- Three courses focused on neuroscience rank first, with neurologists being the highest-paid professionals on the list.
- A business course ranks fourth, with prospective chief executives making over $250,000 annually.
- Seven out of the 10 courses on the list are related to medicine.
A new study reveals that neuroscience courses lead to the highest-paying jobs among online learners.
The study, conducted by online education expert Class Central, analyzed data from its extensive collection of top-rated courses and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine which courses lead to the highest salaries. The study offers insight into the most lucrative learning opportunities by mapping specific courses to the most likely career paths and calculating the average salary using the number of people in each profession as a weighting.
| Top 10 online courses that lead to high-paying jobs | |||||
| Rank | Course | Job title | Rating | Reviews | Average annual salary |
| 1 | Medical Neuroscience | Neurologists | 5 | 52 | $271,470 |
| 1 | Fundamentals of Neuroscience, Part 1: The Electrical Properties of the Neuron | Neurologists | 5 | 22 | $271,470 |
| 1 | Understanding the Brain: The Neurobiology of Everyday Life | Neurologists | 4.5 | 27 | $271,470 |
| 4 | Starting a Business 1: Vision and Opportunity | Chief Executives | 4.5 | 91 | $258,900 |
| 5 | Vital Signs: Understanding What the Body Is Telling Us | Medical Scientists, Physicians | 4.5 | 51 | $237,831 |
| 6 | Discover Dentistry | Dentists | 5 | 183 | $200,870 |
| 7 | Quantum Mechanics for Everyone | Physicists | 5 | 134 | $158,270 |
| 7 | How Things Work: An Introduction to Physics | Physicists | 4.5 | 28 | $158,270 |
| 9 | Successful Negotiation: Essential Strategies and Skills | Sales Managers, Purchasing Managers, Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | 5 | 219 | $155,665 |
| 10 | Mathematical and Computational Methods | Mathematicians, Physicists | 5 | 43 | $154,115 |
Neuroscience dominates the list, with three courses that lead to careers as neurologists and offer an average annual salary of $271,470. These include Medical Neuroscience, Fundamentals of Neuroscience, Part 1: The Electrical Properties of the Neuron, and Understanding the Brain: The Neurobiology of Everyday Life. With perfect ratings and consistently high reviews, these courses provide a strong foundation for one of the best-paid professions in the medical field.
Starting a Business 1: Vision and Opportunity is coming in fourth place, a course tailored to aspiring entrepreneurs and future executives. Graduates of this course who become chief executives can expect an average annual salary of $258,900.
In fifth place is Vital Signs: Understanding What the Body Is Telling Us, which is associated with medical science and physician careers. The course is highly rated and reviewed, with an average salary of $237,831 for those who pursue careers in these roles.
Other notable courses in the top 10 include Discover Dentistry (ranked sixth), which can lead to a career as a dentist with an average annual salary of $200,870, and Quantum Mechanics for Everyone, which ranks seventh for its relevance to physicists, a role that offers an average salary of $158,270.
At the lower end of the top 10, Successful Negotiation: Essential Strategies and Skills provides key insights for sales managers, purchasing managers, and mediators, leading to an average annual salary of $155,665. Mathematical and Computational Methods, which prepares students for roles as mathematicians and physicists, rounds out the list with an average salary of $154,115.
Dhawal Shah, founder and CEO of Class Central, commented: “This data demonstrates that high-quality, specialized online education can have a tangible impact on career prospects, offering learners a pathway to some of the most rewarding and lucrative professions available.
“The courses mentioned throughout the list are just a starting point to a successful career. While they provide foundational knowledge, it’s important to combine the application of this learning with continued professional development and real-world experience.”
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