statistics can prepare you for any number of roles that require these skills.

Whether you go on to work in a job that includes “statistician” in the title or use your education in a different analytical position, you will find that a statistics degree qualifies you for numerous jobs. In general, these jobs tend to correspond to high rates of pay and faster-than-average rates of career growth.

How Popular Is Statistics as a Major?

Is statistics a good major? While no one major is the right choice for every student, this major has a lot to offer. The number of statistics degrees conferred annually is still not on par with the most popular disciplines, which award tens of thousands of bachelor’s degrees each year. Still, it’s a solid subject in which colleges grant thousands of degrees annually.

During the 2019 through 2020 school year, 3,262 students earned a bachelor’s degree in general statistics, the National Center for Education Statistics reported. Master’s degrees in general statistics were even more common, with 3,423 awarded that same academic year. Further, 470 students earned a doctoral-level statistics degree. These figures represent an increase in degrees in statistics from a couple of years earlier. This fact indicates that the field of statistics may be gaining more popularity. Keep in mind, too, that this data reported for the “general statistics” category doesn’t include degrees award in applied general statistics, biostatistics, business statistics, educational statistics and research or “other” statistics majors.

If you, too, are contemplating statistics as a potential field of study, you’re probably curious about the most common – and best – jobs for stats majors.

RELATED: If I have a Master’s in Statistics, what kind of jobs am I looking at in the business world?

What Is Statistics?

Statistics is the mathematical science discipline that revolves around the collection, analysis and interpretation of quantitative data. While math can be either theoretical or applied, statistics is typically applied.

The Work of a Statistician

What do statisticians do? They gather, organize and make meaning of real numerical data.

Statisticians use their skills to choose the appropriate sampling or survey methodology for collecting data in the lab or through surveys of human respondents. They need to use care in this selection so that the data they acquire is as accurate as possible. They input, organize and arrange that data in ways that are useful. Through calculations known as statistical analyses, statisticians manipulate this data to gain insights about the matter they are studying. A statistician may develop models or otherwise project future quantities or events based on past trends.

The concepts, methods and applications of statistics can be applied to many different fields, including:

• Research in the physical and social sciences
• Government recordkeeping
• Healthcare
• Business
• Marketing
• Finance
• Insurance

These numerous and diverse fields rely on the work of professionals with a background in statistics. This means they are all potential areas of employment that students with a statistics degree should consider.

When Should Aspiring Statisticians Start Thinking About a Field of Expertise?

You should begin thinking about how you want to use your statistics degree early in your education. Many schools encourage statistics students to pursue studies in an additional area of interest. Doing so can help them gain interdisciplinary knowledge that will be useful in their career in statistics. You might meet this expectation through any of the following methods:

• A second major
• A minor
• A formal concentration or academic track within your major
• Informally through your electives

The possible fields of study are almost endless. If you want to work in medical research, a background in biology, chemistry or health sciences may be helpful. You are likely to work closely with colleagues in these fields. Aspiring statisticians whose interests align more with human rights and public policymaking may be drawn to social science subjects. Devoting some of your studies to English, writing or communications can help you build strong communication skills that help you better express your findings in any subject area.

RELATED: Top 10 Highest Paying Social Science Jobs

The Statistician Career Path

One of the most obvious statistic major jobs is statistician. About 34,200 workers across the United States were statisticians as of 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Statisticians apply the principles and techniques of statistical analysis to understand and interpret numerical data. The work of statisticians helps us identify numerical trends in all kinds of fields and understand phenomena in the life, physical, and social sciences. All of these fields may employ statisticians.

RELATED: What Degree Do I Need to Become a Statistician?

One of the most remarkable aspects of the statistician career, at least as of 2021, is its exceptional rate of job growth. The BLS expected job opportunities for statisticians to grow by a much faster-than-average rate of 31% between 2021 and 2031. Growth at the predicted rate would yield 11,200 new jobs for statisticians.

The Top-Employing Industries for Statisticians

Statisticians work in a surprisingly wide array of industries.

Government Statistician Jobs

The single largest employer of statisticians in 2021 was the federal government. This industry employed 15% of statisticians in America, the BLS reported. Government statisticians often gather and analyze data that is relevant to matters of public policy. These subjects may range from unemployment rates that indicate the health of the economy to pollution rates that reflect impacts on the natural environment.

The Bureau of the Census, part of the federal Department of Commerce, is one of the many examples of government agencies that employ statisticians. The Constitutionally mandated decennial Population and Housing Census is only conducted every 10 years. Still, that doesn’t mean the statisticians who work for this department aren’t active in the intervening years. Gathering new Census data is just the first step. Statisticians organize it into manageable and logical data sets. Then they can analyze and interpret this data to produce meaningful insights with actionable results, such as:

• Updating population maps
• Influencing political representation counts
• Informing public policy efforts and priorities

As the next Census year approaches, the Bureau of the Census must plan for the upcoming data collection. This work includes researching and planning for effective and efficient data collection practices. The Bureau of the Census also conducts other surveys and studies, including:

• The housing- and workforce-oriented American Community Survey (ACS)
• The Economic Census
• The Census of Governments

Statistician Jobs in R&D

Not far behind the government was the research and development industry – specific to the physical, engineering and life sciences. This industry accounted for 14% of jobs in this occupation in 2021.

One example of a role in this industry is lead statistician in a company that produces therapeutic treatments and therapies. Another example is biostatistician or clinical research statistician at a pharmaceutical company.

Careers for Statisticians Academia

Nearly one in ten statisticians worked for colleges and universities in 2021. This makes academia the third-largest employer of statisticians. When you work for a college – whether a community college, four-year state college or private university – your work will include teaching as well as research.

Healthcare Roles for Statisticians

The healthcare and social assistance industry made up 8 percent of the field in 2021. Statisticians in these roles might work for hospital systems and health-related organizations and associations.

Insurance, Finance and Business

Rounding out the five largest industries of employment for this job is the insurance industry. Another 6% of statisticians worked for insurance carriers in 2021. Statisticians also work for related industries, like finance and business.

Sports Statistician Careers

One popular role within this occupation is sports statistician. Do you love sports and enjoy the mathematical science of statistics? Sports statistics jobs may well represent your dream job.

Sports statisticians apply statistical methods of compiling and analyzing data to sporting events. Baseball, football, basketball and hockey enthusiasts are often drawn to this career path. There are typically two kinds of roles in sports statistician jobs: academic sports statistician and recorder. A recorder is also known as a scorer.

What Do Sports Statisticians Do?

Academic sports statisticians apply statistical methods to analyze data in sports. They look for trends, patterns and other interesting findings that improve the game or our understanding of it.

Calculating batting averages is only the tip of the iceberg that is the statistical analysis of sports. Academic sports statisticians, for example, may be able to shed light on whether fastballs in baseball are getting even faster. Today’s sports analytics data trends are even affecting how sports are played. The application of data science to sports has allowed coaches to adjust playing strategies based on the probability of success and even the likelihood of injuries to players.

These statistical analyses are complex. To perform them, academic sports statisticians often need an advanced education.

You don’t need such an extensive academic background to be a scorer. Recording sports statisticians watch the game and record scoring and other data in real-time.

The competition for this job, however, is often fierce. Full-time employment opportunities for scorers are hard to come by. Even organizations that do employ these professionals may only need one of them. Of course, if you’re going to watch games and report their scores live, your work schedule will revolve around game schedules.

Biostatistician Careers

What else can you do with a career in statistic analysis? When you apply your statistical knowledge to the healthcare field, you might have the job title of biostatistician. These specialized statisticians work in settings like the following, according to the BLS:

• Hospitals
• Medical clinics
• Pharmaceutical companies

RELATED: What Is a Typical Day for a Biostatistician?

What Do Biostatisticians Do?

Biostatisticians conduct a variety of work analyzing data in the fields of biology, healthcare and medicine. The work of biostatisticians helps the medical community understand the causes of and contributing factors to diseases. Applying statistical methods can also reveal the efficacy of new treatment methods. Statistics are critical for life scientists and medical scientists who conduct research in these areas.

Statisticians earned a median salary of $95,570 in 2021. Those working in research and development roles earned the most. For this industry, the BLS reported a statistician median salary of $114,770. Statisticians working for the federal government reported median earnings of $114,050.

Analytical Career Paths With a Statistics Degree

If none of these statistician career options sounds quite right for you, don’t worry. A statistics degree has far more applications beyond statistician. There are many different opportunities for candidates with strong analytical, logical and reasoning skills.

Making a Career Out of Statistical Analysis

Statistics majors are excellent at analyzing data. This skill holds a lot of value in the real world. The answer to the common question “What kind of job should I have with a statistics degree?” depends in part on your interests outside of data science. Are you interested in risk and insurance? What about business operations and analytics? Could you imagine getting excited about applying your skills to the field of finance?

You should also think about the day-to-day activities you would prefer to focus on in potential careers in statistics.

How do you want to spend your time in your career in statistics? Depending on your precise role, some job duties you might have could include:

• Develop models
• Use computer programming language to run analyses in statistical software programs
• Draw upon your communication skills to put your findings into context in visual media, written reports and oral presentations

Some of the analytical job roles you might pursue as a statistics major include actuary, operations research analyst, data analyst or data scientist, quantitative analyst and computer systems analyst.

Actuary Jobs With a Statistics Degree

For statistics majors who want to stay in math-related occupations, one excellent job you can get with your degree is actuary. In this role, you would apply your mathematical skills and your familiarity with statistical analysis software to compute the financial costs of risk, most likely for an insurance company or a bank or finance company.

Actuaries make a six-figure median salary. They also don’t need a graduate degree. However, they must pass a grueling series of professional certification exams that can take up to a decade to complete, the BLS reported.

Between 2021 and 2031, job opportunities for actuaries should increase by a much faster than average rate of 21%, or 5,900 new jobs, according to BLS predictions. As of 2021, the median salary for actuaries was $105,900 per year. This median salary puts your earning potential in this career path even higher than that of a statistician.

Operations Research Analyst Jobs for Stats Majors

Operations research analyst is another math-related profession to consider with your statistics degree. Organizations ranging from private corporations to the Department of Defense depend on operations research analysts. Operations research analysts apply their mathematical and statistical skills to evaluate companies’ operations. They look for ways to solve problems, streamline processes and make the organization work better.

The 2021 median wage for operations research analysts was somewhat below that of statisticians, at $82,360. However, this larger occupation that employed 104,200 workers as of 2021 offers far more opportunities, the BLS reported. The BLS predicte a 23% rate of job growth between 2021 and 2031. Based on that projection, this profession is likely to keep growing by as many as 24,200 new opportunities.

Data Analyst Roles for Statistics Majors

Beyond the field of mathematics, graduates of statistics degree programs find work in all kinds of industries. Often, they hold job titles such as data analyst or data scientist.

As the job title suggests, data scientists apply the scientific method of inquiry to the examination of data. Methods used in the interdisciplinary field of data science can be applied to many fields. Data scientists may work in business, computer and information technology or other fields.

Quantitative Analyst Jobs With a Degree in Statistics

In the field of finance, you might encounter the role of quantitative analyst. This role involves applying statistical modeling to the markets of business and finance. Quantitative analyst roles are often, though not always, masters in statistics jobs. Employers in this field tend to prefer candidates with a master’s degree.

Computer Systems Analyst Jobs With a Statistics Degree

Tech-savvy students may be interested in a computer systems analyst role. These statistics careers require information technology (IT) knowledge as well as analytical skills. Computer systems analysts evaluate computer systems and devise technological solutions to problems.

The demand for these non-statistician roles is high. Experts projected that three million new jobs would open up for candidates who have data science and analytical skills in the year 2020 alone. Many of these statistics-related careers offer high wages.

The Curriculum and Concentration Options of a Statistics Degree

If you’ve decided that a career in statistics is for you, the next step is to learn more about the degree itself.

Undergraduate Degrees in Statistics

When you major in statistics, you should expect to take classes in subjects like the following:

• Probability
• Statistical concepts and applications
• Inferential statistics
• Statistical programming

Analysis plays a big part in studying statistics. The best undergraduate statistics programs often include multiple types of courses in analysis, including:

• Multivariate analysis
• Regression analysis
• Analysis of categorical data
• Analysis of forecasting systems

Some coursework is intended to help students learn the specifics of important areas of application. For example, a course in experimental design methods is valuable for statisticians and analysts who work closely with other scientists conducting research. A class on survey sampling in business equips students with the knowledge they need for business applications of statistics.

