Types of Degrees Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many modeling, virtual environments & simulation graduations there were for each degree level during the last year for which data was available.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Bachelor’s Degree	542
Master’s Degree	176
Graduate Certificate	65
Undergraduate Certificate	47
Associate Degree	28
Basic Certificate	6
Doctor’s Degree	2

What Majors Need to Know

People with careers related to modeling, virtual environments and simulation were asked what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. They weighted these areas on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest.

Knowledge Areas for Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation Majors

Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation majors often go into careers in which the following knowledge areas are important:

• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
• Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Skills for Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation Majors

A major in modeling, virtual environments and simulation prepares you for careers in which the following skill-sets are crucial:

• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Programming - Writing computer programs for various purposes.
• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Abilities for Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation Majors

As a modeling, virtual environments and simulation major, you will find yourself needing the following abilities:

• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

What Can You Do With a Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with modeling, virtual environments and simulation:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Computer and Information Research Scientists	19.0%	$118,370
Multimedia Artists and Animators	8.4%	$72,520
Software Developers, Applications	30.7%	$103,620

Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in ?

This major tends to be male dominated. About 83% of recent graduates are men.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of modeling, virtual environments and simulation majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	57
Black or African American	18
Hispanic or Latino	54
White	291
International Students	65
Other Races/Ethnicities	57

Geographic Diversity

Students from other countries are interested in Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation, too. About 12.0% of those with this major are international students.

How Much Do Majors Make?

Salaries According to BLS

Average salaries range from $78,230 to $108,080 (25th to 75th percentile) for careers related to modeling, virtual environments and simulation. This range includes all degree levels, so you may expect those with a more advanced degree to make more while those with less advanced degrees will typically make less.

To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to

Some careers associated with modeling, virtual environments and simulation require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. Whatever the case may be, pursuing more education usually means that more career options will be available to you.

Find out what the typical degree level is for modeling, virtual environments and simulation careers below.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
Less than a High School Diploma	0.0%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)	1.1%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)	0.5%
Some College Courses	10.6%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	3.8%
Bachelor’s Degree	68.1%
Master’s Degree	9.3%
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.	0.5%
Doctoral Degree	5.4%
Post-Doctoral Training	0.8%

Online Programs

The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	0	0
Certificate (1-2 years)	7	0
Certificate (2-4 Years)	2	0
Associate’s Degree	6	2
Bachelor’s Degree	8	2
Post-Baccalaureate	0	0
Master’s Degree	10	1
Post-Master’s	1	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	2	0
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	0	0

Is a Degree in Worth It?

The median salary for a modeling, virtual environments and simulation grad is $89,580 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 125% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $993,600 after 20 years!

Majors Related to

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to modeling, virtual environments and simulation.

Major	Number of Grads
Web & Multimedia Design	5,302
Data Modeling/Warehousing & Database Administration	3,461
Computer Graphics	2,989
Other Computer Software & Media Applications	1,694

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
• Image Credit: By Negative Space under License

More about our data sources and methodologies.