Figuring out which type of degree to pursue can be a challenge for young college-aged adults just starting to make their way in this world. Read on to learn which type of college degree is and will still likely be most in demand for the year 2022 and beyond.

A Quick Review of Some Different Types of College Degree Types

There are several types of main degrees that college students can pursue. These will require different types of educational courses and other educational work to qualify for the offered degree.

Here are the degree types:

1. Associate’s Degree – like Associate of Science or Associate of Art
2. Bachelor’s Degree – like Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts
3. Master’s Degree – like Master of Business Administration or Master of Arts
4. Doctorate Degree – like Doctorate Degree or Ph.D.
5. Professional Degrees – other than a Ph.D., these degrees are typically intended for professional aspiring lawyers and doctors. Examples include an M.D. – Doctor of Medicine, a D.O. – Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, among others.

The differences between the above degree program paths include time involved with an associate’s degree taking two years on average, Bachelors of Science or Bachelors of Art taking at least 120 credit hours, usually taking most students about four years’ time.

Master’s Degree programs generally follow a B.A. or B.S. degree and vary as far as credit hour requirements. Most take about two years in addition to the usual four years for the bachelor’s degree time requirements.

The Doctorate Degrees can take from 3 to 10 years depending on the degree field pursued. This is the highest degree program for traditionally based degree college programs. The degree is incredibly challenging, requiring lots of research and successfully published works, for instance. Educators estimate up to 1/3 of every class pursuing a Doctorate Degree will drop out of the program by the 10th year.

The special Professional Degree programs typically take four years of medical school followed by another residency program after that. Lawyers usually must take an additional law school program that generally runs about three years or longer. Afterward, they must pass their bar exams to qualify them to practice law, and aspiring doctors must pass the medical board exams.

Which Type of College Degree Is Most in Demand Now & Is Expected to Continue in 2022 Moving Forward?

According to many current job outlook surveys on which degree is most in-demand in any given year, a bachelor’s degree still holds the title at about 80 percent of companies offering fresh college graduates jobs with these jobs with this degree type. Moreover, this trend is expected to continue this following year, 2022, and onward for at least the next several years.

What Are the Highest Ranked Bachelor’s Degree Graduates by Way of Academic Study Disciplines?

The most recent studies on the most anticipated hires of bachelor’s degree graduates via academic disciplines include:

• Business
• Computer Sciences
• Engineering

There are many different variations among those three top disciplines in the academics degree programs. These include things like genetics, nuclear engineering, marine and navy architecture, pharmaceutical or pharmacy sciences, and others.

These will change somewhat at these specialized fields within the degree programs change as new technologies and discoveries are made. In addition, some of these fields have seen tremendous growths of new material that can make it challenging to keep up with the changes even in one year’s time, let alone projecting specific detailed data for a more extended period of time.

Other Projected Job Growths by Academic Disciplines of Bachelor’s Degree Required Jobs

Along with the job mentioned above in fields requiring a bachelor’s degree in the coming decade, there are a few other reasonable projections that career specialists and others have indicated based on their studies and expert opinions. Some of the top job fields include:

• Biomedical Engineers
• Operations Research Analysis for Business Related Bachelor’s Degree Required Jobs
• Mental Health & Addiction Recovery Specialists

Job Outlook Projections Should Not Be the Sole Basis of Determining Your Career Major When Going After a Degree

There are many things that can change as far as which job fields that require a bachelor’s degree. Someone who is trying to determine their educational path at the college level when determining which degree program or major to study should not be based solely on job growth outlook projections alone.

It is a good idea to speak with a knowledgeable college career counselor who can give in-depth academic-related advice and recommendations.

Top Jobs List 2021

Marketing Executive

It will take some time to reach the executive level, but many jobs will allow a person to enter the marketing field. When a person is in this field, it is easy to work their way up to a higher level. In the past year, there were around 11,500 people who were hired for the marketing executive role. They make on average $55 an hour. To get into marketing, a person will need a college degree. With the earning potential, this is a field worth investing in.

Software Applications Developer

It seems that just about every company has an app. Websites have apps. There are plenty of gaming apps out there too. Someone has to develop these apps. There is a huge demand for professions that can make and develop these apps. This industry has grown 15 percent in four years, and there is still a demand for qualified professionals. If a person is looking for a degree program where they will be able to find a job right away, this is a smart career choice.

Registered Nurse

As the population ages, there is a huge demand for qualified nursing professionals. Each month 20,000 nursing positions are not filled. A registered nurse with a Bachelors’s degree can make good money. They will get their pick of jobs and will be able to help those too.

Psychologist

As people become more comfortable with talking about mental health, there is a need for psychologists. People need someone to talk to and someone to help them get through the tough times. In the past year alone, there has been an increase in demand for mental health professionals. There is a field that is going to continue to grow.

Nurse Anesthetist

This is another in-demand profession in the medical field. The nurse will administer anesthesia and monitor a patient while they are under. They will need to care for the patient. While these nurses do need some advanced training, there is a big demand for them.