Statistics majors will also take coursework in other branches of the mathematical sciences. After all, there’s a reason a statistician may also be called a mathematical statistician. Statistics is closely related to math, and a mathematical statistician has competence in other areas of math as well as extensive knowledge of the principles and methods of statistical analysis.

Common math coursework includes:

• Linear algebra
• Abstract algebra
• Differential equations
• Topology

RELATED: What Is the Benefit of a Mathematics Degree Vs a Statistics Degree?

At the undergraduate level, colleges may offer either (or both) Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in statistics. According to U.S. News & World Report, Bachelor of Arts programs tend to emphasize the practical application of statistical methods more. Bachelor of Science programs in statistics focus more on the intensive math coursework that prepares students for graduate study in this field. As such, aspiring graduate students may be better off choosing a science-oriented bachelor’s degree program.

Should You Earn a Master’s Degree in Statistics?

In many industries, a bachelor’s degree is sufficient to get started in an entry-level role as an analyst. Suppose, however, that you want to rise to the level of senior statistician. Perhaps you want to work in academia at a state university or private college. Maybe you want to develop more specialized skills, like a stronger background in survey methodology or a deeper understanding of machine learning and other computer tools and applications. It might be in your best interests to consider advancing your education. Many statisticians have a master’s degree or higher. It’s not unusual to see a senior statistician working in private industry or in academia to hold a doctorate.

Related Resources: 

Top 10 Paying Jobs That Involve Math

What Are the Highest Paying Jobs With a Degree in Statistics?

What Is the Difference Between a Mathematics Degree and a Statistics Degree?

How Do I Prepare for a Statistics Degree While in High School?

If I Have a Master’s in Statistics, What Kind of Jobs Am I Looking at in the Business World?

What Are Some of the Subtopics I Will Study in a Master’s Program for Statistics?

What Kind of Things Should I Look for in a Graduate Program in Statistics?

What Is the Difference Between Biostatistics and Statistics?

How Much Writing Will I Do in a Job as a Biostatistician?

Will I Need a Ph.D. in Biostatistics to Be Able to Get a Good Job in the Field?

How Many Jobs Are Available in Finance?

What Degree Do I Need to Be a Policy Analyst?

For Further Reading:

What Are the 5 Best Careers in Environmental Science?

What Degree Do I Need to Become a Lighting Designer?

The post Statistics Jobs: What Kind of Job Can You Get With a Degree in Statistics? appeared first on DegreeQuery.com.

What Business Degree Makes the Most Money?

Many business careers have six-figure or near-six-figure salaries. Dozens of business and related jobs earn more than double the median annual salaries for all occupations.

Our list below of the highest-paying business degrees includes the 15 business degrees that prepare students for the positions with the highest median salary. 

High-paying business careers are out there. To get them, you will need a solid education and an in-demand degree.

As you’ll notice, the highest-paying business majors on our list run the gamut from undergraduate to graduate and generalist to highly specialized. That’s because running successful business ventures takes all kinds of skills. 

RELATED: What Are the Highest-Paying Business Entry-Level Jobs?

Some occupations in business administration call for an undergraduate degree. Others, like high-ranking management positions and roles that require highly specialized knowledge, need more advanced study.

Depending on what you want to do, you may need a broad or specialized business degree. You may major in a field closely related to business or a subject that seems less directly involved with the business world. What all of the highest-paying business degrees have in common is the significant earning potential they offer to students. 

Here are 15 degrees that lead to a high-paying business career.

Related: How Many Jobs Are Available in Finance?

1. Master of Business Administration

First on our list is undeniably one of the best business masters degrees: the Master of Business Administration (MBA).  

The MBA degree is the traditional pathway for business professionals who want to advance into high-level (and high-paying) roles. The MBA is a graduate business degree that includes core courses in a broad range of business subjects, according to U.S. News & World Report, such as:

• finance
• accounting, management
• marketing
• strategy
• operations
• information systems 

The traditional MBA program takes two years of full-time graduate study to complete. Many schools now offer these masters degrees in business programs in both part-time and accelerated study options in their online and on-campus programs.

RELATED: How Long Does It Take to Get a Business Degree?

What leads many people to consider an MBA the best business masters degree is its versatility. The MBA program gives you a flexible degree that includes graduate-level study across a range of business subjects. The MBA appeals to a range of employers in the world of business and finance.

Despite their strengths as generalist business masters degrees, MBAs do offer some opportunity to gain more in-depth, specialized knowledge of particular business subjects. Students may choose a specialization or concentration in a subject of interest.

RELATED: What Classes Will I Have to Take for a Degree in Business Administration?

Among the most popular MBA specializations are:

• Finance
• Supply chain management
• International business
• Computer information systems
• Entrepreneurship 
• Marketing 
• Sustainability 

There are plenty of roles you can hold with your MBA. It helps to choose a well-respected school and a sought-after specialization. Many of the more lucrative business career paths are open to students who earn an MBA with a relevant concentration.

Chief executives like CEOs typically need an MBA.  Chief executives have the highest-earning role in the business world. The median salary for chief executives was almost five times the median wage for all occupations in 2021, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) reported. As a result, if you’re asking “What business major makes the most money?”, the MBA is probably the best answer. 

Chief executives are top managers who hold titles such as president, executive director and managing director. They oversee the big-picture direction of the company or organization, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Management analyst is another possible job for an MBA graduate. While not nearly as lucrative as chief executive, management analyst still ranks high on the list of the top-paying business careers, with the BLS reporting a near-six-figure annual salary.

A management analyst acts as a business consultant. They provide valuable advice that helps companies improve productivity, efficiency and profitability. An MBA is an important credential for those who want to be chief executives, management analysts and other high-level business professionals. The degree alone won’t help you get to these senior positions. You will also need a great deal of experience and the leadership abilities to inspire confidence in companies and employees.

Job Titles: Chief Executive, Management Analyst

Median Salaries (2021): $179,520, $93,000

Occupation Group: Management 

2. Bachelor’s in Management Information Systems

Some of the highest-paying jobs in the business world revolve around technology. A degree in computer science or information science can help prepare students for technological roles. These play an important part in the success of modern businesses. If you want one of the most profitable positions in the business world, you will need more than just computer knowledge. You must develop a background in business theory and practices. You can then apply that computer knowledge to help your company achieve its goals.

RELATED: The 20 Best Masters in Cyber Security Online

A bachelor’s degree in management information systems (MIS) is a great choice. It combines business classes with the mathematics, software development and computer programming courses of a computer science program. By the time you graduate from an undergraduate MIS degree program, you will understand how computer coding and technology works. You will also learn to use computer technology to solve an organization’s problems.

A degree in MIS can help you get a position as a computer and information systems manager. This program is sometimes called information technology (IT). Managers and IT project managers figure out what a company’s technology needs are based on their goals and challenges. They implement systems that meet these needs.

Even the lowest-paid information systems managers have a fairly high salary. The BLS reported that computer and information systems managers at the 10th percentile – that is, the 10 percent of workers in a given occupation who earn the least – still earned a median wage that amounted to upwards of $30,000 more per year than other operations management roles in 2021.

Earning your MIS degree can also qualify you for a role as a database administrator. Database administrators are responsible for creating, maintaining and keeping secure the electronic databases that have the information a business uses to operate. While not quite as high-paying as a manager role, this technology position had a median salary of $96,710 in 2021, according to the BLS. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also predicted for this occupation a positive job outlook with faster-than-average job growth.

Job Titles: Computer and Information Systems Manager, Database Administrator

Median Salaries (2021): $159,010, $96,710 

Occupation Group: Management 

3. Bachelor’s in Marketing

Getting people to buy your product or service is crucial to the success of a business. Whether a company focuses primarily on business to business (B2B), business to consumer (B2C) or business to government (B2G) transactions, you need marketing and sales professionals on your team. In a bachelor’s degree program in marketing, students learn about consumer behavior and how to influence people’s purchasing decisions. They take coursework such as:

• advertising
• sales
• marketing research
• strategic marketing 
• marketing management

RELATED: The 20 Best Online Marketing Degrees (Bachelor’s)

Students must understand the data behind marketing campaigns. It is just as important for them to learn to create winning advertisements and marketing strategies. You should expect to take classes in finance, statistics and analytics. Some programs include specialized aspects of marketing like social media marketing, e-commerce and public relations. Marketing majors take business classes such as:

• economics
• management
• business law and ethics

When you earn your marketing degree you can begin a path to the role of marketing and sales manager. The job duties may be different from one employer to the next. It can even be different from one job title to another. Marketing and advertising managers work more behind the scenes. They develop the campaigns and strategies that promote a company and its products or services. Sales managers, on the other hand, focus more on leading teams of sales representatives. They handle tasks like:

• training sales staff
• setting sales goals
• measuring progress toward those goals

The salary of a marketing and sales manager depends on the size of the employer and scope of the job duties. A marketing manager for a major national or global corporation will earn more than a marketing manager for a small business that makes mostly local transactions. A bachelor’s degree in marketing will prepare you for more entry-level roles like marketing specialist.

RELATED: How Much Can I Make With a Degree in Digital Marketing? 

Job Titles: Marketing & Sales Manager, Marketing Specialist

Median Salaries (2021): $135,030, $63,920                 

Occupation Group: Management

4. Master’s in Finance

MBAs aren’t the only suitable masters degrees for business majors. Some of the top-paying business degrees are specialized master’s programs, like the Master of Finance degree. 

There are two kinds of graduate degrees in the field of finance. Some students earn an MBA in finance. This business degree is a master’s degree with an emphasis on business in general that includes some specialized studies in finance.

There is also a specialized finance degree available at the master’s level of study. This is business degree for graduate students who are looking to delve deeper into the field of finance rather than dividing their studies between a wide array of business subjects.

There are several reasons to consider earning a master’s in finance degree. For one thing, many employers are seeking candidates with a targeted educational background. Also, you can complete a traditional master’s in finance degree program in just one year. That’s half the amount of time it would take to earn an MBA in finance degree.

A master’s in finance degree helps students who want to work as financial managers. These management professionals are in charge of the overall financial health of a company or organization.

Financial managers handle a wide range of responsibilities. For example, they create financial statements. They oversee the efforts of finance workers. They analyze market trends to develop business forecasts.

Technically, it is possible to get a finance manager position with just a bachelor’s degree and extensive work experience. However, there will be strong competition for these management roles. Having a master’s degree and graduate-level skills in financial analysis and software can help candidates stand out from the crowd and impress prospective employers. In addition to a master’s degree, aspiring financial managers may also want to pursue professional credentials. Some of the most common credentials in financial management are: 

• The CFA Institute’s Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification
• The Association for Financial Professionals’ Certified Treasury Professional credential

Job Titles: Financial Manager

Median Salaries (2021): $131,710 

Occupation Group: Management  

5. Bachelor’s in Supply Management

All kinds of organizations, from retailers to manufacturers, need some form of supplies to keep their operations running. Supply management is the operational process of obtaining goods and materials for a company or organization’s use. This may be for internal use, for manufacturing purposes or retail sales. You might also hear related terms like supply chain management and logistics. 

Coursework that is common in undergraduate supply chain management degree programs includes: 

• introduction to supply management
• principles of microeconomics and macroeconomics
• strategic management
• supply chain strategy and practice
• manufacturing planning and control
• behavior and organization. 

Often, students also take more general business courses, such as classes in business leadership, business communications and business laws and ethics. Hands-on experiences and internship opportunities are an important part of many supply management degree programs. The experience students gain is valuable in helping them get started in the career field.

A bachelor’s degree in supply management can put you on the path to a career as a purchasing manager. This is a position with a six-figure median annual salary. Purchasing managers:

• develop and implement plans to get the products a business needs
• compare vendors and suppliers
• decide which business offers the best quality products or materials for the best price
• forge and maintain relationships with suppliers
• handle price and contract negotiations
• oversee the work of buyers and purchasing agents

The purchasing manager is a high-level role, one in which even the 10th percentile earned a salary around $77,310 as of 2021. To reach this position, candidates usually need a minimum of five years of experience acting as purchasing agents or buyers.

