Top ten highest paying college majors

An important consideration when choosing a major is the possibility of gaining lucrative employment following graduation. In a perfect world, the best college major would simply be the one that interests you the most, period. Naturally, your level of interest in the field should be weighed more heavily than any other, as this is something of which you intend to make a career. If you’re really passionate about a certain field that won’t necessarily have you retiring early (social workers, for example, make an average of $33,400 per year), don’t let a potential salary sway you. Helping others or entering a career you love is priceless, and many of the careers below will require some study beyond undergraduate school for you to advance in those fields. But if you have a particular knack for math or science and aren't necessarily sure where those skills would translate best, consider the kinds of careers that could offer a generous return for your investment.

Listed below are the 10 highest-paying college majors as of 2010. The list comes courtesy of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), which conducts surveys of college graduates’ job offers. Data for the NACE survey are compiled from 200 college career centers at public and private institutions across the United States.

1. Petroleum Engineering ($86,220 average starting salary)
2. Chemical Engineering ($65,142 average starting salary)
3. Mining and Mineral Engineering ($64,552 average starting salary)
4. Computer Science ($61,205 average starting salary)
5. Computer Engineering ($60,879 average starting salary)
6. Electrical/Electronics and Communication Engineering ($59,074 average starting salary)
7. Mechanical Engineering ($58,392 average starting salary)
8. Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering ($57,734 average starting salary)
9. Aerospace/Aeuronautical/Astronautical Engineering ($57,231 average starting salary)
10. Information Sciences and Systems ($54,038 average starting salary)

While in the process of conducting your scholarship search at Scholarships.com, you might want to consider one or more of the following majors, just to keep your options open. Our free college search can also help you find colleges and universities that offer programs in any of the top 10 highest-paying college majors.