Obtaining a degree in the sciences or technical fields can provide lifelong benefits in terms of career trajectory and professional development. Whether studying engineering, industrial design, physics or many of the other scientific subjects, this type of education can be used for real-world applications in a wide range of industries.

A July survey from PayScale, ranking the highest-paying undergraduate degrees according to starting and mid-career salaries, found that eight of the top 10 paying degrees were in engineering fields. Aerospace engineering took the top slot, with $59,600 for median starting salary and $109,000 for median mid-career salary, followed closely by chemical, computer and electrical engineering degrees.

In addition, 14 of the top 15 listings were in the hard sciences or industrial fields, including construction management, physics and biochemistry.

An industry science degree can be very rewarding, making it important to find the right school to obtain one. According to a 2008 study from the RAND Corporation, the United States is home to 75 percent of the world's top 20 and top 40 universities, as well as 58 percent of the top 100.

In a June report on the world's top engineering and IT colleges, from U.S. News and World Report and education research firm QS Quacquarelli Symonds, the U.S. is home to six of the top 10 engineering and science universities.

According to the list, the best science school in the world is the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in Massachusetts. MIT focuses on providing educations "with relevance to the practical world as a guiding principle," and had the No. 1 engineering and IT program worldwide, as well as the No. 2 natural sciences program.

The No. 2, 3, and 4 rankings were occupied by the University of California - Berkeley, Stanford University and the California Institute of Technology, respectively.

But the U.S. is not the only country with strong education opportunities in the industrial skill set. The United Kingdom also has two schools ranked among the top 10 worldwide. The University of Cambridge is considered the UK's best science institution and ranks No. 5 globally, with the fourth best engineering and IT program and the No. 1 natural sciences program in the world.

Based on the rankings, the University of Tokyo is Japan's top science school and ninth in the world, featuring the sixth best engineering and IT program and the eighth best natural sciences program. Canada's University of Toronto, No. 10 on the list, has the eighth best engineering and IT courses and the 14th best natural sciences curriculum.

While these institutions occupy the highest rankings, prospective students may discover that the top schools are not the only ones that can meet their needs for an excellent education.

Of course, top schools require top dollar. While tuition fees may seem daunting, there are numerous science and industry scholarships that can help defray some or all of the cost of acquiring a degree.

For example, the Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense, offers between $25,000 and $41,000 per year for undergraduate, master's or doctoral students who display aptitude and commitment to learning the hard sciences.

Those who have already obtained their undergraduate degrees may be interested in the National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship, which "aims to ensure the vitality of the human resource base of science, technology, engineering and mathematics in the U.S. and to reinforce its diversity." The program awards a three-year annual stipend of $30,000 in addition to a $10,500 allowance for tuition and fees.

Students interested in aerospace engineering may want to look into NASA's Aeronautics Scholarship Program, which is "directed toward enhancing the state of aeronautics for the nation." The program awards up to $15,000 per year for undergraduate funding, and a $35,000 stipend plus $11,000 per year in tuition funds for graduate students.

For students seeking a future in industrial production or design, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers offers a wide range of scholarships in varying amounts for both graduate and undergraduate studies. Applicants must be "pursuing a degree in manufacturing engineering, manufacturing engineering technology or a closely related manufacturing field of study."

Armed with a clear goal toward obtaining an education in industry science and a commitment to engaging with the challenges and rewards of today's industrial sector, a prospective student can prepare to become a part of the new generation of industrial professionals in the science and tech fields, which remain strong motivators of innovation and progress.

Earlier

Career Advice for the Class of 2009

Tips & Schools for Future Engineers

Resources

U.S. Competitiveness in Science and Technology
by Titus Galama and James Hosek
RAND Corporation, June 12, 2008

Best Undergrad College Degrees by Salary
PayScale, July 20, 2009

World's Best Colleges: Engineering and IT Universities
U.S. News and World Report/QS Quacquarelli Symonds, June 18, 2009

SMART Scholarship
U.S. Department of Defense, Aug. 14, 2009

Graduate Research Fellowship Program
National Science Foundation, Sept. 23, 2009

NASA Aeronautics Scholarship Program
NASA, 2009

Society of Manufacturing Engineers Education Foundation
Society of Manufacturing Engineers, 2009