What degrees are worth going into debt for? (2024)

What degrees are worth going into debt for?

The 14 majors with the highest earnings-to-debt ratio could all be connected to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Physical sciences, computer engineering, general engineering, chemical engineering and computer science rounded out the top five.

What types of degrees typically result in the largest amount of student debt?

Graduate students are more likely to take out a federal student loan than students pursuing other degrees or certificates. Students also tend to borrow more for doctoral and professional degrees, less for bachelor's and master's degrees, and the least for associate degrees.

Which career has the most debt?

Oral surgeons have the highest average amount of student loan debt, according to a 2023 report from personal banking and finance company SoFi. SoFi identified the 16 professional specialties with the highest average student loan debt, with 14 of the careers being in healthcare.

Is a college education worth going into debt?

With careful planning, student debt is worth it

But the data clearly show that incurring a carefully calculated amount of student debt to earn a marketable degree and enter a well-compensated, in-demand profession is very likely to pay off. In the end, it's a personal choice.

Is $100,000 in student debt a lot?

Only a small percentage—about 6% of borrowers—owe $100,000 or more. Nationally, the average student loan balance per borrower is $39,032, so if you have $100,000 in student loan debt, you have about 2.5 times the national average balance. But your loan principal is just one part of the problem.

What is the number #1 highest paying major?

Highest paying college majors in the U.S.
1.Electrical engineering$121,600
2.Computer science$108,500
3.Mechanical engineering$106,200
4.Economics$101,400
5.Engineering$100,600
6 more rows
Oct 17, 2023

Is 70k in student loans a lot?

What is considered a lot of student loan debt? A lot of student loan debt is more than you can afford to repay after graduation. For many this means having more than $70,000 – $100,000 of total student debt.

What is the most profitable major?

Top 20 college degrees with the highest median salaries
RankCollege majorMedian salary
Source: Bankrate analysis of 2021 American Community Survey data via IPUMS
1Electrical Engineering$110,000
2Computer Engineering$104,000
3Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration$100,000
17 more rows
Sep 5, 2023

Is 20k in student loans a lot?

If those monthly payments look low compared to what most borrowers pay, it's because most borrowers carry a lot more than $20,000 in student loan debt. As of March 2023, the average federal student loan debt in the United States was about $37,720, according to a BestColleges analysis of Education Department data.

Who is number 1 in debt?

List of countries by debt
Country/RegionPer capita US dollarsExternal debt US dollars
United States98,09432.9 trillion
United Kingdom467543.24 trillion
Japan34,8324.34 trillion
Netherlands215,5693.79 trillion
77 more rows

How many people actually pay off their student loans?

20% of all American adults with undergraduate degrees have outstanding student debt; 24% postgraduate degree holders report outstanding student loans. 20% of U.S. adults report having paid off student loan debt. The 5-year annual average student loan debt growth rate is 15%.

What is the average debt for a bachelor's degree?

Student Debt in Perspective

Among those who borrow, the average debt at graduation is $27,400 — or $6,850 for each year of a four-year degree at a public university. Among all public university graduates, including those who didn't borrow, the average debt at graduation is $16,300.

Is $40,000 a lot in student loans?

Just because the average student graduates with nearly $40,000 worth of student loans to repay, it doesn't mean you have to choose between college or debt. There are ways to minimize the cost of college, and the amount you need to take out in loans, such as: Save up for college during a gap year.

How much college debt is ok?

There's a general rule that you shouldn't borrow more in student loans than you expect to make in your first year out of college. A bachelor's degree recipient's average student loan debt in 2021 was $29,100. In theory, a graduate with a salary above this could handle a 10-year standard repayment plan.

How much college debt is normal?

Education debt balances by state
StateAverage student loan debt
California$37,211
South Carolina$36,981
North Carolina$36,885
Delaware$36,776
47 more rows
Jan 23, 2024

How can I pay off $100 K in student loans in 5 years?

A great way to pay off your $100,000 loan faster and save money on interest is to refinance your student loans. This involves taking out a new loan with lower interest rates and/or more favorable terms than the original loan. Refinancing could save you thousands of dollars over the life of your loan.

How many Americans have $1,000,000 in student debt?

Behind the numbers (WSJ): Due to escalating tuition and easy credit, the U.S. has 101 people who owe at least $1 million in federal student loans, according to the Education Department. Five years ago, 14 people owed that much. More could join that group.

Is 50k of student debt normal?

The average student loan debt amount is slightly over $30,000. However, many borrowers owe $50,000 or more in student loan debt. This isn't impossible to overcome using the right repayment methods.

What degree makes 6 figures?

Degrees with six-figure salaries

STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and math) dominated the 20 degrees that led to the highest salaries upon entering the workforce, Bankrate found.

What college degree do most millionaires have?

  1. Engineering. Coming in at the top is engineering - which might surprise you, but the scope of engineering is huge and widening all of the time. ...
  2. Economics / Finance. ...
  3. Politics. ...
  4. Mathematics. ...
  5. Computer Science. ...
  6. Law. ...
  7. MBA.
Feb 18, 2024

What 4 year degrees pay the most?

Highest paying college majors in the U.S. in 2023
  • Petroleum engineering. $212,500. $97,500.
  • Operations research + Industrial engineering. $191,800. $98,300.
  • Interaction design. $173,600. $74,700.
  • Applied economics + management. $164,400. $76,500.
  • Building science. $163,100. $69,000.
Sep 29, 2023

How much is too much for college?

Borrowing the maximum Direct Loan amount ($31,000) is a good rule of thumb for students, and parents need to assess how much they can borrow by considering factors such as their mortgage, credit card balances, debt for other children, and retirement plans.

Is 7% high for student loan?

Current student loan interest rates

About 92 percent of student loan debt is federal, with interest rates ranging from 5.50 percent to 8.05 percent. Average private student loan interest rates, on the other hand, can range from around 4.50 percent to almost 17 percent.

How much debt is too much?

Key takeaways. Debt-to-income ratio is your monthly debt obligations compared to your gross monthly income (before taxes), expressed as a percentage. A good debt-to-income ratio is less than or equal to 36%. Any debt-to-income ratio above 43% is considered to be too much debt.

What major is actually worth it?

The best degree for a career depends largely on individual interests, industry demand, and career goals. Fields like Computer Science, Healthcare, Engineering, and Business Management often top the list due to their high demand in the job market, strong salary potential, and broad applicability across industries.

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