In a recent article, Oregonlive compiled a list of the jobs with which someone with a two-year degree can make the highest salaries. As luck would have it, Linn-Benton Community College and Oregon State University both made the list many times.
The following areas of study have netted LBCC graduates a median salary from $55,363 to $20,726 per year for the first year into their careers, and a five year median salary ranging from $63,083 to $30,912 per year.
- Health Professions and Related Programs
- Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
- All Instructional Programs
- Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
- Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians
- Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
- Precision Production
- Precision Metal Working
- Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
- General Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
- Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians
- Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
- Computer Programming
- Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services
- Business Administration, Management and Operations
- Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
- Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services
- Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
- Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Design and Applied Arts
- Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
- Criminal Justice and Corrections; Health and Medical Administrative Services
- Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services
- Graphic Communications
- Social Sciences
- Culinary Arts and Related Services
- Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Health Technologies/Technicians
- Teacher Education and Professional Development
- Education
What many might find surprising is that OSU also has two-year degree programs which can set a graduate up to a strong future. The median salaries range from $126,953 to $22,383 per year in the first year after graduation, and from $136,825 to $44,149 per year after year five.
Some of these areas of study are:
- Health Professions and Related Programs
- Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
- Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
- All Instructional Programs
- Engineering/ Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
- Education
- Social Sciences
- Mathematics and Statistics
- Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
- Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields
- Veterinary Medicine
- Instructional Programs
- Computer Engineering
- Construction Engineering
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
- Industrial Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology
- Mechanical Engineering
- Physical Sciences
- Natural Resources and Conservation
- Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
- Civil Engineering
- Health Professions and Related Programs
- Nuclear Engineering
- Management Information Systems and Services
- Forest Engineering
- Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
- Accounting and Related Services
- Public Administration and Social Service Professions
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Finance and Financial Management Services
- Natural Resources and Conservation
- Engineering Physics
- Forestry
- Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology
- Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Food Science and Technology
- Zoology/Animal Biology
- Music
For those looking to get out there and earn decent money, but who aren’t interested in pursuing a four-year degree, LBCC and OSU both have much to offer.
By Marissa Roberts
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