15 Quick Degrees That Lead to High-Paying Careers
Key Takeaways
- Earning a 2-4 year degree can prepare you for careers with median salaries of $60,000-$120,000.
- You can finish your degree faster with transfer credits or by enrolling in an accelerated program.
- Researching quick degrees that pay well can help you find the right fit for your timeline, strengths, and career goals.
Looking for quick degrees that pay well? With a two-year engineering technology degree, you’ll qualify for careers that pay more than $70,000. Or earn a four-year bachelor’s in business, a field with a median pay of $80,920. Interested in a graduate degree? Studying computer science can pay off.
Our guide introduces 15 of the fastest college degrees that prepare you for high-paying careers — including multiple careers with six-figure median salaries.
What Are the Quickest Degrees That Pay Well?
Whether you’re interested in business, healthcare, tech, or the legal field, you can find a fast degree that can pay off once you’re in the workforce. Here are the top options at every level:
| Degree Level | Quickest Degree | Time to Complete | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate | Paralegal Studies | 2 years | $61,010 |
| Bachelor’s | Business | 4 years | $80,920 |
| Master’s | Computer Science | 2 years | $105,990 |
Fastest Associate Degrees That Pay Well
An associate degree takes just two years, and it can lead to high-paying careers in fields like law, marketing, and engineering. We’ve listed the traditional time to complete each degree, but accelerated associate programs can help you cut that time to just 6-12 months.
Paralegal Studies
- Time to Complete: 2 years
- Median Salary: $61,010
- Best For: Entry-level legal careers
- Downside: Zero projected job growth from 2024-2034
Paralegal studies programs train students in legal research and writing. With this degree, graduates can work for lawyers at law firms, where they do research and help attorneys prepare for trials and litigation.
Marketing
- Time to Complete: 2 years
- Median Salary: $61,460
- Best For: Entry-level marketing and sales careers
- Downside: Projected 6% decline in advertising sales agent jobs 2024-2034
Studying marketing principles, business finance, and communications can lead to careers in marketing and sales. It can also prepare you for a bachelor’s in marketing.
Electronic Engineering Technology
- Time to Complete: 2 years
- Median Salary: $77,180
- Best For: Entry-level engineering careers
- Downside: Some employers may prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree
With an associate degree, you can work as an electrical and electronic engineering technologist. This two-year degree prepares you to assist engineers in developing electronic equipment, including computers and mobile devices.
Funeral Service or Mortuary Science
- Time to Complete: 2 years
- Median Salary: $59,420
- Best For: Entry-level roles as a mortician, undertaker, or funeral arranger
- Downside: Requires strong people skills to work with grieving families
A two-year degree can launch your career as a funeral service worker. With experience, you can also advance to higher-paying roles like a funeral home manager.
Aerospace Engineering or Engineering Technology
- Time to Complete: 2 years
- Median Salary: $79,830
- Best For: Entry-level careers in aerospace
- Downside: Only 9,300 jobs nationally
One of the highest-paying careers with an associate degree, aerospace engineering technicians work with aircraft and spacecraft equipment. This field also reports 8% job growth from 2024-2034.
Fastest Bachelor’s Degrees That Pay Well
Many bachelor’s degrees report a strong ROI, with the highest salaries in areas like tech and business. You can also speed up your degree with an accelerated bachelor’s program.
Business
- Time to Complete: As little as 2 years
- Median Salary: $80,920
- Best For: Careers in business and management
- Downside: The most popular degree, which can mean competition for jobs
One of the most versatile bachelor’s degrees, studying business can prepare you for high-paying careers in finance, accounting, marketing, human resources, and other growing fields.
Cybersecurity
- Time to Complete: 4 years (or less with accelerated options)
- Median Salary: $124,910
- Best For: High-paying cybersecurity careers
- Downside: Requires strong technical skills
Studying information security, cyber defense, and computer forensics prepares you for high-paying careers. Cybersecurity degrees have a high ROI, and the field projects 29% job growth from 2024-2034.
Healthcare Administration
- Time to Complete: As little as 1 year
- Median Salary: $117,960
- Best For: Nonclinical roles in the healthcare industry
- Downside: Healthcare administrators report a high rate of injuries and illnesses
Studying healthcare administration, finance, and health informatics prepares you to oversee healthcare services in medical facilities. These roles project 23% job growth from 2024-2034.
Economics
- Time to Complete: 4 years (or less with accelerated options)
- Median Salary: $115,440
- Best For: Careers in banking, insurance, and government policy
- Downside: Some career paths require a master’s degree
An economics degree strengthens in-demand analytical and data evaluation skills. This degree can lead to roles in finance. The government hires economists with a bachelor’s degree.
Mathematics
- Time to Complete: 4 years
- Median Salary: $104,350
- Best For: Careers in data science or statistical analysis
- Downside: Some career paths require a master’s degree
Strong math skills from a mathematics bachelor’s program can launch your career as a data analyst, financial analyst, or data scientist. Advanced roles like mathematician and statistician typically require a master’s degree.
Fastest Master’s Degrees That Pay Well
Will a master’s pay off? In fields like business, tech, and nursing, an accelerated master’s degree can significantly boost your earning potential.
Computer Science
- Time to Complete: 2 years (or less with accelerated options)
- Median Salary: $105,990
- Best For: Careers in tech, including computer scientist
- Downside: Requires strong technical skills
A master’s in computer science can advance your tech career, with opportunities as a software developer, IT manager, or computer scientist. These roles report six-figure median salaries.
Engineering
- Time to Complete: 1-2 years
- Median Salary: $97,310
- Best For: Careers in engineering and engineering management
- Downside: Many engineering jobs only require a bachelor’s degree
A master’s in engineering develops specialized and leadership skills, which can lead to high-paying careers. Some programs are also designed for those without prior engineering knowledge who want to transition into the field.
Business
- Time to Complete: 1 year
- Median Salary: $122,090
- Best For: Careers in management
- Downside: Typically more expensive than other master’s programs
Business master’s programs, including accelerated MBA programs, offer a strong ROI. These degrees can lead to high-paying careers as a manager in marketing, finance, HR, and other fields.
Nursing
- Time to Complete: 2 years (or less with accelerated options)
- Median Salary: $132,050
- Best For: Advanced practice roles in nursing
- Downside: High clinical requirements for advanced practice programs
Nurses who want to increase their earning potential can become nurse practitioners or train for other advanced practice roles with a master’s degree. These roles project 35% job growth from 2024-2034.
Accounting
- Time to Complete: 1-2 years
- Median Salary: $81,680
- Best For: Becoming a CPA
- Downside: CPA licensure requirements add time to the career path
Accountants who want to become CPAs and those new to accounting benefit from a master’s in accounting. Specialized programs also focus on management accounting or corporate finance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fast, High-Paying Degrees
Registered nurses earn a median salary of $93,600 and they can enter the profession with a two-year associate degree in nursing. Other two-year degrees that pay off include engineering technology and allied health programs.
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