15 Best Degrees for 30-Year-Olds

Best Degrees for 30-Year-Olds

Many people feel like by age 30 they should know exactly what they want to do and work in their chosen field. However, for many 30-year-olds, that is simply not the case. Many students attend college right out of high school and stay in that career forever. However, not everyone likes their original career choice, and some may be looking for a change or advancement. If you’re a 30-year-old who went to college in the past, or even if you’ve never taken a college course but want a career change, check out the degrees that are best for students like you. The degrees we found are perfect for 30-year-old students looking for the best career, and many of these degrees can be completed 100 percent online for convenience.

15 Best Degrees for 30-Year-Olds

1. Finance

Turn your love of finance and financial principles into a career with a degree from an online school. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) includes finance and business careers under one category and places the median annual wage at around $79,000. An undergraduate degree in finance prepares you to work as an auditor. Auditors analyze financial records to look for issues, collect and go over tax documents, and advise their clients on financial matters. You can also use your degree to work as a financial examiner who looks for issues in criminal or civil cases. Though online schools have discussion boards where you talk to your peers, they also allow you to gain some practical experience. Many programs help online students find offline internships in the financial sector.

2. Architecture

If you love designing and building, consider an architecture degree. Architects plan different types of buildings. Though they’re not responsible for the actual construction, they ensure that the building has the right amenities and features. Many online programs have a 4 + 1 option that saves students some time. You spend three full years working on your bachelor’s degree. During your fourth year, you take some graduate courses that count towards your undergrad degree. Once you earn your degree, it only takes one more year to complete your master’s degree. Some online programs have an internship component, too. Working as an architect helps you earn a median salary of $93,310 per year based on recent BLS data, though some in this field make well over $100,000 every year.

3. Psychology


Earning an online degree in psychology gives you many opportunities in the future. You can use your bachelor’s degree to work in social services, education, or business. Many students also use their degrees to enroll in a graduate program because they want to work in substance abuse or mental health counseling. It’s also possible to advance your studies and become a licensed psychologist. Licensed psychologists earn more than $92,000 a year. Psychology is the study of human behavior. You learn how and why people think in different ways as well as the common mental health conditions found in humans. With your undergraduate degree, you might work as a life coach and help your clients improve their lives. Businesses also hire psychology graduates to help them create new strategies to appeal to customers and employees.

4. Fashion Design


Do you love designing clothing from the ground up? Maybe you’re seldom without your sewing machine or dreaming of becoming the next winner of “Project Runway.” Studying fashion design online might be a good option for you. Fashion design programs teach you the fundamentals of design. You’ll learn how to take your sketches from paper to the runway along with how to market your skills and reach clients. Though this field is competitive, the earnings are fairly high. According to the BLS, the median annual salary is $79,290 for fashion designers. Though you don’t need a degree to work as a fashion designer, having one will increase your chances of success. An online program teaches you the marketing and customer service skills you need in your career.

5. Museum Studies

If you love working with ancient and antique artifacts, consider a degree in museum studies. Based on BLS data, the median salary for employees who work in museums is more than $57,000 a year. Archivists are the ones who archive documents and artifacts. They ensure the items are in good condition and preserve them for future generations. You might spend long hours by yourself as you work through a large collection. The online degree you earn can also help you work as a curator. Curators are responsible for finding new items for the collection. They might work with people who donate to the collection, but they can also attend auctions and purchase artifacts from private sellers while following the organization’s budget.

6. Food Science

Food science degree programs offer students the chance to learn more about the science behind the food people eat. It’s a newer field that is part of the agribusiness industry, but it gives you the chance to get in on a field that will only grow in the coming years. The BLS found that the need for trained food scientists will increase by 6% in the next decade and that the professionals in this field earn $76,400 a year as a median wage. As a food scientist, you’ll perform experiments on both animals and crops to ensure they’re viable and sustainable. Other duties may include giving speeches or writing reports on your findings, visiting farms to check on crops, and applying for government and organizational grants.

7. Disability Studies

Though not all online schools offer undergraduate programs in disability studies. Those that do prepare you to work with people who want to feel included. These programs teach students about federal and state laws that apply to those with disabilities, such as the ADA. This act ensures that employers and public buildings are safe for disabled workers and visitors. Working as a career counselor is just one possible thing you can do with this degree. You’ll work with clients who have disabilities and help them seek employment with companies. Recent data shows that career counselors earn the same as school counselors do, which is close to $62,000 a year. Though you may need a graduate degree for some positions, others require just a bachelor’s degree.

8. Digital Journalism


Between the rise of AI and the number of magazines and papers that went out of business, you may assume that journalism is a dying industry. While traditional print journalism is slowly dying, digital journalism is on the rise. As a digital journalist, you’re responsible for creating content specifically for the web. Web writing is different because it needs headlines that catch a reader’s eye right off the bat. Articles are often shorter because readers look through them on their phones and other mobile devices. Some schools now offer online digital journalism degrees that teach students how to develop the skills needed to write online. You can also use those skills to launch a website or write e-books. Though the BLS puts the median salary of journalists at $57,500 a year, this figure doesn’t include the new digital journalism careers.

