English vs. Engineering: Highest-Paid College Majors

Payscale Special Report: A college degree can cost serious cash -- sometimes without the promise of a big salary payoff. Find out which degrees promise to pay you back with a high starting salary.

For what it costs, a college degree might as well be made of gold. For the 2007-2008 school year, the cost of a four-year degree from a public university is $6,185, according to the College Board. And while most students pay less than $9,000 a year, costs at private colleges and universities can skyrocket beyond $33,000 for tuition, room and board.