It seems as though every major organization is publishing ratings and lists of "top this" or "most popular that" these days. PayScale.com has its own ratings, but this one may be a little more relevant to us.
As always, below is a list of the 10 best and worst paying undergraduate majors according to PayScale.
I took the comprehensive list and translated it to majors offered at Otterbein. The ranges listed beside each major are starting through mid-career salaries.
Part 1: Best-paying majors at Otterbein
Engineering ($56,700 - $157,000) This range is quite large because PayScale listed each engineering major separately. Sounds like a ton of options, but keep in mind that you most likely have to go through extra years of graduate school and undergrad that will be filled with really tough math and science courses.
Physics ($50,700 - $99,600) I admire anyone who is willing to commit to being a physics major. I took physics in high school and hated it. Then I took Otterbein's Energy, Science and Society course, which is basically kindergarten physics; we learned about Slinkies, 3-D glasses and bombs. It was awesome, but real physics with formulas and constants is still very intimidating.
Economics/Finance/Accounting ($44,600 - $97,800) These majors seem to have tons of flexibility and job stability. Especially these days, everyone is wanting to know what's in store next and how stocks and finances are doing.
Computer science/Information technology ($49,600 - $97,700) With the crazy growth of technology, this seems obvious. If you can fix your colleagues' computer disasters, you will be loved around the office.
Mathematics/Statistics ($46,400 - $92,900) I think you either love it or you hate it. Some people are simply not good at math, and for others, it comes naturally. This goes along with the engineering and business majors. Regardless, it's important to have at least a basic understanding of it.
Part 2: Worst-paying majors at Otterbein
Sociology ($29,500 - $44,900) It's a little sad to think that the major that leads to jobs in child and family services and gender and orientation equality, among other things to help our communities, is the worst paying undergraduate major. Add that to all the extra years of almost necessary graduate school, and you can see that it takes some dedicated people to care this much.
Education ($31,600 - $54,900) More specifically elementary or early education. This is interesting, too, because it seems as though quality teachers are in high demand, yet it is so difficult to get and keep a teaching job. Many education majors will eventually need to go back to school to at least get their master's.
Religion ($34,700 - $51,300) Unless you plan on writing a best-seller, getting your Ph.D. and teaching or becoming the Pope, this isn't a very profitable major.
Athletic training ($32,800 - $59,000) With professional sports being such a huge industry, I figured that the trainers would be doing well. Physical therapy wasn't on the list but majors like allied health were higher on the list.
Pre-law/Legal studies ($35,100 - $57,200) This rating actually surprised me. I assumed that people in law had pretty fat wallets. Apparently that is only after you graduate law school. You have to make it into law school in order to make the big bucks. t&c;