Job Titles: Purchasing Manager, Buyer or Purchasing Agent

Median Salaries (2021): $127,150, $63,470 

Occupation Group: Management

6. Master’s in Human Resources

Supplies aren’t the only thing businesses need to succeed. To run effectively, companies and organizations also need to have hardworking employees. They need those employees to be trained properly and working as efficiently as possible.

Graduate degree programs in human resources are among the best business masters degrees. These programs teach students how to handle the important administrative duties that relate to staffing and employee relations. In a master’s in human relations degree program, according to U.S. News & World Report, students take core courses such as:

• Employee and labor relations
• Organizational change
• Human relations management strategy
• Conflict management
• Employment and labor law
• Collective bargaining
• Human performance improvement
• Compensation and benefits

Students often choose to take elective courses that lead to a specialization in subjects such as project management, staffing and recruitment or training and development. Many master’s degree programs in human resources also include some sort of final capstone experience. This may take the form of an internship, thesis or research project.

RELATED: What Salary Can I Expect With a Human Resources Management Degree?

A master’s degree in this field gives you the skills needed to become a human resources manager. Lower-level human resources management roles are available to candidates with just an undergraduate degree. However, having a master’s degree will improve a candidate’s job prospects in this competitive field, according to the BLS.

Human resources managers serve an important role. They connect a company’s employees with its management and administration team and handle job duties such as recruiting staff and handling any employee issues that arise. Training and development manager is another role you can go for with a graduate degree in human resources. Unlike the more general role of human resources manager, these professionals focus on training the company’s workforce.

Both of these management roles typically require a minimum of five years of related work experience, often in roles such as human resources specialist or training and development specialist.

Job Titles: Human Resources Manager, Training and Development Manager

Median Salaries (2021): $126,230, $120,130

Occupation Group: Management

7. Master’s in Economics

Economics is the study of how resources are transferred and used. Money, real estate, natural resources, labor and time are studied in a bachelor’s program.

 In a master’s in economics degree program, students study: 

• theory and principles of microeconomics and macroeconomics
• Mathematics (such as statistics and econometrics)
• international economics
• labor economics
• financial economies and risk
• managerial economics
• applied econometrics
•  economic development and growth

While it’s not necessary to have an undergraduate degree in economics to get started in a graduate program in the subject, it is important to have a solid mathematics foundation. Undergraduate-level coursework in calculus is a prerequisite for most graduate economics programs, according to U.S. News & World Report. Some master’s in economics programs offer students the chance to specialize in a topic like advanced theory or financial economics.

A graduate degree in economics can prepare you for a career as an economist, a high-paying business-related role. Economists fit more closely in the category of social scientist than business professional. However, with a six-figure median annual salary and a lucrative $193,690 wage at the 90th percentile as of 2021, economist is among the highest-paying business careers all the same.

In the business world, economists don’t just study the production and distribution of various kinds of resources. They also use their findings to develop data-backed business recommendations.

More than one-third of economists work for the federal, state or local government. Many others work in management consulting or research and development services. An economics degree can prepare graduates for other roles, too. In fact, most students who graduate from an undergraduate economics degree program don’t go on to become economists. Instead they find business roles such as research assistant, financial analyst and market research analyst, according to Forbes.

Job Titles: Economist

Median Salaries (2021): $105,630

Occupation Group: Other Business-Related Occupation

8. Bachelor’s in Engineering

On the surface, one of the best-paying business degrees, engineering, may not seem like a business degree at all. Engineering degrees incorporate a great deal of math, science, computer software training and practice in engineering design. Still, the architectural and engineering services industry is a major part of the business world. Success as an engineer hinges on an understanding of business principles as well as engineering principles. Engineers need to take into account clients’ needs, budgets and timetables in planning an engineering project. 

At the undergraduate as well as graduate level, most engineering degree programs focus on a particular discipline of engineering. Each of these disciplines includes studies in core courses such as:

• Science
• Mathematics
• principles of engineering

All high-quality engineering programs allow students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working in laboratory and design studio settings. Most encourage or require some form of an internship opportunity. However, the precise curriculum of an engineering program depends heavily on the specialization the student is pursuing. Among the most popular engineering specializations are:

• civil engineering
• computer engineering
• construction engineering technology
• electrical engineering
•  mechanical engineering
• petroleum engineering
• software engineering

Students majoring in computer engineering or software engineering may devote much of their studies to computer science or computer programming.

RELATED: Which Degree Is Best for a Software Engineer?

Students in a civil engineering program focus more on engineering mechanics and systems.

Becoming an engineer in your chosen discipline is the traditional career path following an engineering degree program. However, some engineering graduates choose a different, and at times more lucrative, career. The $103,710 annual salary the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported for sales engineers in 2021 was more than the median salaries of:

• Electrical and electronics engineers
• Mining and geological engineers
• Marine engineers
• Materials engineers
• Biomedical engineers
• Health and safety engineers
• Environmental engineers
• Mechanical engineers
• Industrial engineers
• Civil engineers
• Agricultural engineers

Sales engineers develop the same level of engineering knowledge in their discipline as students who go on to become professional engineers, but they put that knowledge to work in the business world. A sales engineer is responsible for selling highly technical products and services to clients, typically businesses. Sales engineers are necessary when the product is so technical that it takes a salesperson with a college-level engineering background to understand the science behind the product. They can explain that information to clients in clear, accessible language.

Job Titles: Sales Engineer

Median Salaries (2021): $103,710

Occupation Group: Sales

9. Bachelor’s in Actuarial Science

Actuarial science is the study of risk. Majors in actuary science degree programs have strong analytical skills. They use numerical data to identify the mathematical likelihood of an outcome occurring. An actuarial science program typically includes coursework in:

• Algebra
• Calculus
• Probability and statistics
• Microeconomics
• Macroeconomics
• Business and finance

In addition to these core courses in math and business, actuarial science majors can benefit from taking classes in computer science and communication. 

Graduates from an actuarial science program need to have skills in:

• Public speaking
• Written communication
• Computer programming
• Using databases, spreadsheets and statistical analysis tools

College degree programs in actuarial science may also include preparation for the actuarial exams candidates must pass to attain certification. There are around 200 colleges across the globe that offer degree programs in actuarial science.

RELATED: What Degree Do I Need to Be an Actuary?

A degree in actuarial science is an excellent start to a career as an actuary. These mathematics professionals earn a lucrative living. The $105,900 median salary the BLS reported for 2021 lands them among the best-paid employees in the business world. They also had an exceptionally high 10th percentile wage of $63,260 and 90th percentile wage of $206,820. More than 70 percent of actuaries worked for the finance and insurance industry as of 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Other actuaries find employment in the professional services industry, management and government entities.

Some of the different types of actuaries include:

• Health insurance actuaries
• Life insurance actuaries
• Property and casualty insurance actuaries
• Pension and retirement benefits actuaries
• Enterprise risk actuaries

Their work helps determine the terms and rates of insurance policy contracts as well as companies’ financial strategies. Earning certification is essential for full professional status as an actuary. This requires successful completion of professional actuarial exams.

Job Titles: Actuary

Median Salaries (2021): $105,900

Occupation Group: Other Business-Related Occupation

10. Bachelor’s in Health Administration or Health Management

Managing the business side of the healthcare industry requires a background in both business studies and the issues facing healthcare providers. An undergraduate degree program in health administration or health management combines these studies in a focused curriculum. It equips graduates with the skills needed to oversee the operations of a hospital or medical practice.

Business courses are an important component of a health administration curriculum. According to U.S. News & World Report, students in a healthcare management program typically take classes in the following subjects of study: 

• Human resources
• Economics
• Finance and leadership
• Health law and regulations
• Standards for healthcare staff
• Policy issues in healthcare
• Medical facilities management
• Critical issues in healthcare 

Some health administration programs allow students to pursue a specialization such as health care informatics systems, long-term care management or public administration. Often, students complete an internship or practicum to attain hands-on work experience.

With a degree in health administration or health management, you can be on your way to a role as a medical and health services manager. Sometimes called health care executives or health care administrators, these management professionals don’t provide care themselves. They direct and coordinate care to make sure that medical facilities run efficiently and that patients get adequate treatment. 

With a $101,340 median salary and a $205,620 90th percentile wage as of 2021, medical and health services manager is among the most lucrative business management positions. This is also a rapidly growing management role. The BLS predicts a “much faster than average” 28% job growth rate for opportunities for medical and health services managers between 2021 and 2031. 

Nearly a third of medical and health services managers oversaw the operations of hospitals as of 2021. Others worked in physicians’ offices, nursing homes, home health services and government entities.

Job Titles: Medical and Health Services Manager

Median Salaries (2021): $101,340

Occupation Group: Management

11. Bachelor’s in Finance

Finance is consistently one of the highest-paid business majors for undergraduates. 

At the bachelor’s level, a finance degree program introduces students to the basics of business, accounting and financial reporting and analysis. Later in the curriculum, U.S. News & World Report noted, students will encounter more in-depth coursework in subjects such as the following:

• Risk management
• International finance
• Investment principles
• Corporate finance
• Portfolio management
• Financial institutions and markets
• Insurance
• Financial management
• Regulatory issues in finance

By the time students graduate with their bachelor’s in finance degree they should understand:

• The different types of financial assets and how to manage them to promote growth
• The factors that determine an organization’s financial health and how to evaluate those factors
• How to budget for the company’s expenses and analyze the company’s finances and the industry’s financial markets

Some undergraduate finance programs include a specific focus on financial planning, according to the BLS.

Among the most lucrative careers you can attain with a bachelor’s degree in finance are personal financial advisor and financial analyst.

A personal financial advisor works directly with individuals helping them plan for and achieve their financial goals. These professionals might help clients weigh their options when it comes to:

• making investment decisions
• saving for college or retirement
• planning their estate
• minimizing their tax burden
• purchasing insurance or real estate mortgages

Financial analysts, on the other hand, focus more narrowly on analyzing investment opportunities. They may work with individuals, but they also work with companies. Financial analysts find employment in banks, mutual funds, pension funds, insurance companies and securities firms, the BLS reported. Some work on the “buy-side,” where they focus on obtaining investments. Others work on the “sell-side” and seek investors to purchase their stocks and bonds.

Personal financial advisors have a higher median salary ($94,170, as of 2021), but financial analysts have an exceptionally high 10th percentile wage among financial specialists ($57,900). This data shows that even the lowest-paid analysts are earning a good income.

Job Titles: Personal Financial Advisor, Financial Analyst

Median Salaries (2021): $94,170, $91,580

Occupation Group: Financial Specialist

12. Master’s in Statistics

Statistics is the scientific study of analyzing and interpreting numerical data. Students majoring in statistics commonly take a blend of math and science courses that include:

• Calculus
• Linear algebra
• Survey methodology
• Perimental design
• Statistical theory
• Probability

Graduates of statistics degree programs need to have a well-rounded background. Students often take courses in engineering, physical science, chemistry, biology and health services, particularly as undergraduates.

Statistics students don’t work only with formulas but also with computer software. In fact, using data analysis software is so integral to the study of statistics that it is also recommended that students take some computer science and computer programming courses. Some entry-level roles in the field of statistics are available to graduates from a bachelor’s degree program. However, most roles require that candidates hold at least a master’s degree, if not a Ph.D.

RELATED: Statistics Jobs: What Kind of Job Can You Get With a Degree in Statistics?

Statistician is the job title given to math professionals who gather and evaluate data through statistical methods to gain insight into solving problems. A statistician is responsible for everything from figuring out what data can help a company gain valuable insight to devising and implementing ways to attain that data and finally analyzing the information they collect. Statisticians work in several different employment environments, including federal government agencies and college and university settings. In the business world, most statisticians find jobs in:

• scientific research and development services
• finance and insurance
• management consulting services

For statisticians, the career outlook is highly positive. While the expected increase in job opportunities for all occupations is just five percent between 2021 and 2031, statisticians are looking at a “much faster than average” growth rate of 31 percent. With a median salary of $95,570 and a 90th percentile wage of $157,300 as of 2021, statistician is one of the top-paying business careers and the third most lucrative math career.

