Degrees that rake in the most money right after college?

Hi! As everyone else here, I'm looking forward to figuring out my college pathway and I can't help but worry about financial stability. So, I wondered which college degrees are known to typically yield the highest income straight out of college. Maybe engineering or computer science? Thoughts, anyone?

This is definitely an important question to consider as financial stability post-college can influence your college major decision. Here are some college degrees that can yield high income straight out of college:

1. Petroleum Engineering: On average, starting salaries for petroleum engineers tend to be the highest among all college graduates. Petroleum engineers can work in a number of different areas, but their focus is typically on extracting oil and gas from the ground efficiency and in a safe and sustainable manner.

2. Electrical Engineering & Computer Science (EECS): Given the tech-oriented world we live in, there's high demand for skills in coding, machine learning, and data analysis. This major often has graduates moving on to lucrative positions at tech giants or in the startup world.

3. Applied Mathematics or Statistics: These degrees can lead to high-paying roles in various sectors such as finance, consulting, and technology.

4. Computer Science: As you accurately guessed, this degree often leads to high-paying jobs, typically in areas like software development, data science, and cybersecurity.

5. Chemical Engineering: Graduates often work in industries such as pharmaceuticals and energy, designing and troubleshooting the processes for producing chemicals on a large scale.

6. Nuclear Engineering: This isn't a very commonly pursued degree, but it does generally lead to high-paying jobs in power generation or medical technology.

Note that earning potential can also be influenced by factors such as location and individual performance, not just the degree itself. Plus, it's important to consider your passions and interests, not just earning potential. You might be happier and therefore more successful pursuing a career path that genuinely interests you, even if it's not the absolute highest-earning one. It's all about finding that balance between passion and financial stability.