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Going to college and earning a degree provide opportunity for an individual to boost their earning potential once they enter the real world. According to the data released by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2020, the average weekly earnings for a regular worker in the U.S. with someone who possess a bachelor’s degree is around $1,305 while someone who possess a high school diploma only earns about $781. Additional research was conducted by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce and it suggests that an employee with a bachelor's degree earns about 84% more than with someone who only has a high school diploma.

Although in general people with a degree earn more, according to the research by the PayScale, these 10 college degrees have the highest starting salaries for the graduates with 3 years of work experience post college. Take a look at these college degrees with the highest earning potential.

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Applied Mathematics

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Applied Mathematics is the study of the application of mathematical methods in different fields such as medicine, biology, physics, engineering, business, computer science and industry. Applied Mathematics is basically a combination of both the specialized knowledge with mathematical science. The average starting salary for college graduates with a degree in Applied Mathematics is about $67,112.

Physics

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Physics is the study of natural science which primarily focuses on matter as well as its fundamental constituents, its behavior and motion through time and space, and the related entities of force and energy. Physics can be considered as one of the most fundamental discipline in the science field that explains and  understand how the universe basically behaves. The average starting salary for college graduates with a degree in Physics is about $67,541.

Biomedical Engineering

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Biomedical Engineering is basically the study which focuses on advance technology and medicine in order to develop new equipments and devices to improve the human health. Biomedical Engineers are the ones who might design some software to run some computer simulations or medical equipment to test the new drug therapies. The average starting salary for college graduates with a degree in Biomedical Engineering is about $67,800.

Mechanical Engineering

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Mechanical Engineering is considered to be one of the broadest and oldest engineering disciplines in the science field. Graduates of Mechanical engineering usually design, build, develop and test anything. They deal with anything that moves, from its components down to the machines to human bodies. It is a degree which pretty much sums up mathematics principles and engineering physics with materials science in order to analyze, manufacture, design and maintain the mechanical systems. The average starting salary for college graduates with a degree in Mechanical Engineering is about $68,621.

Industrial Engineering

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Industrial Engineering is a profession which deals with the optimization of complex processes or systems, organizations by developing and improving, implementing the integrated systems of people, knowledge, money and information. The job an industrial engineer basically focuses on business analysis and data analysis. There are different fields someone with a degree in industrial engineering can work at which are manufacturing engineering, production, logistics engineering, forecasting and a lot more. The average starting salary for college graduates with a degree in Industrial Engineering is about $68,682.

Materials Engineering

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Materials scientists and engineers are the people who are at the forefront of discovering new materials. New materials are considered to be one of the greatest achievements in every age. They are also the center of growth, security, prosperity and the improved quality of life for humans since the beginning of time. Materials science and engineering have an influence on the daily lives of every living thing on this world. The average starting salary for college graduates with a degree in Materials Engineering is about $70,958.

Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering

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Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering are two different degrees but they earn basically the same. The two degrees have overlapping branches. Aerospace engineering is basically the primary field of engineering with focuses on the development of the aircraft and spacecraft. On the other hand, aeronautical engineering deals with the aircraft itself, they are basically involved primarily in designing the aircraft and the systems of it. The average starting salary for college graduates with a degree in Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering is about $71,350.

 

Electrical Engineering

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Electrical Engineering is a field of study which involves designing, developing, testing and supervising the process of building electrical equipment like radar and navigation systems, power generation equipment, electric motors, and communication systems. Electrical engineers are the one who are responsible for the design of systems of automobiles and aircraft. The average starting salary for college graduates with a degree in Electrical Engineering is about $72,540.

Computer Engineering

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Computer Engineering is primarily defined as the study that embodies the technology and science of designing, constructing, implementing, and maintaining the software and hardware components of the modern computing systems as well as the computer controlled equipment. The average starting salary for college graduates with a degree in Electrical Engineering is about $75,022.

Chemical Engineering

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Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering which focuses on the chemical production and manufacturing of products through the chemical processes. These include the design of equipment, systems and processing and refining some raw materials and the mixing and compounding of chemicals in order to make some valuable products. The average starting salary for college graduates with a degree in Electrical Engineering is about $75,301.

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Sources: Live Science, CCECC, US News, Online Engineering Programs, BLS GovMichigan Tech