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Salaries for undergraduate college degrees Aug. 21, 2011 12:00 AM The Arizona Republic Here are the median salaries for 2011 bachelor's degree graduates. Majors are ranked in order by mid-career salary. Major: Petroleum engineering Starting salary: $97,900Chemical engineering Starting: $64,500Electrical engineering Starting: $61,300Materials science & engineering Starting: $60,400Aerospace engineering Starting: $60,700Computer engineering Starting: $61,800Physics Starting: $49,800Applied mathematics Starting: $52,600Computer science Starting: $56,600Nuclear engineering Starting: $65,100Biomedical engineering Starting: $53,800Economics Starting: $47,300Mechanical engineering Starting: $57,400Statistics Starting: $49,000Industrial engineering Starting: $57,400Civil engineering Starting: $53,100Mathematics Starting: $47,000Environmental engineering Starting: $51,700Management Information Systems Starting: $51,000Software engineering Starting: $54,900Finance Starting: $46,500Government Starting: $41,400Construction management Starting: $50,200Supply chain management Starting: $50,200Biochemistry Starting: $41,700Industrial design Starting: $44,400Electrical engineering technology Starting: $55,100Food science Starting: $43,300International business Starting: $41,600Civil engineering technology Starting: $46,600Geology Starting: $45,300Computer information systems Starting: $47,900Mechanical engineering technology Starting: $51,600Molecular biology Starting: $40,500Chemistry Starting: $42,000Film production Starting: $41,600Political science Starting: $39,900Biotechnology Starting: $40,800International relations Starting: $40,500Occupational health and safety Starting: $46,400American studies Starting: $43,400Information technology Starting: $48,300Industrial technology Starting: $48,100Information systems Starting: $48,300Telecommunications Starting: $37,300Urban planning Starting: $41,500Accounting Starting: $44,700Philosophy Starting: $39,800Zoology Starting: $38,000Advertising Starting: $37,700Architecture Starting: $41,500Marketing and communications Starting: $38,200Literature Starting: $39,100Fashion design Starting: $36,300Global and international studies Starting: $37,800Biology Starting: $37,900Environmental science Starting: $40,200Linguistics Starting: $39,800Business Starting: $41,000Microbiology Starting: $38,500Nursing Starting: $52,700History Starting: $37,800Public administration Starting: $40,400Hotel management Starting: $36,100Forestry Starting: $41,500Communications Starting: $38,000Landscape architecture Starting: $41,900Geography Starting: $39,600Journalism Starting: $36,100Health sciences Starting: $35,800English Starting: $37,100Public relations Starting: $35,500French Starting: $38,400Sports management Starting: $35,400Liberal arts Starting: $37,800Anthropology Starting: $35,600Human resources Starting: $37,900 Mid-career: $62,600Organizational management Starting: $42,300Agriculture Starting: $38,600Psychology Starting: $35,000Medical technology Starting: $45,100Health care administration Starting: $36,700Sociology Starting: $36,100Radio and television Starting: $35,000Hospitality and tourism Starting: $35,900Visual communication Starting: $35,600Criminal justice Starting: $35,300Fine arts Starting: $35,900Spanish Starting: $36,400Interior design Starting: $34,300Humanities Starting: $34,900Horticulture Starting: $39,600Theater Starting: $34,700Music Starting: $36,800Graphic design Starting: $35,600Fashion merchandising Starting: $36,800Dietetics Starting: $41,500Education Starting: $36,800Kinesiology Starting: $34,200Photography Starting: $32,900Nutrition Starting: $38,600Interdisciplinary studies Starting: $36,300Exercise science Starting: $33,100Social science Starting: $36,600Drama Starting: $37,800Multimedia and Web design Starting: $40,400Animal science Starting: $33,800Paralegal/law Starting: $35,300Art history Starting: $38,300Art Starting: $35,300Theology Starting: $35,600Public health Starting: $35,500Athletic training Starting: $34,600Religious studies Starting: $32,900Recreation and leisure studies Starting: $34,500Special education Starting: $34,300Culinary arts Starting: $29,900Social work Starting: $32,200Elementary education Starting: $32,400Child and family studies Starting: $29,600Source: PayScale MarketRate
Arizona students urged to carefully research degrees by Anne Ryman and Jahna Berry - Aug. 21, 2011 12:00 AM The Arizona Republic Put in four to six years of study and pay tens of thousands of dollars in college expenses, and what can you expect? Internships. And maybe more internships. Job competition from professionals with years of experience. Employers reluctant to hire. For the past three years, more of Arizona's college graduates have had to hang on to their student jobs, many for far longer than they had expected. Recession and layoffs, increased productivity by existing workers and mass uncertainty in nearly every job field have put the start of many careers on hold. It used to be that a bachelor's or master's degree was the ticket to a good-paying job and a stable financial future. Now, more grads are like Aaron Benson, 24, who has a graduate degree in criminal justice from Arizona State University and has been trying to land a job since December. "It's rough. Rough. Even with a master's degree," he said as he waited in line at an ASU job fair to talk to an FBI