Computer Network Architect

Everything is online now. A business needs to have a website if they want to keep up with the changing times. These professionals will design a communication system for the network, and they will help make sure everything is running smoothly. Both large and small companies need this service, so there are many job opportunities out there.

IT Manager

Many companies have an IT department, and they need someone reliable to run it. A person can go from entry-level to management quickly as there is a huge demand for these professionals.

These are some of the top jobs that require a college degree. There is a big demand for these qualified professionals, and a college degree is required to get into these high-paying positions.

Taking the First Steps Down Your Career Path

Once you have decided on your career path and achieved the necessary education requirements, what comes next? You will still need to compete with others in order to get hired. With little-to-no experience, this can be a tricky situation to navigate through. Keep in mind that getting more education than required makes you a more appealing candidate for the job you’re after. It’s important to do whatever you can to get a leg up on the competition.

One way to increase your experience is with an internship. Many companies offer some unpaid starter positions. This can be a good opportunity to learn about the company or industry that you’re interested in. Someone with a degree and an internship will be way more likely to land a job than someone fresh out of college with no real work experience. In today’s digital world, it’s easier than ever to search for such opportunities online.

Another good way to pad that resume is through volunteer work. If you’re still working on your degree, you can get started with this right away. Doing volunteer work is an excellent way to stand out from the pack and to impress your potential employer. Spend time on your resume and try to be bold and unique. This way, you will stand out in the crowd among the other resumes and applications for your desired position.

Building Yourself into the Ideal Applicant For Your Dream Job

In addition to putting together a solid resume, it’s now important to build solid social-media profiles. This means professional, interesting profiles that highlight your personality traits and other attributes that would be appealing to an employer. It also means being careful not to have anything on your social media accounts that might be embarrassing or even a red flag to your next possible boss. It is now very common for employers to scan social-media outlets to look for information on applicants.

There’s no better opportunity to sell yourself than during an actual job interview. Once you get to this point, be sure to come prepared. Always look your best and prepare answers so that you can seem confident. High energy and confidence are desirable traits that the interviewer will be looking for. If you’re not confident in your ability to do the job, the employer won’t be either. Knowing about the company you’re interviewing for and details of the job itself will go far with most employers.

Sometimes, you have to be flexible in order to land your first big job. If you give your interviewer a whole list of specific needs, things you can’t do and days you won’t work on, you’re going to look a whole lot less employable than the other applicants they will interview. It’s important to be honest and to know what you want out of a job too, just don’t overdo it while trying to break into an industry. By getting your desired college degree and following these simple tips, you are sure to succeed.

Once you complete your degree, there is a common expectation that job opportunities will immediately open for you. While that may be the case in some geographical locations or in some degree fields, oftentimes it takes some work to land the perfect job. You may even have to work through a few jobs that are less than ideal to get to your dream job in the long run.

One of the main setbacks that can keep you from landing the perfect job in your degree field is job competition. This may not be discussed much throughout the course of getting your degree, because the goal at that time is to get you through the program successfully. Therefore, mentorship throughout your degree program, especially toward the end, is crucial. Doing so can help set you up for success and avoid excessive job competition. Yet, in times where a competitive job environment cannot be avoided, there are a few things you can do to promote yourself.

Show Off Your Abilities and Experience

Recent graduates from a degree program are eager to prove themselves, and employers want to know exactly who they are hiring. There is no better time to put your skills, academic rankings, and experience on display than when you are entering a highly competitive job market. Showing off all that you have to offer and explaining how it can benefit potential employers may be the edge you need to be considered over other job applicants.

Use Your Network and Resources

Rather than applying to jobs cold turkey, utilize the resources you have built up and connections you have made with individuals throughout the course of obtaining your degree. Perhaps an old professor knows of a job opening that might suit you. Maybe your local profession chapter has a job posting list. Still yet, maybe your old roommate knows of a job hiring for your specific position. Use your portfolio of connections and contacts to your advantage, especially when you are trying to find a specific career in a saturated market.

Consider Broadening Your Search

When competition for your degree area is intense, consider looking to other locales or geographic locations for opportunities. Rare opportunities in smaller towns that are nearby or a vast array of positions in a nearby metro area may be the key to finding a job in your degree specialty. Some job seekers are also willing to relocate after attaining their degree, so make sure the job market is open and thriving in the area you choose to move to.

Continue to Grow Your Skills

After you have achieved your degree, you may feel burnt out from studying and testing. Take some time off, re-evaluate your goals, and plan your future. If you are missing out on job opportunities because you lack experience or specialty knowledge, consider broadening your skills by joining a local club or taking classes in a specific area that will make you more marketable.

Excelling in Intense Job Competition

It can be easy to become overwhelmed and discouraged when you are seeking a job that is highly competitive in your area. Yet, there are things you can do to make yourself more desirable as a potential job candidate. Chances are, job competition will ebb and flow, so you just must be patient until you land your dream job in your degree area.

