IT ranks 1st in study of the top 50 STEM majors


A new study of career earnings, educational opportunities, degree affordability and job growth potential highlights the 50 STEM majors with the best value

STEM-major-bestRanking #1 for employment opportunities nationally, and in the top ten for program availability, Information Technology was determined the best Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) major by WorldWideLearn.com in their study of the 50 STEM Majors with the Best Value 2014.

The spotlight career for this major, Information Security Analyst, has a projected growth rate of 36 percent between 2012 and 2022. This fact, along with a national average salary of $91,210, landed the major in the top spot.

Coming in a close second is Computer and Information Sciences, with an average national income of $93,000 in 2013, as well as a solid rating in the educational opportunities category. The field of Mathematics asserted itself as a strong third for best overall value. Mathematics ranked particularly high in the accessibility category, with more than 500 programs available nationally, and an average national salary of $103,310.

Here are the top 10 STEM majors, according to WorldWideLearn.com’s study:

(Next page: The best STEM majors; methodology)

1. Information Technology
2. Computer and Information Sciences
3. Mathematics
4. Civil Engineering
5. Computer Engineering
6. Computer Programming
7. Environmental Engineering Technology
8. Nuclear Engineering Technology
9. Petroleum Technology
10. Marine Sciences

For additional details on this study, including career spotlights and tuition costs, please see WorldWideLearn.com’s article on the 50 Stem Majors with the Best Value 2014.

Methodology

This study examined 50 STEM majors based on proprietary metrics developed by WorldWideLearn.com that include: Educational Affordability, Educational Opportunity, Earning Index and Employment Opportunity. These metrics used the following data sources:

  •     Average national income, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
  •     Job growth projections (2012-2022), from the BLS
  •     In-state tuition data (2013-2014), according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
  •     Educational program data, from NCES (2014)

This press release was first posted on PRWEB.

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