Job Titles: Statistician

Median Salaries (2021): $95,570

Occupation Group: Other Business-Related Occupation

13. Bachelor’s in Accounting

It’s a common misconception that an accounting degree is all about mathematics, according to U.S. News & World Report. True, you do need to have solid math skills to succeed in the degree path and any career that follows. Still, accounting is a business degree program, not a math program.

RELATED: How Long Does It Take to Become an Accountant?

Accounting is the work of preparing financial statements and reports. In a bachelor’s degree program in accounting, students take courses such as:

• Fundamentals of accounting
• Principles of accounting
• Auditing principles
• Internal auditing
• Financial accounting
• Managerial accounting
• Financial reporting
• Business law
• Finance
• Economics
• Business communications

By the time students graduate from an undergraduate accounting degree program, they will understand the workings of business transactions and how to prepare a wide variety of financial reports. They will not, however, have met the 150 semester hours of college study needed to be eligible for the certified public accountant (CPA) credential. For that reason, many graduates of bachelor’s in accounting degree programs go on to attain a master’s degree in accounting or an MBA.

RELATED: What Are the Highest-Paying Jobs With an Associates Degree in Accounting?

An undergraduate accounting degree can prepare you for a couple of possible positions in the business world. Financial examiner and accountant are the most notable. Accountants and auditors earned a median wage of $77,250 annually as of 2021, according to the BLS. They follow a fairly direct career path, work with individuals or companies to prepare accurate financial statements and offer advice for making smart financial decisions. Tax returns, balance sheets and income statements are just a few of the types of financial reports accountants are responsible for creating.

Financial examiners are the higher paid of the two occupations, earning a median salary of $81,090 per year. These professionals focus more narrowly on the rules and laws companies have to follow with regards to financial practices and reporting. Some financial examiners specialize in “risk scoping,” assessing the financial wealth of institutions such as banks and credit unions. Others are more concerned with “consumer compliance.” They ensure financial institutions abide by the laws designed to protect consumers from predatory lending practices. Nearly one-fifth of all financial examiners worked for the federal or state government as of 2021, according to the BLS. Other financial examiners work in credit inter-mediation, financial investments and management.

Job Titles: Financial Examiner, Accountant

Median Salaries (2021): $81,410, $77,250

Occupation Group: Financial Specialist

14. Bachelor’s or Master’s in Operations Research

Operations research is a math-heavy degree program. This is one of the highest paid business degrees that is best students for students with strong analytical and mathematics skills.

Core courses such as calculus, statistics and linear algebra are essential to success in the field of operations research. Students should also take enough computer science coursework to thoroughly understand the software used to run statistical analyses and model data. It’s also a good idea for operations research majors to take classes in subjects that need quantitative analysis, such as economics, political science and engineering.

Should you go for a bachelor’s degree in operations research, or a master’s degree? That depends on what you want to do with the degree. An undergraduate degree in operations research or a similar program is sufficient to attain some entry-level roles in the field, according to the BLS. However, there are some jobs you won’t be able to get unless you have a master’s degree or a Ph.D. Having an advanced degree can improve your job prospects considerably.

With a degree in operations research or a similar educational path, you can pursue a career as an operations research analyst. This math professional applies quantitative, statistical and analytical methods to data to develop solutions to real problems facing businesses and organizations. While their work uses mathematical principles, the challenges operations research analysts face aren’t quite as simple as solving an equation. These professionals don’t just look for any solution, but instead for the best solution. That requires analyzing the pros and cons of a variety of different actions.

One-quarter of operations research analysts worked in the finance and insurance industry as of 2021. Others found employment in professional and scientific services, manufacturing, management and the federal government. In addition to having a high median salary of $82,360, operations research analysts also enjoy a highly positive job outlook. The BLS predicts that operations research analysts will see a “much faster than average” job growth rate of 23 percent between 2021 and 2031.

Job Titles: Operations Research Analyst

Median Salaries (2021): $82,360

Occupation Group: Other Business-Related Occupation

15. Master’s in Industrial Organizational Psychology

You might associate the field of psychology more with counseling or clinical treatment than with business. However, industrial-organizational psychology is a specialized discipline of psychology that focuses on how humans behave in the workplace and other organizations, according to the American Psychological Association.

You can pursue a master’s degree in industrial-organizational psychology even if you didn’t major in psychology as an undergraduate student. You will just need to complete certain prerequisites, such as introductory and experimental psychology coursework. At the graduate level, The Princeton Review reported, coursework in industrial-organizational psychology includes:

• Psychology
• Human resources
• Business and management
• Organizational development
• Personnel selection
• Training in organizations, work motivation and attitudes
• Leadership and strategic change
• Performance measurement

Some form of field work may also be required. A typical master’s degree program in industrial-organizational psychology can be completed in one and a half to three years, The Princeton Review reported.

An industrial-organizational psychologist applies his or her knowledge of human behavior to the specific setting of the workplace. These psychology professionals help businesses find ways to improve productivity and workplace culture and resolve management and employee performance problems by implementing psychological principles and practices. Their goals may range from developing fair and constructive company policies to raising employee morale and developing effective working styles.

In most specialties of psychology, you need a Ph.D. to become a psychologist. Industrial-organizational psychology is an exception to that rule, the BLS reported. Candidates with a master’s degree can begin working in entry-level industrial-organizational psychologist roles.

With a median salary of $81,040 and a 90th percentile wage of $133,890 as of 2021, industrial-organizational psychologist is among the most lucrative business careers without a business degree.

Job Titles: Industrial Organizational Psychologist

Median Salaries (2021): $81,040

Occupation Group: Other Business-Related Occupation

Editor’s Note: No one educational or career path is right for everyone. If you aspire to rise to a well-paid position in the business world and make the big bucks, you need to weigh your options and consider all of the factors that will affect your professional life. What are your strengths and interests? How will you get the experience you need to advance to your dream career? This list is a guide for you to start off your research into the right degree program and career path for you. For more information about the highest-paying business careers, check out this resource from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

DQ Staff

Updated April 2023

For Further Reading:

• What Self-Employed Career Opportunities Do You Have With a Business Degree?
• What Are the Easiest Graduate Degrees to Get in Business?
• What Government Jobs Can You Get With a Business Degree?
• What Should You Know When You Interview for a Job With a Degree in Business Administration?

The post 15 Top Highest-Paying Business Degrees appeared first on DegreeQuery.com.

What Are the Highest-Paying Math Jobs?

Mathematical skills – and the other competencies students develop pursuing an undergraduate math degree – are in-demand in many fields.

RELATED: What Are the Highest Paying Jobs With a Degree in Math?

High-paying jobs for math majors may include high-paying jobs in financial and government agencies, consulting firms, insurance companies, colleges and universities and more.

1. Cryptographer

At the intersection between mathematics and computer science is the cryptographer career path. In general, cryptography refers to the security and privacy of messages and data – but the modern field of cryptography refers specifically to computers and cybersecurity.

A cryptographer writes the computer code – and algorithms – used to protect data security online. When hackers and other cybercriminals attempt to breach data security measures and access or steal unauthorized information, the encryption programs created by a cryptographer

Average Annual Salary

The average salary for cryptographers across the United States in 2021 was $145,356, according to Western Governors University. The highest-paid cryptographers made nearly $200,000 per year, and even the 4% of the occupation with the lowest wages still earned salaries around $102,000.

2. Financial Manager

Another math role with an exceptionally high salary is financial manager. A financial manager makes financial decisions for a company and oversees the organization’s financial activities. Some of the job titles that fall under the financial manager role include treasurer, controller and chief financial officer (CFO).

RELATED: What Are the Highest-Paying Jobs in Finance?

Median Salary

For financial managers as a whole, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported a median salary of $131,710. The top 10% of earners in the financial manager occupation made upwards of $208,000, while the lowest-paid 10% of the field reported annual earnings below $77,040.

The management of companies and enterprises industry, which employed one in 10 financial managers, paid the highest median salary of all top employment industries at $158,820. The 15% of financial managers working in the professional, scientific and technical services industry earned a median salary of $158,770.

In the manufacturing industry, which employed 6% of the field, and the finance and insurance industry, which employed 30% of the field, financial managers earned a median salary of $131,710. For the 7% of financial managers who worked for government agencies, the median salary was $123,010.

Of course, how high a management position a financial manager holds affects their earning potential. Salary.com reported an average salary of $224,461 for treasurers, $240,082 for controllers and $420,300 for chief financial officers.

RELATED: How Many Jobs Are Available in Finance?

3. Mathematician

Mathematician may seem like the most direct career path for math majors, but in fact, relatively few math majors follow this trajectory. There are only about 2,000 mathematicians working in America, even though the BLS reported that there are 887,590 American workers in the mathematics field.

Mathematicians are the professionals whose job duties involve math in the purest sense. To solve problems – which may be theoretical or exist in the real world – they create mathematical equations. Testing new mathematical theories and developing mathematical rules are some of the duties that a mathematician may perform.

Mathematicians who focus on abstract math work acquire mathematical knowledge for the sake of advancing the field. Mathematicians interested in applied mathematics use their knowledge of complex mathematics and their math skills to understand, organize and quantify problems and to write and solve equations through which they can address real issues.

If you want to be a mathematician with an academic focus working at a college or university, you will likely work toward a full math professor role. Unfortunately, math professor jobs and other roles for mathematicians in colleges and universities pay significantly less than other mathematician jobs. The median salary the BLS reported for mathematicians working in colleges and universities was $61,600 as of 2021 – and these math jobs typically require a doctorate degree.

Median annual salary:

Mathematicians across the United States earned a median salary of $108,100 as of 2021, the BLS reported. The highest-earning mathematicians made more than $169,500, while the lowest-earning mathematicians earned below $61,760.

Mathematicians in the professional, scientific and technical services industry, which made up 13% of the profession, earned a median salary of $129,800. The federal government – the largest industry of employment for mathematicians, which employed 62% of the workforce – paid a median wage of $115,610. Unfortunately for the 13% of mathematicians working for colleges and universities, academia pays much less, with a median salary of $61,600.

4. Actuary

With strong math skills, you could quantify just about anything – even risk. The role of an actuary is to calculate risk by looking at economic data and running complex calculations. Most actuaries work for either an insurance company or a financial institution.

While a math major can prepare students for an actuary career, students interested in becoming an actuary may also pursue a specialized degree in actuarial science.

RELATED: What Is the Salary Potential for Someone With an Actuarial Science Degree?

Median Salary

The median salary actuaries earned in 2021 was $105,900, the BLS reported. Actuarial science is such a lucrative career path that the top 10% of earners in the field made upwards of $206,820. The lowest-paid 10% of earners reported salaries below $63,260.

Among the top employment industries for this field, the government paid the most, with a median salary of $110,590. Only 3% of the field works for the government. The finance and insurance industry, which employed 74% of actuaries in the U.S., reported a median salary of $110,000.

Salaries in the professional, scientific and technical services industry and the management of companies and enterprises industry – which employed 13% and 4% of the occupation, respectively – paid very close median salaries of $101,600 and $101,510.

5. Data Scientist

Despite the job title, a data scientist is more a math professional than a scientist, at least compared to scientist jobs that first come to mind. The role of data scientists is to analyze data. This is another role that combines mathematical knowledge, statistical methods of analysis and the knowledge of computers needed to write algorithms that support machine learning.

Median Salary

Data scientists reported a median salary of $100,910 in 2021, the BLS reported. For the best-paid scientists in this career, earnings are in excess of $167,040 per year. At the lowest end of the pay scale are salaries below $59,430.

All of the top employment industries for the data scientist profession paid salaries within the range of $100,000 to $102,000. The scientific research and development services, which employed 5% of the occupation, paid a median salary of $102,750.

The 15% of the field working in the computer systems design industry reported a median wage of $102,600. For both the management of companies and enterprises industry and the management, scientific and technical consulting services – which employed 10% and 7% of the profession, respectively – the median salary for data scientists was $101,000. For the 9% of the profession working for an insurance company, the median salary was $100,360.

6. Statistician

Statistics is a data-centric discipline of analysis. Statisticians can apply methods of statistical analysis to calculate the statistical probability of many different outcomes or events in virtually any imaginable industry. Science, medicine and business are some examples of the fields that rely upon statistical methods.

