See which degrees you can bank on for job security and good pay in the long run.
Looking for a solid financial future?But how do you know which degree to pick? To determine our list of degrees you can bank on, we took a look at job security data from various sources.
We also looked at Pay Scale's 2010-2011 College Salary Report, which analyzed over 100 college majors to see what average salaries come with each bachelor's degree.
The results are clear: some degrees greatly outperform others.
[Click here to find the right degree program]
Read on for six degrees that offer job security and growth potential - in the long run.
Degree #1 - Business
Starting Salary: $41,100
Mid-Career Salary: $70,600
Long considered the old reliable of college degrees, studying business gives you a firm foundation that can weather any economic storm. [Search for Business schools and degree programs]Job Security Signals: While the economy still has a way to go for a full recovery, lending to businesses rose from July through September 2010, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. More money for businesses could very well signal more job openings. For example, businesses with fewer than 500 employees have added 390,000 jobs in 2010, including 91,000 in November, according to Automatic Data Processing's National Employment Report.
Related Careers and Salaries:
PR Specialist: $51,280
Market Research Analyst: $61,070
Management Analyst: $73,570
[Start training for a career in Business now]
Degree #2 - Paralegal Studies
Starting Salary: $35,100
Mid-Career Salary: $51,300
Getting a paralegal studies degree is a great way to enter the legal industry, one of our country's oldest and most secure professions. [Search for Paralegal schools and degree programs]Job Security Signals: Confidence is sky-high for paralegals right now, thanks to a 28 percent growth in employment opportunities through 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. You can start your paralegal career by earning an associate's degree in just 18 months. If you already have a bachelor's degree, a paralegal certificate program can be completed in as little as six months!
Related Careers and Salaries:
Legal Assistant: $46,120
Insurance Carrier Paralegal: $52,200
Federal Executive Branch Paralegal: $58,540
[Start training for a Paralegal career now]
Degree #3 - Health Care Administration
Starting Salary: $35,600
Mid-Career Salary: $58,000
If you want to start a career in a stable, secure industry, look to health care. [Search for Health Care Administration schools and degree programs]Job Security Signals: The health care industry boasts 10 of the 20 fastest growing jobs, according to the Department of Labor. U.S. News & World Report's list of Best Careers for 2011 is also flooded with health care jobs. Due to our aging population, health care's long-term outlook is strong and secure.
Related Careers and Salaries:
Hospital Secretary: $14.21/per hour
Insurance Underwriter: $56,790
Health Services Manager: $80,240
[Start training for your Health Care career now]
Degree #4 - Criminal Justice
Starting Salary: $35,600
Mid-Career Salary: $58,000
If there is one thing you can count on, it's that America's criminal justice system will keep humming along, no matter the economic climate. [Search for Criminal Justice schools and degree programs]Job Security Signals: Studying criminal justice is a safe bet, since employment opportunities for police officers will rise 10 percent through 2018, according to the Department of Labor, and those who "lose their jobs because of budget cuts usually have little difficulty finding jobs with other agencies."
Meanwhile, probation officers and correctional treatment specialists will see a 19 percent bump in employment opportunities through 2018, according to the Department of Labor.
Related Careers and Salaries:
Police Officer: $51,410
Federal Correctional Officer: $53,459
Detective Supervisor: $75,490
[Search for Criminal Justice degrees]
Degree #5 - MBA
Starting Salary: $78,820
Mid-Career Salary: $97,091
Getting an MBA is a common-sense strategy to get ahead in an increasingly complex business world. [Search for MBA schools and degree programs]Job Security Signals: More education means more job opportunities. Getting an MBA degree can help you move into management - and fatten your paycheck. In a December 2010 article about the value of an MBA, BusinessWeek called it a "near-certain ticket to instant riches."
Related Careers and Salaries:
General Manager: $91,570
Financial Manager: $99,330
Software Manager: $126,840
[Search for MBA programs near you or online]
Degree #6 - Information Systems
Starting Salary: $49,300
Mid-Career Salary: $87,100
Companies are increasingly relying on information systems to gather data and communicate internally and externally. [Search for Information Systems schools and degree programs]Job Security Signals: According to a November 2010 report in the Vancouver Sun, "outside of health sciences, the biggest employment niche is for computer and information systems professionals." The Department of Labor has a similarly sunny forecast. The federal agency forecasts a 17 percent surge in jobs for information systems managers through 2018.
Related Careers and Salaries:
Computer Systems Administrator: $66,310
Network Systems Analysts: $71,100
Information Systems Manager: $112,210
[Start training for a Technology career now]
*All salary data for degrees comes from PayScale, except starting salary for MBA grads, which comes from a 2010 study by the Graduate Management Admission Council. Career salary information comes from 2008 data gathered by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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