recruiter. Parents used to bank on one of the great promises of American middle-class life: Send your children to college, and they'll end up with a higher standard of living than you had. Those heading to college as adults saw the degree as another rung up the ladder of opportunity. But now some are wondering: Is a college degree worth the effort and expense? Economists say the diploma still gives a person an edge in the ultracompetitive job market. The U.S. census and other surveys show graduates - now 30 percent of the adult population - earn significantly more and have access to better health care and higher savings rates than non-graduates. Higher-education officials insist that it is still critical for people to get a college diploma. But those degrees now come with a premium price tag. Over the past decade, public universities have raised tuition and fees by up to 64 percent. That forces students and parents to take on unprecedented levels of student-loan debt. Today, the college diploma is no longer an automatic ticket to the middle class, says Cornell University economics professor Robert Frank. And the heavy debt that many students run up can put financial success further from reach. "You don't want to count on a college degree as a guarantee your income will grow rapidly over the years," said Frank, author of the book "Falling Behind: How Rising Inequality Harms the Middle Class." Amid the uncertainty, it is vital for prospective students and parents to have a reality check - to strategically research careers and what they typically pay, compared with the cost of college. The choice of a career field, not the number of years in school, will play an ever-larger role in graduates' abilities to attain a middle-class lifestyle. Fewer openings This year marks another dispiriting time to be graduating from college, even if the economy is no longer at the height of recession. Entry-level jobs are in short supply as many employers, wary about expanding in a stagnating economy, put off hiring. In 2007, college graduates who applied for work had a median of 2.5 job offers, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers' annual survey. Now, more than 50 percent of graduates who apply for jobs don't have any offers, said Edwin Koc, a research director for the association. In the association's national survey of 28,000 seniors from the Class of 2011, 42 percent who applied for work got a job offer, an increase from 32 percent in 2010. But just 24 percent of those who applied for jobs had a job by graduation, the same percentage as in 2010. Because the number of graduates rises with the population, it could take years for the job market to recover enough so that graduates would have the same level of offers as the Class of 2007. It's hard for new grads to get a foot in the door at many companies, said Randy Kimmens, director of business and workforce development for the 10 colleges in the Maricopa County Community Colleges District. "I have also talked to a lot of people, students who have their bachelor's degrees, and I'll find that they'll get a job, but they may have to accept a position that doesn't really require a baccalaureate degree," he said. "Or they are finding that they will get the position, but they are finding that the salaries are a bit lower than expected." In the U.S., the jobless rate for young workers between the ages of 16 and 24 was 17.4 percent in July 2011, according to statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That is much higher than the national rate for workers as a whole, which was 9.1 percent in July. The angst is palpable. On a recent afternoon, a ballroom at Arizona State University's Memorial Union was bustling with activity as the university hosted a career fair. Eager job candidates in suits hovered over rows of tables. Company recruiters answered questions and collected resumes. As graduates moved from table to table, it soon became apparent what sort of job market they face. Although employers are still showing up at campus-recruiting events, many companies are hiring fewer workers. Employers also are being more selective: Fewer openings and higher unemployment rates mean more people competing for jobs. That dynamic makes it difficult for new graduates, such as English major Robert Rickard, 22. "Everyone wants experience," said Rickard, who graduated in May and is working at a coffee shop. "How can I get experience if no one is going to give me a shot?" Benson, the ASU criminal-justice major who also attended the job fair, said that lots of his friends face the same predicament, and many of them are trying to launch their own businesses in the interim. Benson operates a small contracting-supply company while he waits to land a job in his career field. He is fortunate; he doesn't have student loans to pay back or a family to support. He just wants to get started in his chosen field, preferably in the area of juvenile corrections. "I'd like to use my major," he said. However, government jobs have continued to decline this year, according to the most recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which could affect his career options. Parents with children in college also are concerned. John Bushell, 47, works in the parts department of a Tucson car dealership. He doesn't have a college degree, but it's always been his goal that his daughter, Sarah, graduate from college. She is entering her sophomore