5 Reasons to Earn a STEM Degree

Contents

High Demand for STEM Jobs
High-Paying Career Opportunities
Versatility and Flexibility
Evolving Technology
Small Class Sizes

There are plenty of reasons to earn a STEM degree. It’s especially true for students who have an interest in science and mathematics and aren’t discouraged by a rigorous curriculum. STEM fields include:

science
technology
engineering
mathematics

Degrees in the STEM fields provide graduates with an excellent career outlook.

1. High Demand for STEM Jobs

One of the top reasons to earn a STEM degree is the high level of demand. STEM jobs are on the rise. Many roles in science, technology, engineering and mathematics have unemployment rates far below the average for all occupations. And the career opportunities are expected to keep growing. When you major in a STEM subject, you won’t have to worry that your skills aren’t valuable to prospective employers. You won’t have to struggle to find relevant job openings.

2. High-Paying Career Opportunities

STEM careers are some of the best-paying jobs in the nation, even for candidates fresh out of school. For example, petroleum engineer is the number-one STEM job for recent graduates, according to Forbes . It has a median salary of $88,700 for candidates with a bachelor’s degree and less than three years of experience. With more experience working in a STEM career, your earning potential can increase considerably. The median salary for all petroleum engineers (new and experienced) is $128,230, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports.

3. Versatility and Flexibility

Do you think that only studies in the liberal arts and humanities offer flexibility? Studies in the sciences and mathematics provide an important foundation for many different roles. In fact, versatility and flexibility are among the most important reasons to earn a STEM degree. Having a background in one STEM subject can prepare you for a cluster of different career paths in:

science
technology
engineering
mathematics.

4. Evolving Technology

Studying STEM subjects can prepare you for careers that don’t even exist yet. Technology is constantly evolving due to the work of today’s STEM professionals. The more you learn about current cutting-edge technology, the better equipped you will be to work in jobs that will be created in the future.

5. Small Class Sizes

Not all of the reasons to earn a STEM degree revolve around your career. You’ll encounter some benefits of studying a STEM subject during your education. STEM courses are known to be difficult. But having individual attention can help you better understand complex concepts and equations. Some of the best schools for earning a STEM degree are small colleges that keep class sizes small. Instruction is more personal with better student engagement and learning outcomes. Though STEM careers are appealing, many students who initially consider majoring in STEM will ultimately shy away from the subject or drop out due to the difficulty, CBS News reported. However, students who are willing to put in the work to do so see great advantages during their education. The advantages will follow throughout their professional lives. There are many reasons to earn a STEM degree. There are many great STEM programs out there. Students should never let the rigorous coursework discourage them from pursuing their dreams.

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Reasons to Earn a STEM Degree