According to The Huffington Post, students who study pre-med and different kinds of engineering will be the most prosperous.

“I don’t think [a high income] is limited to any specific major,” Maureen Roach, senior assistant director at the Career Center said. “Oftentimes, employers may hire based on skills, internship experience and a variety of talents.”

“Going into a biological science major to continue into medical school is a good choice for students who want to become physicians,” Megan Larson, academic adviser at the School of Biological Sciences, said. “Hopefully they are not making this decision based only on the money they will eventually earn.”

“When students plan to apply to medical schools, the financial implications are certainly considered, but they are rarely the only reason a student is considering a career in medicine,” she explained.

Computer science is a high income major due to the high demand  for computers in cars, cell phones and TVs, Dr. Mary Elaine Califf, associate director and associate professor at the School of Information Technology, said.

“The majority of jobs are really available to [computer science students] who are fresh out of college,” she explained.

Many computer science students come out of college with an income that ranges from $30,000 through $50,000, Califf said.

High-paying jobs can also depend on style of living.

“We do have a few [particular people] who have gone to California [and] we have some students who have gone to places like Google and they make significantly more money,” Califf explained. “But they also live significantly more expensive lives, so it varies somewhat.”

Jobs in the Chicagoland area will pay more than central Illinois due to the cost of living, the different jobs and the different industries, Roach added.

According to Larson, many students come to ISU from different parts of the state, including small communities where the highest paid individual is a physician.

“The more specialization and relevant experience a student can obtain the better,” Roach said.     

“Business, engineering and nursing are some job sectors that typically pay a higher beginning salary due to the specialization; however, it doesn’t mean that other majors will not earn a high salary.”

Students must also keep in mind values such as what they want to do rather than what will pay the most in the long run, Roach said. If students are good at what they love to do, they will likely achieve happiness in their careers as well as a high income.

“Students need to start planning early to set themselves apart as a viable candidate and obtain multiple internships, enhance skill sets and distinguish themselves from the competition — no matter what major they choose,” Roach explained.

“Choosing majors and career paths is a personal choice based on many things for students to consider, Roach added. “The Career Center is a valuable resource to help students with choosing a major, learning more about career options with the major and how to make themselves more employable.”