RELATED: Statistics Jobs: What Kind of Job Can You Get With a Degree in Statistics?

Median Salary

As a whole, statisticians enjoy a near-six-figure median salary of $95,570, the BLS reported. The best-paid 10% of statisticians earned upwards of $157,300 per year, but the lowest-paid 10% of statisticians reported earnings under $50,000.

In the best-paid of the top employment industry – scientific research and development – statisticians earned a median salary nearly $20,000 higher than the median wage for the occupation as a whole. This industry accounts for 14% of employment in the profession and pays a median salary of $114,770. The median salary among statisticians working for federal government agencies, as 15% of the occupation does, amounted to $114,050.

RELATED: What Are the Highest Paying Jobs With a Degree in Statistics?

In the rest of the top employment industries for statisticians, earning potential is significantly lower. Insurance carriers employed 6% of statisticians and paid a median salary of $83,820. The 8% of the profession employed in the healthcare and social assistance industry reported a median salary of $79,060. Nearly one in 10 statisticians worked for colleges and universities, which paid a median salary of $77,750.

7. Personal Financial Advisor

An important area of finance is managing wealth. A personal financial advisor, including those with the Certified Financial Planner credential, helps clients manage, plan, save, invest and grow their wealth.

Personal financial advisors don’t make recommendations based on hunches. Rather, they analyze available financial data and past patterns to predict what will happen in financial markets.

Nearly one-fifth of all personal financial advisors are self-employed, the BLS reported. Self-employed financial advisors may also manage their own financial firms.

Median Salary

Earnings vary a great deal among personal financial advisors, for whom the BLS reported a median salary of $94,170 in 2021. While the best-paid 10% of the field reported earning more than $208,000, the lowest-paid 10% of the occupation reported salaries under $47,570.

Personal financial advisors who worked in the securities and financial investments industry – as 59% of the field does – earned a median salary just shy of six figures, at $99,970. The personal financial advisors employed in the remaining top employment industries earn substantially less, amounting to a difference of $20,000 to $30,000 per year.

The management of companies and enterprises industry employed just 1% of personal financial advisors but paid a median salary of $79,780. Close behind is the credit intermediation industry, which employed 15% of the profession and paid a median salary of $76,620. For the 3% of personal financial advisors working for insurance carriers, the median salary was $69,410.

8. Financial Analyst

As the name suggests, a financial analyst analyzes financial data. There are many types of financial analysts, including:

• Investment analyst
• Financial risk specialist or financial risk analyst
• Fund manager
• Portfolio manager
• Securities analyst
• Ratings analyst
• Buy-side analyst
• Sell-side analyst

Financial analysts often look at past market data and trends and companies’ financial statements. An investment analyst, for example, often develops financial models and advises an employer’s financial team on investment opportunities that are likely to pay off.

Median Salary

The overall median salary the BLS reported for financial analysts in 2021, $95,570, is slightly skewed because this occupation includes two roles with median wages more than $8,000 apart. For financial and investment analysts specifically, the median wage was $91,580, while the median salary for financial risk specialists hovered a bit higher, at $100,000.

The highest-paid 10% of financial and investment analysts earned upwards of $166,560, while the highest-paid financial risk specialists made more than $171,000. Financial and investment analysts in the 10th percentile made less than $57,900, while financial risk specialists in the 10th percentile earned below $59,370.

The securities, commodity contracts and other financial investment activities industry was the highest-paying industry for both financial and investment analysts and financial risk analysts, with median salaries of $100,800 and $127,110, respectively.

For financial and investment analysts, the professional, scientific and technical services industry followed, with a median wage of $96,600. The management of companies and enterprises industry paid a median salary of $83,990, followed by the insurance industry, which paid a median wage of $81,150. In the credit intermediation industry, financial and investment analysts earned a median salary of $79,910.

The management of companies and enterprises industry is the second most lucrative among the top employment industries for financial risk specialists, paying a median salary of $102,750. In the credit intermediation industry, the median salary was $98,320, closely followed by the $98,250 median salary reported for the professional, scientific and technical services industry. Insurance carriers paid financial risk analysts a median salary of $91,770.

9. Operations Research Analyst

An operations research analyst uses mathematical modeling methods and calculations to solve all kinds of practical problems organizations face, from making pricing decisions for goods and services to coordinating the supply chain, production schedules and resource allocation.

Median Salary

The BLS reported a median salary of $82,360 for operations research analysts. The best-paid operations research analysts earned considerably more. For the top 10% of earners in this role, salaries were in excess of $160,850. However, the lowest-paid 10% of operations research analysts made less than $48,690.

Although the federal government employed only 6% of the field, it paid the most, with a median salary of $120,950. The 28% of operations research analysts who worked for the professional, scientific and technical services industry reported a median salary of $99,790.

In the manufacturing industry, where 5% of the profession worked, the median salary was $98,040. For the 8% of the occupation working in the management of companies and enterprises industry, the median salary was $94,070.

The finance and insurance industry, which accounted for one-quarter of the profession, paid a noticeably lower salary of $79,450.

10. Market Research Analyst

A market research analyst uses mathematical and statistical methods to analyze market data. Through their work analyzing economic trends, a market research analyst is able to help organizations make decisions on what products to offer, how to price them and how to market them successfully to consumers.

Median Salary

Market research analysts as a whole earned a median salary of $63,920 as of 2021, the BLS reported. The highest-paid 10% of market research analysts earned more than twice that much, with salaries above $128,320. The 10% of the operations research analyst occupation with the lowest earnings made less than $37,570.

The management of companies and enterprises industry, which employed 7% of the profession, paid the highest median salary among the top employment industries: $79,640. The 4% of the field working for the publishing industries earned nearly as much, with a median wage of $79,450. In the finance and insurance industry, where 10% of the field worked, median pay amounted to $76,650.

The median salary in the wholesale trade industry, which employed 7% of market research analysts, reported a median salary of $64,090. For market research analysts working in the management, scientific and technical consulting services, which amounted to 11% of the occupation, the median salary was $62,650.

What to Expect as a Math Major

If you want to prepare for one of the highest-paying jobs for math majors, you’re going to need to take numerous math courses. Math majors study mathematical theory, methods and applications. In the course of pursuing a four-year math degree, students are likely to study mathematical analysis, linear algebra, abstract algebra, modern algebra, multivariate analysis, calculus, number theory, differential geometry and topology.

RELATED: What Is the Salary Potential for Someone with a Math Degree?

Math majors will also be exposed to methods for applied mathematics. As part of their bachelor’s degree studies, a math major may also complete a minor or elective coursework in an area of interest, such as business or computer technology, to help them develop a knowledge base that will help them in an applied mathematics career.

RELATED: What Kind of Job Can You Get With a Degree in Math?

Other Majors to Consider If You’re Good at Math

Math degrees aren’t the only options for students with strong math skills. If you want to apply your knowledge of mathematical concepts and equations to real-world issues, it might make sense to pursue a bachelor’s degree in an area relevant to the career path you plan to pursue.

Computer Science

If you want to become a cryptographer or work in another role in cyber security, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science may be the right choice. Computer science and mathematics have more in common than many people realize. In fact, mathematical principles inform the computation theories and methods of statistical analysis that are critical parts of bachelor’s degree studies in computer science.

In a bachelor’s degree program in computer science, students typically take classes in data structures and algorithms, computer programming, computer architecture, systems programming and computational science and theory.

Engineering

If you want to use your knowledge of mathematical equations to design solutions to real problems, a career as an engineer may appeal to you. Engineers work in numerous disciplines – mechanical engineering, civil engineering, chemical engineering and electrical engineering, to name a few – and find employment in environments like engineering firms, technology companies, government agencies, colleges and universities and other settings.

RELATED: Architect vs Engineer: What Is the Benefit of an Engineering Degree Over an Architecture Degree?

Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in engineering take enough math courses, along with basic science courses, to develop a strong math and science background that they can apply to work in engineering design.

Finance

The area of business that is most closely related to mathematics is finance, which revolves around the management of wealth. Students who pursue a bachelor’s degree in finance typically study corporate finance, investment analysis, futures and options, securities analysis and portfolio management, international finance and financial management.

What Level of Education Do You Need for the Highest-Paying Math Jobs?

For most of the highest-paying math jobs, at least some level of college education is required. The BLS lists actuary, operations research analyst and data scientist among the math jobs with a bachelor’s degree required. A bachelor’s degree is also considered the entry-level education needed for many business jobs for math majors, such as financial analyst and personal financial advisor.

RELATED: What Are the Highest-Paying Business Entry-Level Jobs?

Although professionals with strong math skills and a relevant bachelor’s degree can do well in a variety of career roles, there are some positions for which a bachelor’s degree alone may not be enough. Some professionals working in math jobs go on to pursue a graduate degree, such as a master’s degree, or to earn a doctoral degree like a PhD.

Generally, a master’s degree is most likely to come in handy when you are pursuing a high-level role in research and development or in management. Some of the master’s degree programs that may be of interest include mathematics, business administration, finance, computer science, data science and engineering.

RELATED: How Advanced Does My Degree in Math Have to Be to Get a Good Job?

You don’t have to go for your master’s degree straight after completing your bachelor’s degree program. Many students apply to entry-level jobs for math majors after graduation, through which they gain experience and on-the-job training that can help them plan their career trajectory.

For some of the highest-paying math jobs, work experience and on-the-job training are sufficient preparation for advancement on their own, while for other roles, having a master’s degree can be invaluable.

RELATED: What Kind of Business Jobs Can You Get With a Degree in Math?

The Most In-Demand Skills for Math Majors

Any math job requires strong mathematical skills, but there are specific related skill sets that can prove valuable in a high-paying math career.

Analyze Data

Most of the math jobs on our list involve at least some analytical component. Having strong analytical skills is valuable not only for jobs that revolve around analysis specifically but also for jobs that involve any sort of strategic decision-making.

Whether you’re using methods of statistical analysis or simply applying logic and reasoning to better understand and solve problems, your analytical skills are essential to success in a math career. Due the need to analyze not only mathematical equations but also how to apply mathematical methods to real-world problems, math majors develop excellent analytical skills in the course of earning their bachelor’s degree or advanced degrees.

Solve Problems

A math major solves problems, but the types of challenges they overcome aren’t limited to arriving at the answer to a tricky equation or figuring out the value of a variable. The business, financial, risk, cyber security and other problems that are the focus of math jobs are often best addressed in similar ways, such as organizing a problem logically, analyzing each aspect and modeling solutions.

Studying math equips students with strong problem-solving skills – and that’s a skill set that almost every job requires.

Interpret Financial Reports

It takes only basic arithmetic skills and accounting knowledge to prepare financial statements, but making meaning out of financial reports is much more challenging. With their thorough grasp of mathematical concepts and theories, math majors are well-suited to make meaning and glean insights out of financial and economic data.

For Further Reading: 

What Are the 5 Best Careers in Environmental Science?

What Degree Do I Need to Be a Policy Analyst?

The post Top 10 Paying Jobs That Involve Math appeared first on DegreeQuery.com.

1. Purchasing Manager  

Virtually any business that deals in manufacturing or sales has to get their supplies and products from somewhere. Purchasing managers are the high-level business professionals responsible for buying supplies to use or products to sell. They compare the cost, quality and delivery speed of merchandise and suppliers and choose the items and vendors most appropriate for their organization’s needs. Often, this requires establishing and maintaining contact with vendors, interviewing them and even visiting their supply plants to learn more about the company, its practices and its costs. Purchasing managers negotiate prices and coordinate delivery schedules with their suppliers. They keep organized records of the organization’s purchase from all suppliers and handle problems, like working with vendors to address defective products, any failures to comply with contracts and any discrepancies in pricing. A successful purchasing manager must understand not only their products, but also industry trends and the inventory and sales records within their organization.

In addition to managing an organization’s purchasing operations, purchasing managers may also oversee people – the buyers and purchasing agents who work underneath them. At some organizations, purchasing managers may be primarily responsible for supervising and coordinating the work of lower-level purchasing employees, but they still handle particularly complicated purchasing contracts themselves.

