These college majors pay off over time

Key Points:

• A study by the Postsecondary Commission found that a bachelor's degree yields an average return of nearly $87,000 in income over 15 years compared to non-college peers, confirming that college pays off financially in the long run.
• The return on investment varies significantly by major, with engineering and architecture degrees offering the highest returns (over $200,000), while liberal arts degrees provide the lowest but still positive financial benefits.
• The study tracked nearly 1 million Texas students from 2008-09, comparing their earnings to similar non-college individuals, and found that college students initially earn less but surpass non-students around year 10 post-enrollment.
• Despite rising tuition sticker prices at some private colleges, the actual average net cost for public college students has decreased over the past decade, with Texas students spending about $13,349 on higher education over 15 years.
• Experts caution that while economic return is important, it should not be the sole factor in choosing a major, as liberal arts education fosters critical thinking skills valuable across a lifetime and multiple careers.