The Top 5 Highest Paying College Majors

A look at the college degrees most likely to Pay off

Recently, American student loan debt surpassed American credit card debt, reigniting debate over the booming student loan industry. [Read "Should Student Loan Debt Be a Crime?"] For those wondering which degrees are most likely to pay off in the long run, a look at the highest paying majors, below.

1)    Engineering: Want to be guaranteed employment for life? Three words: Become an engineer. Whether Chemical, Electrical, or Mineral, graduates with engineering degrees consistently sit at the top of lists of high earners, annually earning in the neighborhood of $100,000 and above.

2)    Physics: You don’t have to be Einstein to earn a degree in Physics but if you do you will not only find yourself following in the genius’s footsteps but earning just under $100,000 annually.

3)    Economics/Finance: Economics and Finance majors average between $50,000 and $100,000 throughout their careers, although as we know from Wall Street, many will go on to earn much, much more.

4)    Mathematics: Not only are math teachers in great demand, but anyone with a math degree and willing to work in the fields of Mathematics or Applied Mathematics will find themselves in great demand and earning between $50,000 and $100,000 annually.

5)    Government: Though few will get rich working for the government it remains a steady field with room for advancement, where salaries typically range from just under $50,000 to just under $90,000.

Keli Goff is Loop 21's Senior Contributor. Learn more about her at KeliGoff.com.