Highest Paying Majors 5 years After Graduation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:However this is a college and university forum, in other words most parents on here care about comparing college and university outcomes, hence the title of this thread.

What makes you think that DMV police recruits in 2026 haven’t gone to college?

The beauty of state and local law enforcement is that your college major doesn’t matter. Gender Studies? Art History? If you can pass the drug test, fitness test, health screening, background check, polygraph and get through the academy, then welcome to the team.

I know most young adults today have been pampered. Mommy and daddy basically curate their lives. They want unrealistic salaries, WFH, and time to share their story on social media for likes and shares. That’s fine if you need validation to maintain your mental equilibrium. Desk jobs are monotonously sheltered (just not from AI) and predictable. Working 50+ hours a week for a 40 hour salary for decades seems like a decent plan, I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:However this is a college and university forum, in other words most parents on here care about comparing college and university outcomes, hence the title of this thread.

What makes you think that DMV police recruits in 2026 haven’t gone to college?

The beauty of state and local law enforcement is that your college major doesn’t matter. Gender Studies? Art History? If you can pass the drug test, fitness test, health screening, background check, polygraph and get through the academy, then welcome to the team.

I know most young adults today have been pampered. Mommy and daddy basically curate their lives. They want unrealistic salaries, WFH, and time to share their story on social media for likes and shares. That’s fine if you need validation to maintain your mental equilibrium. Desk jobs are monotonously sheltered (just not from AI) and predictable. Working 50+ hours a week for a 40 hour salary for decades seems like a decent plan, I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Congratulations to the 18 new Arlington PD officers that graduated from the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy yesterday. There are 12 men and 6 women from 10 different states. Of the 18 there are 16 officers with degrees and 2 that came from the military. The superlatives earned by these new officers included class president, top performer with firearms, class physical fitness awards: 1st place males, 2nd & 3rd place females, and the top emergency vehicle operation award.

They’ve been making $72,013.50 while in the academy. Now they’ll make at least $90,012 a year. That’s not a bad start in relation to 90%+ of college graduates.

Of course, congratulations. Not going to college is a valid choice and being a cop is an important job for society.
However this is a college and university forum, in other words most parents on here care about comparing college and university outcomes, hence the title of this thread. If they understand medicine and law and certain phD fields they realize it is the 15 yr out salary that often matters more than the 5 yr for lifelong earning. Those who do not want med or law or phD will disregard the 15 yr data, just as those who have already chosen college over trades will disregard the police officer data.

It appears you missed the part about 88.9% of the new ACPD officers possessing a college degree. That’s another benefit of the law enforcement route, it generally doesn’t matter what degree you graduated with. At 15 years out of college, with yearly raises, COLA, overtime and promotions it’s easy to make over $200,000.

So they earned college degree and served in the military, so they were at least 25+ when they entered the police academy?

My 25 yo is living in MCOLA and earning $80K after 3 years. And it doesn't matter what their degree is in --they are in a position where the only req was "have a ba/bs degree and be smart and possess critical thinking skills and we will train you"

Two didn’t go to college, they went into the military. The rest went to college. Your reading comprehension is atrocious.

Your 25 year old took 3 years to make $10,000 less than police new hires who also have a job where it doesn’t matter what their major was.

In a much lower cost of living area...your reading comprehension seems lacking

If they were in Arlington they'd be making $120k+ at this point

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Congratulations to the 18 new Arlington PD officers that graduated from the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy yesterday. There are 12 men and 6 women from 10 different states. Of the 18 there are 16 officers with degrees and 2 that came from the military. The superlatives earned by these new officers included class president, top performer with firearms, class physical fitness awards: 1st place males, 2nd & 3rd place females, and the top emergency vehicle operation award.

They’ve been making $72,013.50 while in the academy. Now they’ll make at least $90,012 a year. That’s not a bad start in relation to 90%+ of college graduates.

Of course, congratulations. Not going to college is a valid choice and being a cop is an important job for society.
However this is a college and university forum, in other words most parents on here care about comparing college and university outcomes, hence the title of this thread. If they understand medicine and law and certain phD fields they realize it is the 15 yr out salary that often matters more than the 5 yr for lifelong earning. Those who do not want med or law or phD will disregard the 15 yr data, just as those who have already chosen college over trades will disregard the police officer data.

It appears you missed the part about 88.9% of the new ACPD officers possessing a college degree. That’s another benefit of the law enforcement route, it generally doesn’t matter what degree you graduated with. At 15 years out of college, with yearly raises, COLA, overtime and promotions it’s easy to make over $200,000.

So they earned college degree and served in the military, so they were at least 25+ when they entered the police academy?

My 25 yo is living in MCOLA and earning $80K after 3 years. And it doesn't matter what their degree is in --they are in a position where the only req was "have a ba/bs degree and be smart and possess critical thinking skills and we will train you"

Two didn’t go to college, they went into the military. The rest went to college. Your reading comprehension is atrocious.

Your 25 year old took 3 years to make $10,000 less than police new hires who also have a job where it doesn’t matter what their major was.

In a much lower cost of living area...your reading comprehension seems lacking

If they were in Arlington they'd be making $120k+ at this point

I read it, and comprehended it. I’m sorry they’re in the boonies. You forgot the $25,000 ACPD signing bonus, $65/hr overtime shifts and the pension. Year one they’ll make over $120,000 with no problem. Don’t forget there’s no tax on overtime now as well.