Shaping the Future of Tech Education

Promising Returns for Tech Careers: Key Insights from Recent Research

A recently published study in the American Educational Research Journal highlights the substantial financial benefits of pursuing degrees in high-demand fields, particularly in technology and engineering. The study, based on data from over 5.8 million college and high school graduates, analyzed lifetime earnings and the internal rates of return (IRRs) across ten broad college majors. It reveals highly encouraging trends for students and professionals pursuing careers in tech. In this blog, we’ll summarize what you need to know.

Key Findings for Tech Professionals

For those considering or currently in technology-related fields, the research offers exceptionally positive news. Here are the key takeaways:

1. Top Returns for Tech Majors: Computer science graduates enjoy impressive returns on their education investment, with women earning nearly 15% and men around 13%. Engineering majors show similar, if not better, returns—almost 19% for women and 14% for men. These figures place tech majors among the most financially rewarding paths students can pursue.

2. Sustained Earnings Growth: Tech graduates not only start their careers with competitive salaries but also experience significant salary growth throughout their professional lives. Fields like software development, IT infrastructure, and cybersecurity are increasingly sought-after, ensuring that the skills students acquire today will remain valuable in the future.

3. Opportunities at the Top of the Earnings Spectrum: The study reveals that tech graduates have a better chance of reaching the upper echelons of income compared to graduates in other fields. As the demand for advanced technical expertise continues to grow, professionals in computer science and engineering are poised for strong career growth and higher long-term earning potential.

4. Resilience in the Job Market: The study shows that tech graduates are better protected during economic downturns. Their skills remain in demand even in challenging economic conditions, making tech-related degrees a stable and sound investment for students and educational institutions alike.

How Academic Planners Can Leverage These Findings

For curriculum planners, this research underscores the importance of promoting and expanding tech-related programs. With technology fields continuing to offer strong financial returns and robust career opportunities, now is the time to invest in building or enhancing tech-focused academic offerings.

To meet this demand, it's critical to equip students with not only theoretical knowledge but also practical, hands-on experience.

This is where ACI Learning can help.

ACI Learning offers:

• Industry-Recognized Certification Training: Students gain access to up-to-date, relevant training in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity, networking, and cloud computing, preparing them for industry-recognized certifications from top vendors like CompTIA, Cisco, AWS, and more.

• Interactive Labs: ACI Learning provides customizable hands-on labs that allow students to apply their classroom learning in simulated real-world environments. These labs help bridge the gap between theory and practice, ensuring students graduate with the practical skills employers need.

• Aligned Curriculum: By partnering with ACI Learning, institutions can round out their tech programs with dynamic, industry-relevant content. Whether students are pursuing certifications or career tracks in IT and cybersecurity, ACI Learning’s curriculum aligns with the latest technologies and industry standards.

As the demand for tech talent grows, academic institutions have a unique opportunity to position their students for success. By incorporating comprehensive tech-focused curricula and leveraging hands-on training tools like those offered by ACI Learning, institutions can ensure their students are ready for the evolving demands of the job market. Not only will this improve student outcomes, but it will also help your institution stand out as a leader in producing tech-ready graduates.

Encouraging students to pursue degrees and certifications in fields like cybersecurity, IT infrastructure, and data science is a direct path to helping them secure high-growth careers. With strong starting salaries and significant long-term earning potential, tech careers represent some of the most promising opportunities available today.

For more details on the study and how it can inform your curriculum planning, you can access the full research here. To learn more about how ACI Learning can support your tech curriculum with hands-on labs and certification training, visit ACI Learning.