Useful Degrees

With college graduation ceremonies just weeks away, The Daily Beast tallies the statistics to figure out which majors—from engineering to mathematics—are most valuable.

Landov

galleries/2011/05/01/useful-degrees/useful-degrees---biomedical-engineering_kqqqno — Median starting salary: $54,800
Median mid-career salary: $101,000
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +11,600
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +72.02
Undergraduate field of study: Engineering
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009: 69,133
Landov

galleries/2011/05/01/useful-degrees/useful-degrees---business_w2fubp — Median starting salary: $41,100
Median mid-career salary: $70,600
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +1,209,900
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +17.7
Undergraduate field of study: Business
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009: 347,985
MCT / Landov

galleries/2011/05/01/useful-degrees/useful-degrees---education_xl3fg1 — Median starting salary: $35,100
Median mid-career salary: $54,900
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +1,324,100
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +14.38
Undergraduate field of study: Education
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009: 101,708
Landov

galleries/2011/05/01/useful-degrees/useful-degrees---software-engineering_hwwjfn — Median starting salary: $56,700
Median mid-career salary: $91,300
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +295,200
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +32.46
Undergraduate field of study: Computer and information sciences
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009: 37,994
Bloomberg / Getty Images

galleries/2011/05/01/useful-degrees/useful-degrees---petroleum-engineering_lmjsjy — Median starting salary: $93,000
Median mid-career salary: $157,000
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +4,000
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +18.39
Undergraduate field of study: Engineering
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009: 69,133
Reuters / Landov

galleries/2011/05/01/useful-degrees/useful-degrees---multimedia-and-web-design_pfmpp1 — Median starting salary: $40,100
Median mid-career salary: $61,200
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +762,700
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +22.27
Undergraduate field of study: Communications
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009: 78,009
Getty Images

galleries/2011/05/01/useful-degrees/useful-degrees---nursing_lut4a0 — Median starting salary: $52,700
Median mid-career salary: $68,200
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +581,500
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +22.2
Undergraduate field of study: Biological and biomedical sciences
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009: 80,756
AP Photo

galleries/2011/05/01/useful-degrees/useful-degrees---finance_qndpz4 — Median starting salary: $47,500
Median mid-career salary: $91,500
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +490,500
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +17.57
Undergraduate field of study: Business
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009: 347,985
Bloomberg / Getty Images

galleries/2011/05/01/useful-degrees/useful-degrees_vygcgh — Median starting salary: $39,800
Median mid-career salary: $82,000
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +8,700
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +37.42
Undergraduate field of study: Biological and biomedical sciences
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009: 80,756
AP Photo

galleries/2011/05/01/useful-degrees/useful-degrees---management-information-systems_ietbfs — Median starting salary: $50,900
Median mid-career salary: $90,300
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +178,300
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +23.87
Undergraduate field of study: Computer and information sciences
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009: 37,994
AP Photo

galleries/2011/05/01/useful-degrees/useful-degrees---environmental-engineering_u7cavx — Median starting salary: $51,000
Median mid-career salary: $85,500
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +16,600
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +30.62
Undergraduate field of study: Engineering
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009: 69,133
AP Photo

galleries/2011/05/01/useful-degrees/useful-degrees---civil-engineering_tna43i — Median starting salary: $53,500
Median mid-career salary: $93,400
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +67,600
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +24.27
Undergraduate field of study: Engineering
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009: 69,13
AP Photo

galleries/2011/05/01/useful-degrees/useful-degrees---accounting_fnzvp7 — Median starting salary: $44,600
Median mid-career salary: $77,500
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +279,400
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +21.65
Undergraduate field of study: Business
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009: 347,985
AP Photo

galleries/2011/05/01/useful-degrees/useful-degrees---comp-sci_yjqtwh — Median starting salary: $56,200
Median mid-career salary: $97,700
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +7,000
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +24.18
Undergraduate field of study: Computer and information sciences
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009: 37,994
AP Photo

galleries/2011/05/01/useful-degrees/useful-degrees---app-math_xn93gh — Median starting salary: $56,400
Median mid-career salary: $101,000
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +700
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +22.48
Undergraduate field of study: Mathematics and statistics
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009: 15,496
AP Photo

galleries/2011/05/01/useful-degrees/useful-degrees---construction_gkmh3n — Median starting salary: $52,900
Median mid-career salary: $94,500
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +94,800
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +17.21
Undergraduate field of study: Construction trades
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009: 168
AP Photo

galleries/2011/05/01/useful-degrees/useful-degrees---athetic-training_vdfrx4 — Median starting salary: $32,800
Median mid-career salary: $45,700
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +6,000
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +36.95
Undergraduate field of study: Parks, recreation, leisure and fitness studies
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009: 31,667
AP Photo

galleries/2011/05/01/useful-degrees/useful-degrees---math_fry12v — Median starting salary: $46,400
Median mid-career salary: $88,300
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +700
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +22.48
Undergraduate field of study: Mathematics and statistics
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009: 15,496
AP Photo

galleries/2011/05/01/useful-degrees/useful-degrees---industrial-engineering_owb3ja — Median starting salary: $58,200
Median mid-career salary: $97,600
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +30,600
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +14.23
Undergraduate field of study: Engineering
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009: 69,133
AP Photo

galleries/2011/05/01/useful-degrees/useful-degrees---environmental-science_zdqcjv — Median starting salary: $41,600
Median mid-career salary: $71,600
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +31,300
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +24.53
Undergraduate field of study: Biological and biomedical sciences
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009: 80,756
AP Photo

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