Median Salary: $100,170
Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Business or a Field Relevant to the Industry, Like Engineering, Manufacturing or Applied Science

2. Management Analyst

Regardless of industry, efficiency is an important concern of all organizations, from high-powered corporations to local government entities. Wasted time and resources cost organizations money, taking away from company profits or limited government or donor funding. Management analysts, sometimes known as management consultants, are experienced business professionals who work with organizations to boost efficiency and productivity. Some management analysts work in-house in organizations like federal and local governments and insurance companies, while others work for consulting firms or as self-employed, independent contractors.

First, management analysts must learn about the problems they are to fix. They research problems and inefficient procedures within the organization by talking to the employees involved in the work and visiting the worksite to understand what workers, tools and equipment and procedures are used. Then management analysts assess financial data like revenue and expenses. They devise alternative procedures that could help companies streamline processes, improve productivity and cut costs, and they work with management to implement these new procedures.

Median Salary: $78,600
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Management, Economics or a Related Field, or a Master of Business Administration (MBA) 

3. Financial Analyst

In banks, insurance companies, mutual funds, pension funds and securities firms, financial analysts help investors manage their portfolios, or their collective group of investments. They are the business professionals who analyze investment opportunities to help individuals and companies make the right financial decisions. They determine which investments are likely to be profitable by studying trends in the economy, current and past financial performance and the financial records of individual companies they are considering as potential investment opportunities. Sometimes financial analysts will even meet with a company’s representatives in person to learn more about the company’s internal workings and why it might be a suitable investment option. They then convey their recommendations to investors both in writing and through in-person meetings.

Some financial analysts work in buying investment options like stocks and bonds, while others work in selling. Specialized positions within the field of financial analysis include fund manager, portfolio manager, ratings analyst and risk analyst.

For financial analysts, field of employment can make a big difference in salary potential. The median annual wage for the position is $76,950, but the more than 20 percent of financial analysts who work in financial investments like securities and commodity contracts earn $90,560 per year.

Learn more about what degree you need to be a financial analyst.

Median Salary: $ $76,950
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, or Statistics, or a Master’s Degree in Finance or MBA  

4. Financial Examiner

At both the state and federal level, laws exist to govern the business world, including financial institutions like banks and financial transactions, like loans. These regulations would be useless without someone in place to make sure they are being followed. Financial examiners are the business professionals who check for compliance of all relevant laws among banks and other types of financial institutions.

To find out if a bank is complying with federal and state laws, financial examiners must look over the bank’s finances and financial statements, including balance sheets, operating income reports and expense account statements. To determine how risky the loans provided by the bank are, financial examiners review loan documentation. Financial examiners continually observe and report on the bank’s financial health. They pay attention to the management of the bank, including what is discussed at meetings among bank management staff and bank directors.

Because the laws are constantly changing, financial examiners must keep abreast of new regulations and understand how those regulations apply to individual banks and financial institutions. These professionals are also responsible for creating new procedures to meet changing legal responsibilities.

Nearly one-quarter of all financial examiners work for the federal government, and another 12 percent work for state governments. Others find employment in industries like credit intermediation or financial investment. Often, financial examiners concentrate on either risk scoping, which focuses on determining how financially sound the financial institution is, or consumer compliance, which reviews how banks treat consumers, particularly when it comes to loaning money.

Median Salary: $75,800
Education:  Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Economics or Finance  

5. Logistician

Are you good at solving problems and organizing the details of projects? Logisticians are the business professionals that manage the supply chain, or the movement of supplies and resources to consumers. They handle the process of attaining, dispensing and transporting items like raw materials and finished manufactured products. Logisticians coordinate the purchasing, transportation and storage of supplies and track inventory.

It’s not enough for logisticians to coordinate supply chain movements effectively – they must also improve these processes to make them more efficient. Logisticians use cutting-edge computer software to analyze the supply chain process to determine ways organizations can decrease the financial cost and the time it takes to transport supplies.

Logisticians play an important role in a wide range of industries. Their work can include managing the transport of supplies as simple as consumer products or as complex as deploying military personnel. One quarter of all logisticians work in the general manufacturing industry, with nearly another quarter of these professionals working for the federal government. Other industries that frequently employ logisticians include professional and technical services, transportation equipment manufacturing and aerospace parts manufacturing.

Median Salary: $72,780
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Process Engineering or Supply Chain Management 

6. Budget Analyst

Establishing – and sticking to – a budget is difficult enough when it comes to personal or household finances, but for major businesses and organizations, it’s essential that someone is always managing the financial plans. Budget analysts are professionals who make sure public and private sector entities are following a budget and keeping their funds and spending records organized. Most budget analysts work in federal and state government agencies and educational services, but many also find employment in industries like manufacturing and technical services.

Before an organization can adhere to a budget, it first needs to establish a reasonable financial plan. This, too, is part of a budget analyst’s responsibility. Budget analysts work with the managers in every department of the organization to compile a full, accurate budget for the entire organization to follow. When a program leader or department manager requests or proposes additional funding, the budget analyst must determine if the requested funds are available and if the request is worthwhile. Budget analysts observe the organization’s spending practices and report on whether the company or entity is adhering to the established budget.

Median Salary: $69,280
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Finance or Accounting

7. Personal Financial Advisor

If you make good financial decisions and understand the science of analyzing financial opportunities, a career as a personal financial advisor might make sense to you. These professionals advise clients on how to manage their money, including choosing the right investments and insurance coverage and minimizing their tax burden.

While it’s important for personal financial advisors to thoroughly understand the world of finance, it’s also important that they have the interpersonal skills to establish a rapport with their clients. Personal financial advisors meet with their clients in person to learn about their financial needs and goals, and they must find the right financial decisions to help clients meet those needs and achieve those objectives, whether the goals are short-term or long-term. In addition to advising the client and helping them make the right decisions, personal financial advisors invest the client’s money according to those decisions and regularly report on the investment’s progress and profitability.

Most personal financial advisors work in financial investment, credit intermediation and securities and commodity contracts. Others find employment in the insurance industry or in professional services. Some personal financial advisors even work for a single, exceptionally wealthy individual or family. Because everyone is interested in increasing their personal finances and making better financial decisions, opportunities are expected to grow rapidly in this career field – 27 percent over just a decade, more than twice as fast as the growth expected for all occupations.

Median Salary: $67,520
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Business, Economics or Accounting

 8. Accountant and Auditor

Accountants and auditors are the business professionals who create financial documents, like balance sheets and income statements. They check financial records for accuracy and maintain those records in an organized fashion. Accounting professionals often prepare tax returns and other documents and determine the amount of tax dollars owed.

The core of accounting may be creating financial reports, but today’s accountants do more than crunch numbers. They evaluate financial practices and find ways to help companies and organizations improve these practices, including ways to raise profits and cut expenses.

There are many types of accountants. Public accountants work with clients like individuals, businesses and government entities to create legally required financial reports, such as tax documents. One particular kind of public accountant, the certified public accountant (CPA), is especially in-demand and is likely to earn a higher salary and have a greater selection of job opportunities. Management accountants create the financial statements companies need for internal use, while internal auditors review how a company is using its money to detect any instances of fraud or waste of funds.

Median Salary: $63,550
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting 

9. Insurance Underwriter

Assessing risk is an essential part of insurance of any kind, from medical and life to auto and homeowner’s. To remain profitable, insurers of all kinds must bring in more money in premiums – and the investments they are able to make with those premiums – than they pay out in claims. Minimizing risk is a prevailing strategy of accomplishing this goal. Insurance underwriters are the business professionals who evaluate the risk an insurance company will take by agreeing to provide coverage to an applicant.

When an insurance company receives an application for coverage, insurance underwriters compare applicants’ information to a pre-established set of criteria that helps them identify risk factors. They use computer software to analyze the risk of an applicant. Insurance underwriters play an important role in the insurance industry. They determine whether an insurer will offer coverage to that applicant at all, and if so, what amounts of coverage to offer and what premiums to charge. For insurance underwriters, it’s important to find a workable middle ground between accepting applicants with too much risk and rejecting so many applicants that the insurance company has no policyholders left to insure.

Unsurprisingly, the overwhelming majority of insurance underwriters work directly for insurance carriers. Others work for insurance agencies and brokerages, credit intermediation services or company management. Many insurance underwriters specialize in assessing risks for a particular type of insurance coverage, such as life insurance or health insurance.

Median Salary: $62,870
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Economics or Mathematics 

10. Market Research Analyst

To achieve success, a business must know its market. It must be able to make decisions about what products or services to provide, what to charge for them and who to sell them to. They do this with the help of market research analysts, who investigate sales trends and history in the market.

To understand the market, market research analysts must first collect data to analyze. Market research analysts review current and pasts sales trends. They figure out the best methods to learn what they need to know and amass relevant information from surveys and polls of potential customers and competitors. With the help of statistical software, these professionals can glean important insights into what consumers want and what price they are willing to pay and predict how well a product or service will sell. They convey these insights through written reports, graphs and tables and face-to-face presentations.

Market research analysts can also assist with marketing products and services. They use their understanding of the product’s target audience to devise plans and promotions that help sell the product or service. They also put their analytical skills to work to determine how effective a marketing campaign or sales plan was in generating sales and attracting customers.

Median Salary: $60,300
Education:  Bachelor’s Degree in Market Research, Statistics, Computer Science or Business

Editor’s Note: The salary and job outlook data, job descriptions and educational requirements conveyed in this article originated with the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. This federal agency is responsible for reporting on activity in the ever-changing U.S. labor market. Students should consider this article a resource to guide further research into their intended career paths, not a guarantee that a particular educational path will result in a job or that a position will pay the median annual wage.

For Further Reading: 

Top 10 Highest Paying Engineering Careers

Top 10 Paying Jobs That Involve Math

Top 10 Paying Jobs With an Associate’s Degree

What Are the Highest-Paying Jobs With an Associates Degree in Accounting?

How Many Jobs Are Available in Finance?

What Are the 5 Best Careers in Environmental Science?

What Are My Degree Choices in Fraud Analysis?

How Long Does It Take to Become an Accountant?

The post Top 10 Highest Paying Business Careers appeared first on DegreeQuery.com.

Liberal arts schools offer a number of benefits you won’t find at other colleges. These comparably small schools often feature small class sizes that encourage student discussion and engagement. Some provide graduate-level research opportunities to undergraduate students. Many liberal arts schools have strong international education, study abroad or study away programs that help students develop an understanding of different cultures. Students who graduate from a liberal arts college often go on to earn a master’s or doctoral degree in graduate school, or they can enter the workforce with skills that are in-demand across all industries. Generous financial aid packages make these mostly private institutions affordable for students from all economic backgrounds.

The top 15 liberal arts schools in America are spread out across the nation, accredited by different regional accreditation agencies and offering different academic programs of study. They do have one thing in common, though. Each institution is known for providing an exceptional liberal arts education with the academic breadth and depth to develop skills in thinking, speaking, writing and learning.

1. Williams College

Topping the list of the best liberal arts schools in the nation is Williams College. The private school dates back to 1793, which makes it among the oldest institutions of higher learning in America.  While small class sizes are a typical selling point of many liberal arts institutions, Williams College has an exceptionally low student to faculty ration of 7:1. Don’t let the $50,070 annual tuition charge scare you away from this highly ranked school. Williams College prides itself on putting a top-notch liberal arts education within reach for students “without regard to their ability to pay.” Half of all students currently enrolled at Williams College are receiving some form of financial aid from the school – and that award can range from $5,400 to $64,000. The school commits to meeting “100 percent of every admitted student’s demonstrated financial need for four years,” which may be one of the factors that contributes to its outstanding 97 percent freshman retention rate.

Do you think choosing a liberal arts school means sacrificing the plentiful academic options you’ll find at other colleges? That’s not the case at Williams College. Despite its classification as a liberal arts school, Williams College offers a number of distinct degree programs that build upon the core liberal arts studies, so students can enjoy a well-rounded education but also prepare for their intended careers. The three dozen major programs of study, plus numerous concentrations, are part of three different academic divisions. Students in the division of languages and the arts can choose from majors like Japanese, Russian, music and theatre. The social sciences division includes majors in sociology and psychology. Science and mathematics offerings include biology, chemistry, geosciences, physics and math. In addition to earning the coveted first-place spot on U.S. News & World Report’s list of the best national liberal arts colleges, Williams College is also ranked first among the best colleges for veterans, third among the best value schools in the country and fourth among the best undergraduate teaching programs.

