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Salaries are generally believed to be a major reason behind most students’ career choices, but a new report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) suggests otherwise.

Lower-paying fields seem to be attracting more students, while traditionally high-paying jobs, such as engineering and computer science are loosing ground.

Although engineering and computer fields pay much more than visual and performing arts - an average of some $20,000 per year more - the number of students pursuing visual and performing arts degrees has risen an impressive 2.6 percent. Computer science’s growth rate has fallen into the negative column - showing a 0.6 percent decline - while engineering has a minus 2.2 percent.

The source of these statistics - the Fall 2007 Salary Survey - only shows results, and does not look beyond the figures into the reasons why - but an arts instructor at Aims Community College in Colorado may have the answer.

“A lot of students I see are enjoying their work in college and want a profession or career that they enjoy. That leads them to us,” said Dr. Richard Busson, a music teacher in Aims’ Visual and Performing Arts Department. “Whether they can make a living at performing arts may be in question – whether they will go that extra mile and be fulfilled.”

Busson sees a strong and growing enrollment in visual and performing arts classes at Aims, but not necessarily a significant increase in the number of students actually majoring in his department’s courses.

“What is up are the numbers of students enrolling in private music lessons,” he said, “and in classes like art and music history - such as our History of Rock Music Class,” which - not surprisingly - is hugely popular at Aims. “However, as these students become more educated and get more information, their goals could easily change. They could be led into a field they enjoy based on the arts. Teaching is good,” said Busson, who has taught at Aims for 16 years.

“Engineering can be creative, but it does not have the glamour associated with the arts,” he said. “Students today look for careers that make them happy - some of them won’t find fulfillment in a cubicle.”

While the NACE report does not specify what visual and performing arts jobs entail, a general survey indicates a broad spectrum of opportunity.

Visual arts according to some sources encompass not only the expected fields of commercial artists, graphic designers and studio artists, but also include newer fields such as art therapy and even cake decorators. Performing arts fields include music and theater, and also the technical aspects of production - set constructors, grips and riggers.

The trend - if indeed the report is indicative of a trend - toward enjoyable careers may be part of a larger picture. Overemphasis on work as a means for material gain does not seem to make workers happy - whereas people whose work is a means of self-expression and fulfillment are much more content.

The New American Dream, a 2004 report, suggested that as a nation we were beginning to question the American obsession with materialism. Perhaps the NACE survey is proof that today’s students do have a different definition of fulfillment.

“The lesson is, find something you love to do and make a commitment to find a career that is not only fulfilling to you but necessary in our society,” Busson said. “My love of music led me to teaching.”