9. Paralegal Studies


To work as a lawyer, you need to study law as an undergrad, go to law school, and then pass the Bar exam in your state. Not everyone has 5+ years they can devote to their studies, but it takes four years or less to become a paralegal. Sometimes called a legal assistant, a paralegal helps a lawyer prepare for a case. They may research in local law libraries or online, help clients feel comfortable before or during a consultation, and draft legal documents as needed. Many online schools have degrees you can finish in two years, but you’ll spend up to four years to earn a bachelor’s degree. The median annual wage for paralegals is nearly $70,000.

10. Graphic Design


Graphic design is a good field of study for students who love art but worry that they won’t make enough as an artist to sustain their lives. According to the BLS, the median annual wage for graphic designers is $58,910, but the BLS also found that nearly 9,000 new positions for graphic designers will become available in the future. As a graphic designer, you need strong computer science and design skills. You’re responsible for working with your clients and identifying their needs as well as finding solutions for their needs. Though you may create websites, you can also work in product design and marketing, creating the visuals that capture the attention of others. Graphic designers can also work with publishers and authors to create book covers.

11. Hospitality Management


With a degree in hospitality management, you can work for any hospitality organization or business. Hotels often need managers who can handle the schedules of both guests and employees. As a hotel manager, you’ll handle complaints from guests, hire new workers as needed, and maintain a professional attitude. Other businesses in this industry that need managers include theme parks, museums, and zoos. Though you can work in different places, your job duties are quite similar. The BLS found that hotel managers earn more than $65,000 a year, though some do earn much more. You also have a good chance of finding a job when you complete an online program as the need for hotel managers is growing at a faster than average rate.

12. Secondary Education


As long as people keep having kids, the need for licensed teachers will keep growing. Though you can study elementary education and other fields, high school education majors have the highest earning potential. The median annual wage for high school teachers is $65,220, according to the BLS. Those who work in private and charter schools often earn more than those who work in public schools. To become a high school teacher, you need a bachelor’s degree and some teaching experience. Online programs help you find local schools where you’ll complete your student teaching experiences for course credit. You also need a license to teach in your state, which usually requires that you pass a background check. It’s often helpful to choose a specialty area like science or history because it shows that you have experience teaching that subject.

13. SEO Specialist


The BLS includes SEO specialists as one of the marketing specialist positions and puts the median salary of these workers at $74,680 a year. SEO stands for search engine optimization and refers to how sites get traffic from search engines. Search engines like Google use secret analytics to determine how a page ranks. The analytics can include backlinks, which are links to other sites, as well as how often the site uses certain keywords. As an SEO specialist, you need to identify what your clients need. This often involves looking at their current sites and what marketing methods they use. You’ll recommend new ideas and change the site to better attract search engines. One of the benefits of getting your degree online is that you can develop the skills you’ll later need to work with clients from home.

14. Web Developer

Though web developers handle many of the same duties that graphic designers do, they often earn a high salary. The median salary for a web developer today is $92,750 though your exact earnings will depend on where you live and your client base. Web developers are the ones who create the websites you use every day. From shopping portals and hospitals to government agencies and major corporations, nearly every website you come across is the work of a professional developer. They create the codes and applications that allow the site to run. Web developers ensure that the sites do not crash and that the information users share is secure. You may also monitor the web traffic and perform analysis to help your clients see what they need to do to gain more visitors.

15. Health Information Management


Health information management is a rapidly growing industry. As the number of people reaching retirement age grows, hospitals and other healthcare organizations need trained workers who can manage their needs and cases. Working in this field allows you to either take a position on-site or work from home. You’ll organize, manage, and maintain the health records of clients and ensure they get the proper care they need. The BLS found that health managers earn an average of $110,680 a year. In addition to the high salary, the BLS also found that this field is growing at a rate above the national average. The BLS estimates that the need for health managers will grow by 28% through 2032, which accounts for more than 144,000 new management jobs becoming available in the coming years.

What are the Admission Requirements?

The admission requirements vary between programs, which is why you should always check with the college or university before you apply. In most cases, you need either a high school diploma or your GED. Online schools may ask for transcripts, but they usually don’t ask for a score from the ACT or SAT. You may also need to provide a resume to show the real-life experience you have or an essay that explains your career goals. Graduate programs usually have different requirements that include college or university transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a goals statement.

Why Choose an Online Program?

As a 30-year-old, you don’t have as much free time as you did in your teens and 20s. Whether you work full-time, take care of your family, or have other commitments, you may not have time to drive to school and take classes. Online programs work around your schedule and are more flexible. Start out taking just one course and then add more as you adjust to your new schedule. Some online schools also have shorter courses, which help you earn credits in as little as six to eight weeks. Traditional programs usually offer 16-week courses.

How Can You Get Started?

Stop putting off going back to school. Whether you’re 30, 40, 50, or older, there’s never a bad time to earn your degree. Look through our list of the best degrees for 30-year-olds to find one that appeals to you. You can then use our site to find online programs that offer the flexibility you need.