Most Valuable Degrees,

And the most valuable college degree goes to...

By Chris Kyle

What makes a degree valuable?
-Career opportunities?
-Starting salaries?
-Time to completion?
-Versatility?

Our answer is: all of the above.

With back-to-school season in full force, we've compiled our list of Most Valuable Degrees based on these criteria.

And without further ado...the Most Valuable Degree goes to...

Winner: Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration

The most popular college degree in the world is also the best college degree. A superb pick for students looking for a versatile bachelor's degree with major earning power.

Time to completion: 4 years 
Starting salary: $45,200
Mid-career salary: $73,000

Winning factor: One of the advantages of a business degree is that you're able to move into many different industries. To name just two, health care is one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy, and financeis one of the most stable.

Search for online and local Business schools!

2nd Place: Associate's Degree in Medical Assisting

The timing for earning an associate's degree in medical assisting couldn't be better. The suddenly red-hot career was highlighted in Laurence Shatkin's book Best Jobs for the 21st Century and was also named byForbes as one of the fastest growing jobs for women in 2010.

Time to completion: 18 months to 2 years 
Average salary: $28,650
Potential salary: $39,970

Winning factor: Medical assisting opportunities are expected to grow an amazing 34 percent between 2008 and 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Search for Medical Assisting schools near you!

3rd Place: Bachelor's Degree in Accounting

Accounting is often overshadowed by the more popular business degree but the salary figures are higher for this more specialized degree. And you don't need an accounting degree to know that money talks!

Time to completion: 4 years 
Starting salary: $46,500
Potential salary: $77,600

Winning factor: There's a lot of opportunity for those with an accounting degree. In a recent survey of more than 500 senior finance executives, more than half of the CFOs expressed concern about a lack of qualified accountants entering the workforce, according to global accounting organization Grant Thornton.

Search for Accounting degree programs now!

4th Place: Associate's Degree in Paralegal Studies

It's hard to imagine a two-year degree with more upside than an associate's degree in paralegal studies. This extremely solid degree allows you to work for a law firm or for yourself, in whatever city or town you want in America. And the pay isn't just good; it's great.

Time to completion: 2 years 
Average salary: $46,120
Potential salary: $73,450

Winning factor: Opportunities for paralegals and legal assistants are expected to grow at a healthy 28 percent clip between 2008 and 2018, according to the Department of Labor.

Search for Paralegal schools near you now!

5th Place: Bachelor's of Science in Nursing

Add job security to the long list of reasons to become a nurse. A Vanderbilt University analysis in 2009 predicted that the U.S. will have a shortage of 260,000 nurses in 2025. Find a Nursing school near you.

Time to completion: 4 years 
Starting salary: $52,700
Mid-career salary: $68,200

Winning factor: Employment opportunities are expected to soar 22 percent between 2008 and 2018, with hundreds of thousands of job openings expected from retirements, according to the Department of Labor.

Search for Nursing degree programs now!

*All starting salary and mid-career salary information comes from Payscale's 2010-2011 college salary report. Average salary comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, using May 2008 median salary information, and potential salary reflects earnings by the top ten percent.