Location: Williamstown, MA

Enrollment: 2,045 students

Tuition: $50,070 

2. Amherst College

Amherst College has plenty of experience – nearly two centuries, to be exact – in developing students’ skills in critical thinking, writing, speaking and lifelong learning. The private liberal arts college was founded in 1821 and has since been home to America’s first collegiate athletics program, first intercollegiate baseball game and first undergraduate degree program in neuroscience. Notable alumni include former United States President Calvin Coolidge, while past instructors include renowned poet Robert Frost. If you’re anticipating going on to earn an advanced education, Amherst College is an excellent choice. Ninety percent of the school’s graduates go on to attend grad school within five years of earning their bachelor’s degree. With a student-faculty ratio of 8:1 and an average class size of just 16, students at Amherst have plenty of opportunity for individual attention and making personal connections throughout their studies. Amherst College offers generous financial aid packages, with an average award of $50,255 in scholarships and grants – never loans that will have to be paid back. That means students at Amherst can graduate with an excellent education and no student loan debt.

Unlike many liberal arts schools – and, for that matter, many colleges of all varieties – there’s no one-size-fits-all core curriculum that every student must complete. Instead, Amherst College features an open curriculum that allows students the ultimate flexibility in customizing their education. With more than 850 course options available through the college and thousands more offered through partner schools, students can quite literally study any discipline they choose. The result is that double majoring is common, and students who pursue two majors still have the time to delve into other areas of study and develop a well-rounded educational foundation. The 38 majors available at Amherst College range from biochemistry to film and media studies and from neuroscience to classical languages. Students can also choose to create their own interdisciplinary major or Independent Scholar Program instead of, or in addition to, pursuing an existing program of study. The most ambitious students can even get a taste of graduate-level academic work by opting to complete an honors thesis. Amherst College placed second on U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of the best liberal arts schools in the nation, but it also took first place among the best value schools and ranked among the top 10 most innovative colleges in America.

Location: Amherst, MA

Enrollment: 1,792 students

Tuition: $50,562 

3. Swarthmore College

Swarthmore College, just 11 miles from Philadelphia, earned the distinction of being one of the first coeducational colleges in America when it was founded in 1864 by the Quakers. Today, the private, nondenominational school emphasizes a combination of intellectual development and ethical behavior. More than 90 percent of the student population lives on campus, where the landscape of lawns, hills, trees, hiking trails and Crum Creek combined to earn Swarthmore the title “the most beautiful campus in America.” Swarthmore’s Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility helps facilitate volunteerism and incorporate service and activism into academic programs through community-based learning. The strong support for service and social responsibility contributes to the school’s impressive volunteerism rate of more than 60 percent. Swarthmore students also participate heavily in study abroad opportunities and the Honors Program. With a student to faculty ration of 8:1, students considering Swarthmore College can expect small class sizes.

Swarthmore College offers upwards of 40 programs of study in subjects ranging from astronomy to medieval studies and from computer science to peace and conflict studies. Students also have the opportunity to design their own majors, an independent path which requires them to take 10 to 12 courses in their specialized areas of study. Of course, with more than 600 courses to choose from each year, students have plenty of options to customize their education. Students in any major must complete a thesis, exam or other “comprehensive requirement” before graduating with their bachelor’s degrees. In addition to offering a traditional liberal arts curriculum, Swarthmore College is also known for its highly rated undergraduate engineering program. The college is also rated among the best value schools, best colleges for veterans, best teaching schools and best undergraduate engineering programs – in addition to the top liberal arts colleges, of course – by U.S. News & World Report.

Location: Swarthmore, PA

Enrollment: 1,542 students

Tuition: $47,442 

4. Bowdoin College

At Bowdoin College, the school’s mission is known as its “offer,” and it encompasses knowledge of art, culture, history, nature and literature. Bowdoin College still stands by that offer today, more than a century after it was written. The school also emphasizes research opportunities, field work experiences and community-based learning. The private school was founded in 1794, at a time when Maine wasn’t even its own state, but instead a district within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. To make a quality liberal arts education affordable today, Bowdoin College has entirely eliminated student loans from its financial aid packages. Almost half of the student body receives grants directly from the college – which is one reason why U.S. News & World Report ranked the institution among the best value schools in the nation. Bowdoin College is known for offering a wealth of extracurricular activities. Among these activities are the Outing Club, a group focused on providing off-campus excursions, and the Peucinian Society, an intellectual society which happens to be among the oldest in the United States.

What exactly is Bowdoin College’s offer? All students begin their studies with a first-year seminar of their choice – and with more than 35 topics to choose from, they really do get to choose the seminar that interests them. Every student must take at least one course in each of five distribution areas: International Perspectives, Visual and Performing Arts, Exploring Social Difference, Inquiry in the Natural Sciences and Mathematical, Computational or Statistical Reasoning before the completion of their sophomore year. At that time, they choose a major from the more than 40 options offered. Some Bowdoin College students take the traditional path and stick with one departmental major, while others double major or pursue a coordinate major, interdisciplinary major or student-designed major. The result is an education that combines the breath of studying each distribution area with the depth of studying a major in the discipline of science, art, language, and the humanities.

Location: Brunswick, ME

Enrollment: 1,805 students

Tuition: $48,212 

5. Middlebury College

Founded in 1800, Middlebury College has more than two centuries of experience educating students in the liberal arts tradition. In fact, Middlebury is among the nation’s oldest liberal arts schools. With more than 2,500 undergraduate students, Middlebury College is among the largest schools to make the list. Fortunately, the school still manages to keep class sizes small by employing hundreds of top-tier instructors. The student to faculty ratio is just 9:1, and the average class has only 16 students. Rather than following a semester-based schedule, Middlebury College embraces what’s called a 4-1-4 academic calendar. Students typically complete four courses during the spring and fall semesters, with an additional one-month course or internship during the winter term in January. Summer programs are also offered, particularly in the school’s many foreign language options. Among the more than 150 extracurricular activities available to Middlebury College students are its 31 NCAA varsity athletics teams and its Harry Potter-inspired International Quidditch Association. The location is also excellent for avid skiers, as the region is home to 17 skiing trails.

A main goal of a liberal arts education is learning to think critically and express one’s thoughts eloquently. At Middlebury College, this objective is accomplished through cross-discipline writing-intensive courses, including a discussion-oriented first-year seminar based on academic themes. To develop a well-rounded academic background, all Middlebury College students must take courses in art, literature, history, science, foreign language, deductive reasoning, social analysis and philosophical and religious studies. They also take four required courses in cultures and civilizations, with each course focusing on a different region or topic. Students choose one (or more) of 44 possible majors – such as international politics, history of art and architecture, Hebrew and molecular biology – to study in-depth. They also have the option to propose their own major through the Independent Scholar Program. In addition to being tied for fourth place on U.S. News & World Report’s list of the top national liberal arts colleges, the school earned top 10 spots among the best colleges for veterans and the best value schools.

Location: Middlebury, VT

Enrollment: 2,533 students

Tuition: $47,828 

6. Pomona College

Pomona College is a residential school – and proud of it. An overwhelming 94 percent of the student body lives on campus for their entire education, and even the instructors tend to live within a five mile radius of the college. The private Southern California school was founded in 1887 in Pomona, and the first courses were taught in a small house rented by the college’s founders. To say that Pomona College has grown would be an understatement. Though the school kept its original name, it moved to Claremont shortly after. Today, the college occupies 140 acres of land located near the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. With 182 full-time instructors on staff, the student to faculty ration is just 8:1, and the average class size hovers around 10 to 15 students. International studies are popular at Pomona College, where 50 percent of students will complete a study abroad experience during their academic careers.

The tight-knit community atmosphere that characterizes the Pomona College campus reaches into the classroom – and beyond. The small class sizes and campus community activities are a crucial part of Pomona’s liberal arts education. So are the college’s extensive undergraduate research opportunities and its combination of academic programs that cross disciplines. The curriculum at Pomona College includes studies in natural science, social science, humanities and the arts as well as interdisciplinary coursework. Students can choose from 47 major programs of study that range from media studies to science, technology and society. With more than 600 courses offered on campus and thousands more offered through the Claremont Colleges partnership every year, students can explore plenty of study options.  Pomona College requires students to complete general education coursework that includes studies in a foreign language, physical education, mathematical reasoning, history and cultural studies, physical and biological sciences, creative expression and social institutions and human behavior. Freshmen must also take a Critical Inquiry seminar that emphasizes reading, writing and discussion and focuses on an interdisciplinary theme such as the politics of art or the history of rock and roll music.

Location: Claremont, CA

Enrollment: 1,650 students

Tuition: $47,620 

7. Wellesley College

Wellesley College has offered a strong liberal arts education to female students since its founding in 1870. The private school, located just 12 miles from Boston, remains exclusively a women’s college today. Students at Wellesley College consistently benefit from small class sizes and personal attention, with a student to faculty ratio of just 7:1 and an average of only 17 to 20 students in a class. The school has a robust internship program – in which more than 70 percent of students participate during their academic careers – which includes hundreds of paid internships with stipends provided by the Center for Work and Service. Notable Wellesley College alumni include television journalist Diane Sawyer and political leader Hillary Rodham Clinton. In addition to the usual residence halls and classrooms, the school’s 500 acre campus includes art galleries, a golf course and theatres for motion pictures and live performances. Most students enjoy the campus atmosphere so much that they choose to live in Wellesley College’s residence halls for the duration of their undergraduate education.

To attain a comprehensive liberal arts education, Wellesley College students must complete coursework in the following subject areas:

• Language and Literature
• Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Film and Video
• Social and Behavioral Analysis
• Epistemology and Cognition
• Religion, Ethics, and Moral Philosophy
• Historical Studies
• Natural and Physical Science
• Mathematical Modeling and Problem Solving
• A foreign language (from more than a dozen languages offered)
• Expository writing
• Quantitative reasoning
• Physical education
• Multicultural studies

In addition to completing these core academic requirements, Wellesley College students choose from dozens of possible majors in the arts, physical and social sciences and humanities. There are more than 20 interdisciplinary major options available to students in addition to the majors traditionally offered by individual departments. Every major requires students to take at least two advanced, 300-level courses, while the school also requires the completion of two additional 300-level classes in any area of study. Wellesley College’s science programs, in particular, are well-respected, and its physics lab happens to be the second oldest in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Location: Wellesley, MA

Enrollment: 2,323students

Tuition: $46,836 

8. Carleton College

Carleton College is a private liberal arts school located 40 miles from Minneapolis and St. Paul. Since its founding in 1866, the institution has earned a reputation for providing not just an outstanding liberal arts education, but also a warm and friendly learning environment. About 95 percent of Carleton College students choose to live on campus, even though only freshman are required to do so. Like other schools on the list, Carleton has a low student to faculty ration of just 9:1 and small class sizes, with an average of 18 students per class. In addition to being among the 10 best liberal arts schools in the nation, Carleton College is also among the top 15 schools for studying abroad. About 78 percent of students participate in off-campus study opportunities facilitated by the school, according to U.S. News & World Report. The school uses a trimester, rather than semester-based, academic calendar, which means students complete three 10-week terms per year.

In addition to the 39 majors in which Carleton College students can earn a Bachelor of Arts degree, students can also pursue one (or more) of the 15 concentrations available. Major programs of study range from Asian languages to dance and international relations to mathematics and statistics. Possible academic concentrations include American music, biochemistry, educational studies and archeology. Graduation requirements for students in all majors include coursework such as:

• A writing-rich first-year Argument and Inquiry (A&I) Seminar
• An additional writing-rich course that culminates in a writing portfolio
• At least three courses that involve quantitative reasoning
• Four to five foreign languages courses
• A class in international studies
• A class in intercultural domestic studies
• Four terms of physical education
• Six credits in humanistic inquiry
• Six credits in literary and artistic analysis
• Six credits in arts practice
• Six credits in science
• Six credits in formal or statistical reasoning
• Six credits in social inquiry

Carleton College meets all students’ financial aid need for all four years of school and charges no application fees, so it’s no wonder the school has earned a place on U.S. News & World Report’s Best Value Schools ranking.

