Payscale Special Report: A college degree can cost serious cash -- sometimes without the promise of a big salary payoff. Find out which degrees promise to pay you back with a high starting salary.



For what it costs, a college degree might as well be made of gold. For the 2007-2008 school year, the cost of a four-year degree from a public university is $6,185, according to the College Board. And while most students pay less than $9,000 a year, costs at private colleges and universities can skyrocket beyond $33,000 for tuition, room and board.

But beyond the rewards of learning, how will that pricey degree pay you back?

A recent report from PayScale.com shows how starting total cash compensation (base salary plus commission, bonus, profit sharing and other forms of cash earnings) stacks up by major.

Compare Your Salary: Compare Salaries by Bachelor's Degree

20 Popular Undergraduate Majors by Starting Salary

The salaries below show the median total cash compensation for people who report a given bachelor's degree major with 0-5 years of experience. All jobs held by people with a given major were included, not just those specific to the major.

1. Chemical Engineering
Average Starting Salary:$61,800.00

> Find Chemical Engineer Jobs

2. Computer Engineering
Average Starting Salary: $60,500.00

> Find Computer Engineer Jobs

3. Electrical Engineering
Average Starting Salary:$59,900.00

> Find Electrical Engineer Jobs

4. Computer Science
Average Starting Salary:$54,200.00

> Find Computer Science Jobs

5. Civil Engineering
Average Starting Salary:$52,600.00

> Find Civil Engineer Jobs

6. Economics
Average Starting Salary:$48,100.00

> Find Jobs in Economics

7. Finance
Average Starting Salary: $46,900.00

> Find Finance Jobs

8. Accounting
Average Starting Salary: $44,600.00

> Find Accounting Jobs

9. Mathematics
Average Starting Salary: $43,500.00

> Find Jobs in Mathematics

10. Business Management
Average Starting Salary: $40,900.00

> Find Business Management Jobs

11. Marketing
Average Starting Salary: $39,400.00

> Find Marketing Jobs

12. Political Science
Average Starting Salary: $39,400.00

> Find Political Science Jobs

13. Biology
Average Starting Salary: $37,900.00

> Find Biologist Jobs

14. History
Average Starting Salary: $37,600.00

> Find Jobs for Historians

15. English
Average Starting Salary: $36,700.00

> Find Jobs for English Instructors

16. Communications
Average Starting Salary: $36,400.00

> Find Jobs for Communications Majors

17. Sociology
Average Starting Salary: $35,700.00

> Find Sociologist Jobs

18. Graphic Design
Average Starting Salary: $34,700.00

> Find Graphic Design Jobs

19. Psychology
Average Starting Salary: $34,700.00

> Find Psychologist Jobs

20. Criminal Justice
Average Starting Salary: $34,200.00

> Find Law Enforcement Jobs

5 Popular Graduate Majors by Starting Salary
The salaries below show the median total cash compensation for people who report a given master's degree major with 0-5 years of experience. Again, all jobs held by people with a given major were included, not just those specific to the major.

1. Electrical Engineering MS
Average Starting Salary: $72,100.00

> Find Electrical Engineering Jobs

2. Computer Science MS
Average Starting Salary: $70,900.00

> Find Computer Science Jobs

3. Technology Management MBA
Average Starting Salary: $62,500.00

> Find IT Manager Jobs

4. Finance MBA
Average Starting Salary: $60,600.00

> Find Finance Manager Jobs

5. Psychology MA
Average Starting Salary: $41,200.00

> Find Psychologist Jobs

Compare Your Salary:

-- Compare Salaries for Graduate Degrees

-- Compare MBA Salaries

Next: What Does An Ivy League Degree Get You? >>