Many careers are difficult to obtain, no matter how much you spruce up your resume or how soon you apply. These jobs, however, are the most competitive in this country. It might seem ironic to some because of how high in demand they are. At the same time, though, there are more qualified individuals than available openings for each of those occupations. As a result, these careers are extremely tough to get into, and you’d have to be exceptionally talented, hard-working, and lucky to get one of them. Here is a small list of some of these positions.

Patent Attorney

Many people are trying to get their great ideas out there or legally protecting the ones they’ve had for a long time. That’s why they’d need a professional that knows how to prepare a patent for their clients. These specialists learn a lot about intellectual property law and know how to do the necessary research they’ll use to build you a legitimate document. They’re also aware of various processes involving patents, whether selling or transferring them to another person or entity. This job pays pretty well at about $150,000 a year. You’d get a better chance at landing this occupation in particular places, like Washington D.C. and Los Angeles.

Technical Project Manager

A venture’s success heavily depends on how effectively someone organized it. That’s where technical project managers come in; they can take a complex undertaking and get it done efficiently, right down to the minor details. In addition to understanding intricate factors, these individuals must explain them to their clients in simpler terms. Of course, that’s much easier said than done. Technical project managers can earn about $100,000 a year. The salary can vary based on where you get this career, though two of the best places to look right now are Chicago and Dallas.

Creative Manager

Many consider this occupation to be the most competitive job in the market. These individuals play an essential role in a company because they help make connections between businesses and consumers. More specifically, creative managers can handle an establishment’s social media and put together marketing campaigns to promote products and bring in more consumers. They can also help make your workplace and give your staff a more visionary mindset. As a result, a company can become more productive when they hire a creative manager. That’s all the more reason why they’re in high demand with salaries reaching around $112,000.

Supply Chain Manager

As the name suggests, the primary purpose of this occupation is to ensure that the processes are working as they should and making improvements where necessary. One of the main goals of these managers is to make the supply chain as efficient as possible while also helping the company save money. In addition, they build and maintain strong relationships with producers. To be successful at this job, you’d have to be knowledgeable about the process and various methods for efficient execution needed to create an effective logistics network. It’s a lot of hard work that yields about $102,000 a year. You’d need excellent communication and organizational skills as well as strong leadership capabilities.

There are plenty of other occupations that deserve to be on this list. Of course, the chances are that your target career isn’t and that you should count yourself lucky. But if you are applying to any of these jobs, don’t feel discouraged. It might be harder for you to get hired in these fields, but it’s not impossible. You could even work in a different career for a company and potentially work towards what you want to do for them. There are plenty of ways that’ll help you get ahead of the competition, and we share some of that here on our blog.

Video games are no exception. There are many jobs you can get in this industry, including developing and designing. You probably have many great ideas for making a game or joining a company that makes notable franchises.

However, if you want to learn to code or create virtual interactive experiences, you might need to look into some schooling. Here are some of the best game development colleges that can give you an idea of which programs you can take.

University of South California

Many consider the game design program at this school to be the best in the country. You can receive two different Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees here involving development.

The choices this university offers include Computer Science for the more technical aspect and Interactive Media and Game Design for the creative side of gaming.

Students also have the option to receive a minor in a category relative to video game design.

USC should be the top pick for those looking for higher education in this career. The Princeton Review acknowledges it as having among the best game design programs in North America.

University of Utah

This college both has excellent programs and is a great place to meet new people. Students there come from all over, so you can get an enriching experience along with a diverse group of friends. You can receive a bachelor’s degree here that allows you to get into an internship.

This opportunity will enable you to learn about the various technical and creative aspects of making a game. If you wanted to, you could instead minor in games. Another degree students can receive is the Master of Entertainment Arts and Engineering.

Champlain College

You can apply for this school for those who want to get started immediately on taking relevant classes when they enroll.

Champlain allows you this chance so you’d get into internships or start building your portfolios much sooner. You can get various majors involving game design, such as Game Programming and Game Art and Animation.

You might be someone who wants to focus more on the technical aspect of development, which is why there’s the sonic arts specialization option.

Champlain selects some students and staff to visit San Francisco for the world’s largest game developer conference. The school has a collaborative game studio where you and other undergrads can work on projects.

Parsons School of Design

Here, you can get a bachelor’s in Design and Technology. Also called The New School, this college is located in New York and is one of top game design colleges allowing students to fixate on Creative Technology or Game Design.

These programs focus more on design than the technical aspect of game making. Each option falls under the School of Art, Media, and Technology.

A large game development community exists in and around Parsons, meaning you can meet people and build a team for gaming projects. The New School is a part of the Independent Game Developers Association.

There are many colleges out there that can help prepare you for the world of game design. Before selecting one, do extensive research on the school and take a good look at the official website. Some people say that you can get game developing experience by teaching yourself.

Though that might be true, these colleges can provide you with knowledge and tools that could be difficult to obtain on your own.

In addition, they can help you learn and better the skills you need for this industry much faster than if you tried to do so by yourself. Plus, you get to meet new people who share your interests and might one day be your coworkers.