year at the University of Arizona this fall. Bushell is proud of his daughter, though apprehensive about her future. He was forced to dip into retirement savings to pay for school after his income declined and tuition increased sharply. He wonders what the job market will be like in a few years when his daughter gets her diploma, most likely in business. A college degree used to mean someone could get a job in that career field. "Now, I don't know if that opportunity will be there," he said. Some colleges are responding by offering more career services for students and alumni. ASU posts jobs online from outside companies. Students also can apply for jobs online and post their resumes. The university also sponsors periodic job fairs. The event in mid-July attracted 240 students and alumni, about 50 more than a similar job fair in July 2010. UA also posts jobs online and has a career network where alumni register to become mentors of students who are pursuing similar career fields. College career advisers can help students figure out what types of careers might be appropriate for different academic majors, but ultimately students have to choose their own path. The changing business market has even influenced the academic majors that colleges offer. For the past three or four years, ASU offered a bachelor's degree in real estate but recently switched that to a minor instead, a nod to the battered residential and commercial real-estate markets. Thousands in loans As more new graduates see their professional careers in limbo, many also must cope with massive loan debt, on which payments must begin within six months of graduation. Students are shouldering more debt to complete their degrees, according to research released this month by the think tank Education Sector. In 2006-07, students borrowed an average of $13,334 for every degree earned. In 2007-08, that amount rose to $14,560, a 9.2 percent increase. In 2008-09, it rose by 24.3 percent to $18,102, according to Education Sector. And the cost of getting a degree at a for-profit school compared with a public or private college generally is higher, according to the study. The cost at four-year public universities was $16,247. At private non-profit colleges and universities it was $21,827. For-profit universities, by contrast, produced $43,383 in debt. Part of that is explained by the shaky economy. During tough times, states cut funding for education, and tuition prices go up. Kevin Carey, policy director for Education Sector, said weak economies also create more demand for schooling because people have lost their jobs. Paying $100,000 for a Harvard University business degree may be a good investment if you plan to land a job where a degree from Harvard matters and you will earn enough to pay it off, Carey said. Racking up that much debt for a two-year associate's degree isn't as good an investment, he said. "What work are you going to do," Carey said, "to pay that money back?" The prospect that her daughter may owe thousands of dollars in student loans haunts Terri Young of Flagstaff. The 49-year-old and her 20-year-old daughter are taking classes at Coconino Community College. Young hasn't decided what her major will be. Her daughter, Amy, plans to transfer to Northern Arizona University to study journalism. Young is disabled, and her husband is a nurse. They plan to contribute to Amy's education, but she'll also need scholarships and some loans, Young said. "I am concerned that there are no middle-class jobs out there that will repay these loans that they are required to get," Young said. Joy Erickson considers herself lucky. Thanks to the GI Bill, the 30-year-old Navy veteran will get tuition assistance for 36 months. The problem, Erickson says, is that is not enough to cover all of the schooling that she needs to complete her studies to become a forestry worker. Since the Chandler resident switched majors at Mesa Community College while she studied for her associate's degree, she will likely have $20,000 in loans when she finishes that program. By the time she completes her bachelor's degree, that total will rise to $50,000 or $60,000, she said. Books and fees have given her sticker shock - one textbook cost $193 - but she plans to complete her degree. She is passionate about her future career, even though, she said, "it doesn't pay much." "I am hungry for it, and that's the edge that people will need," Erickson said. "Most of my friends who are working are stuck in dead-end jobs and retail. I have bigger plans for myself." Smart choices College and career experts say it's more important than ever for prospective students to be smart education consumers, selecting an appropriate major at a school with a good degree program in their field. Although following a passion is important, students should be aware of what their future career could pay and how lower salaries in certain fields could slow down repayment of student debt. Education experts predict career fields that deal with health care, engineering, science and technology will continue to be high job-growth areas. The uncertain job market already is causing some students to rethink their academic paths and career goals. Moriah Costa, a 19-year-old ASU sophomore, had planned to go to law school after getting her bachelor's degree in justice studies. Now she isn't sure. The honors student is paying for college with a combination of scholarships, work, the