Location: Northfield, MN

Enrollment: 2,057 students

Tuition: $49,263         

9. Claremont McKenna College

Compared to other schools on this list, Claremont McKenna College is fairly new, having been founded in 1946 as a men’s school and made coeducational in 1976. In just a few decades, though, the school has built a strong reputation and on coveted spots on rankings like U.S. News & World Report’s National Liberal Arts Colleges, Best Colleges for Veterans and Best Value Schools. The private institution is known for making extensive graduate-level research opportunities to undergraduate students through the campus’s 10 research institutes. Claremont McKenna College happens to be among the most selective schools to make this list, accepting just 10.8 of applicants. For those who make the cut, the institution’s small class sizes, renowned faculty, research opportunities and focus on educating world leaders are well worth the challenge of gaining acceptance. In addition to its Bachelor of Arts programs in liberal arts studies, the school now offers a Master of Arts in Finance program for graduate students.

Claremont McKenna College offers more than 30 academic majors, including government, religious studies, molecular biology and literature. These include film studies and legal studies degree programs, which are offered only as dual major options. The school also offers “3/2 engineering programs” in Economics and Engineering and Management-Engineering, which allow students to combine liberal arts coursework at Claremont McKenna College with an engineering program at a partner school. Students with an interest in finance can also apply to the combined BA/MA program offered through Claremont McKenna’s Robert Day School, which offers the opportunity to earn both an undergraduate and a graduate degree in just four years. Aspiring law school students might be interested in Claremont McKenna College’s involvement in the Accelerated Interdisciplinary Legal Education program, a “3+3 joint degree program” through which students can begin their juris doctor (JD) studies at Columbia University after their junior undergraduate year and graduate with both degrees in just six years. Because the school can only nominate two juniors per year to participate, the program can become highly competitive.

Location: Claremont, CA

Enrollment: 1,324 students

Tuition: $49,045 

10. Davidson College

Since 1837, Davidson College has focused on providing a liberal arts education that emphasizes creativity, intellectual discipline and humane behavior. Essential to the Christian school’s unique success is its Honor Code, a pledge to act honestly and honorably in the classroom and beyond. The student to faculty ratio at Davidson College is just 10:1, and the average class contains just 15 students. The school has a strong study abroad program, with 76 percent of students engaging in some form of international studies abroad. Davidson College is an excellent choice for cost-conscious students. Since 2007, all of the school’s financial aid packages have followed a no loan policy – making in the first liberal arts college in the United States to do so, according to U.S. News & World Report. Instead of financing students’ education with loans that could leave them tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt at the end of their college careers, the school provides generous loans through The Davidson Trust.

To earn their Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degrees, students at Davidson College must complete a set of core liberal arts requirements. These requirements include coursework in cultural diversity, a foreign language and writing as well as at least one class in each of the following:

• Historical Thought
• Mathematics and Quantitative Thought
• Natural Science
• Social-Scientific Thought
• Philosophical and Religious Studies
• Visual and Performing Arts
• Literary Studies, Creative Writing and Rhetoric

Students can choose from 26 possible academic majors, such as anthropology, environmental studies and political science. A major in interdisciplinary studies is also available, and so are dozens of departmental and interdisciplinary minors, including applied mathematics, dance and experimental physics. Davidson College is also an excellent choice if you’re thinking about grad school. The college offers six pre-professional programs: Pre-Education, Pre-Engineering, Pre-Law, Pre-Medicine, Pre-Ministry and Pre-Military. These academic paths can help prepare you to earn a master’s or doctoral degree.

Location: Davidson, NC

Enrollment: 1,770 students

Tuition: $46,966 

11. United States Naval Academy

With more than 4,500 undergraduate students enrolled, the United States Naval Academy is by far the largest school to make this list. It’s also the most selective, accepting just 7.9 percent of applicants. The public institution, founded in 1845, is one of just five federal service academies – and it happens to be the second oldest such institution, according to U.S. News & World Report. The school is an excellent choice for aspiring Navy personnel. All students are naval officers in training, also known as midshipmen. Not only is the liberal arts education at the United States Naval Academy excellent, but it’s also tuition-free. The United States Navy covers the cost of students’ education. This way, students can graduate debt-free – and then begin their active-duty service in the U.S. Navy. Since they are bound for the physically demanding work of a Navy midshipman, students must meet strict physical education requirements throughout their education. The Naval Academy has a strong athletics program, including NCAA Division I intercollegiate varsity sports teams in dozens of men’s, women’s and co-ed sports.

Due to its naval focus, the school has a unique set of core course requirements distinct from what you would find at most liberal arts institutions. Students must take coursework in mathematics and science and humanities and the social sciences. However, they also need to take classes in engineering and weapons, seamanship and navigation and leadership education and development. Students at the United States Naval Academy learn about ship performance and propulsion, naval weapons systems, cyber engineering, American Naval history and United States law as it pertains to junior naval officers. Students complete many of these courses during their first year of college studies, also known as the plebe year. The school places a strong emphasis on the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and the majority of its 26 academic majors are in STEM fields. These include aerospace engineering, oceanography, cyber operations, quantitative economics and operations research.

Location: Annapolis, MD

Enrollment: 4,511 students

Tuition: $0

12. Haverford College 

In 1833, Haverford College was founded just 10 miles from Philadelphia by the Quakers. Today, the private college has no religious affiliation, but it does have its own ever-evolving, student-run Honor Code that pertains to both academic and social behavior. The Honor Code permits students to have academic and social freedoms such as take-home exams and dormitory lodgings without the oversight of a resident assistant (RA). Haverford College features a student to faculty ratio of 9:1 and very small class sizes. In fact, more than 78 percent of its classes have fewer than 20 students, and nearly 43 percent of classes have fewer than 10 students enrolled. The school’s arboretum campus isn’t just beautiful – for many, it’s home. Not only do 98 percent of Haverford College’s students live on campus, but so does 61 percent of its faculty. Around half of the student population studies abroad during their academic careers, and more than one-third of enrolled students are involved in an intercollegiate sport.

A liberal arts education is all about developing important and versatile skills like critical thinking, writing and speaking, and what better way to cultivate those skills than to invite – even emphasize – discussions and debates in the classroom? Haverford College’s seminar-style courses are known for engaging class discussions that facilitate deep thoughts and big ideas. All Haverford College students take required courses in writing, a foreign language, quantitative reasoning, humanities, natural sciences, social sciences and physical education. As sophomores, students choose a major, the most popular of which include biology, chemistry, economics, English, political science and psychology. In addition to completing in-depth studies into their majors, students are required to develop a Senior Thesis, complete with the kind of original research opportunities that most colleges reserve for graduate students only. As it happens, Haverford College is an excellent choice if you’re planning to go on to graduate school. Its students earn acceptance into professional schools – including medical school and law school – “at rates that are significantly higher than the national average.”

Location: Haverford, PA

Enrollment: 1,194 students

Tuition: $49,098 

13. Vassar College

Since 1861, Vassar College in the Hudson Valley region of New York has provided an outstanding liberal arts education. The private college, which was a women’s college until it became coeducational in 1969, is a residential institution that guarantees housing for the full four-year length of the student’s undergraduate education. About 98 percent of students take advantage of that opportunity. Vassar College might have the highest tuition rate of any school on this list, but it also happens to be among the best educational values in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report. That’s due in part to the school’s commitment to meeting 100 percent of demonstrated financial need for every enrolled student. Close to 60 percent of Vassar College students receive financial aid, sometimes in amounts as high as $60,000. For students from low-income families who need the most aid, the school works to decrease the amount of loans in the financial aid package – or do away with loans altogether – so that students won’t have to worry about being deep in student loan debts when they graduate.

To earn their Bachelor of Arts degree, Vassar College students must complete a freshman writing seminar, studies in a foreign language, a quantitative reasoning course like math or a laboratory science and “distribution requirements” in the disciplines of social sciences, natural sciences, foreign languages and literatures, and art. Students at Vassar College can choose from more than 50 distinct academic majors. One of those majors, cognitive science, became the very first undergraduate degree program in the subject. The school was also among the first academic institutions in the nation to offer classes in psychology, Russian and drama. Today, more than 1,000 courses run on Vassar College’s campus each year. In addition to choosing a major, students can also pursue a correlate sequence, similar to a minor, to further expand their knowledge base. Vassar College believes strongly in a broad and balanced education, so students are required to spend at least half of their college career engaged in studies outside of their major.

Location: Poughkeepsie, NY

Enrollment: 2,418 students

Tuition: $51,300 

14. Hamilton College

Hamilton College has been educating students in the liberal arts tradition for more than two centuries. The private upstate New York institution is the third oldest college in the state. Named for Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, the school was originally founded in 1793 as the Hamilton-Oneida Academy and subsequently chartered under its current name in1812. Today, Hamilton College has 20,000 alumni, who give back to the school at donation rates that place its alumni loyalty in the top one percent. One hundred percent of Hamilton College’s students live on campus in the school’s 27 residence halls. The 9:1 student to faculty ratio allows for exceptionally small class sizes. In fact, almost 75 percent of all courses contain no more than 19 students, and 30 percent of classes have just nine or fewer students enrolled. In addition to ranking Hamilton College tied for 14^th place on its national liberal arts colleges list, U.S. News & World Report also acknowledged the institution as one of the best colleges for veterans and the best value schools in the nation.

Hamilton College students begin their liberal arts education with unique first-year courses that focus on themes like Native American Spiritualities and Adventure Writing, each intended to help students adjust to college-level work. Early on in their academic careers, students must also take foundation courses in writing and quantitative and symbolic reasoning. Throughout their education, students will take classes in cultural analysis, foreign languages, the humanities, social sciences, the arts, mathematics and the sciences while still enjoying the freedom and flexibility of an open curriculum. Students can choose from 51 major areas of study to pursue, including public policy, chemical physics, literature and creative writing and dance and movement studies. Every major includes a Senior Program experience as part of its graduation requirements. The Senior Program requirements vary from one academic concentration to another, but they typically include independent work that culminates in a research project, a comprehensive examination or a research paper and presentation.

Location: Clinton, NY

Enrollment: 1,900 students

Tuition: $49,500

15. Harvey Mudd College

Rounding out our list of the top 15 liberal arts schools in America is Harvey Mudd College, named for renowned mining engineer Harvey Seeley Mudd. The private school is the newest institution to make the list, having been founded in 1955. With just 804 undergraduate students, it also happens to be the smallest institution in terms of enrollment. The small enrollment – and, of course, the school’s 9:1 student to faculty ratio – allow for small class sizes. With 99 percent of students living on campus, the residential school has cultivated a close-knit community held together by both shared fun and the Honor Code. U.S. News & World Report ranked Harvey Mudd College tied for first place in the nation among the best undergraduate engineering programs. Almost 40 percent of Harvey Mudd College graduates go on to start graduate school, while those entering the workforce enjoy a high median starting salary of $92,500.

Though it’s known for its remarkable liberal arts education, Harvey Mudd College is a STEM school. All students graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree. The academic majors available consist of chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, engineering, computer science and a few joint majors that combine the disciplines. Every major emphasizes experiential learning, research and innovation for the real world and research opportunities that, at most institutions, would be reserved for graduate students. Despite the STEM focus in academic majors, studies in the arts, social sciences and humanities are also an important – and mandatory – part of the liberal arts education at Harvey Mudd College. The school strongly believes that humanity goes hand in hand with ethical uses of technology, which is why the Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts department is larger even than any of the school’s STEM departments. Regardless of their chosen major, Harvey Mudd College students also complete a common core curriculum which provides a broad view of each STEM discipline as well as a focus on writing and critical thinking.

Location: Claremont, CA
Enrollment: 804 students
Tuition: $48,594

Editor’s Note: 

The schools ranked on this list have been recognized by some of the most credible, authoritative publications and organizations in America, including U.S. News & World Report. While any one of these institutions has the potential to provide an excellent liberal arts education, students need to think about more than just rankings when it comes to selecting a college. This article should be used as a guide to direct your college research, not in place of it. The information expressed in this list comes from the schools’ official websites, which are excellent resources to help prospective students to continue the process of finding the right college for them.

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