federal Pell Grant and a student loan. If she goes to law school, she likely will have to take out additional loans, and the legal field is crowded. That worries her, given the struggling economy and unpredictable future. "If I get a good job when I get out, I can pay for it," she said. "Right now, there's no guarantee I can get a job, and I will have all these loans." A person's academic major can affect his or her earning prospects, said Frank, the Cornell University economist. Graduates in technical fields over the past 20 years generally have done better than those who majored in humanities, Frank said. Even within given majors, he said, an overall financial disparity is apparent: Middle and lower-end earners struggle to keep up. Frank hesitates to recommend some careers over others based on pay, saying it's more important for people to pursue a position doing something they enjoy. That said, he says it's important to keep in mind that jobs that cannot be performed by a machine hold the most promise for security. "If it's the kind of job where the questions you get require some complex, interpretive skills, it's less likely they will be able to send the job to India," he said. Currently, petroleum engineers are in big demand and command some of the highest starting and midcareer salaries. The median starting salary for petroleum engineers was $97,900 in 2011, according to a recent survey by PayScale, a Seattle-based company that tracks salaries. A school's reputation, particularly in the field of study that the student has chosen, also is crucial, experts say. No matter what colleges students choose, they should ask prospective employers what they think about a school's degree program in their field. Students also should seek out financial-aid opportunities such as federal grants and scholarships, which don't have to be paid back. Each year, families with kids in college or entering college should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, form. "Sometimes parents and students don't explore the financial-aid options," said Nicole Magnuson, executive director of Expect More Arizona, an advocacy group for higher education. Families can take other steps to lower the cost of education. Good academic preparation in high school reduces the chance students will have to retake college courses, which can add time and expense to a degree. Students also can lower their expenses by attending two years at community colleges, which charge lower tuition, and then transferring to a university to finish. Long-term benefits With good grades, strong networking, a bit of on-the-job experience and a dash of luck, students can make smart choices that set them onto a middle-class path. While in college, students should be diligent about getting experience in their field, career counselors advise. Landing an internship is a good way to demonstrate experience to a prospective employer. And students should avoid taking out too much in loans if their career fields aren't lucrative. Regardless of the current downturn, ultimately those students with college degrees and specialty certifications will have better job opportunities in the long run, experts say. "Higher education is still the best investment you can make in your future, but the returns are not guaranteed," said Lauren Asher, president of the Institute for College Access & Success, a non-profit advocate group. "That's why it's so important to be careful." Earning power - About 30 percent of adults in the U.S. have at least a bachelor's degree, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. - College graduates generally earn more over the course of their careers than people with no degrees. A 2002 report by the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that individuals who have bachelor's degrees earn $2.1 million on average, or almost twice as much as workers with only a high-school diploma. Career earnings increase with advanced degrees. - Weekly median wages in 2009 were slightly lower than they were in 2000 when adjusted for inflation for both college graduates and those with only a high-school diploma, according to an analysis by the Economic Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. In 2009, the weekly median wage for college graduates was $1,025, or about $5 less than in 2000. High-school graduates earned a median of $626 a week in 2009, or about $3 less than in 2000. Federal oversight As more families worry about student debt and the job market, the U.S. Department of Education recently unveiled new "gainful employment" rules for for-profit schools and vocational programs. Under the rule, students can't use federal aid for programs that fail three tests: - At least 35 percent of former students in that program must be paying down their loan balance. - The student-loan payment must not exceed 30 percent of typical graduates' discretionary income. - The annual loan payment does not exceed 12 percent of typical graduates' total earnings. If a school's program fails the test three times in four years, it is cut off from federal financial-aid funding. Also for the first time, after starting in July, the rule now requires for-profit schools to disclose total program costs, graduation rates, job-placement rates, loan-repayment rates and other information to students. While some schools have provided that information, others have not, or the information may have been difficult to find. |