There has been a lot of talk recently about the “one percent.” And let’s be honest… students don’t attend classes, write papers, work on projects, and take exams for a degree simply because they enjoy the challenge and the stress that comes with it. Okay, maybe some do, but for the most part students earn degrees that they hope will lead them to a rewarding career, both emotionally and financially.

So what are the college degree programs that give students an advantage in trying to join this top one percent of earners? According to the United States Census Bureau, the most likely to attain this income status in their careers are those that study a pre-med program. Economics is the next most likely degree program to lead students into a career in the top one percent. Biochemistry, zoology, and biology round out the list of the top five majors for earning potential.

According to 2010 Census Bureau data, of the over 140,000 students who completed a pre-med program, nearly 12 percent joined the top one percent of earners. For those who earned a degree in economics, just over 8 percent became a part of the elite earners. About 7 percent of biochemistry program graduates joined the top-earning bracket, as did around 7 percent of zoology as well as biology degree earners.

Many experts seek to emphasize, however, that one doesn’t have to complete a degree in one of these five fields of study in order to be in the top one percent of earners. They explain that a lot of the earning potential of a given degree is derived from how and where a student chooses to apply that degree.

For example, studying law can lead you to a position in the one percent club. Census data also showed that one out of every eight lawyers is in this demographic. The chances rise to one out of every three for lawyers in Wall Street practices. Chief executive officers are also eligible for membership, with approximately one in five earning in the top one percent. If the company the CEO works for is a medical supply or drug company, the chances are even greater that he or she will earn in the top one percent.

Joining the fabled “one percent” doesn’t just have to be a fairy tale. Students who apply themselves and know what degree to pursue and how to apply it to a successful career may just be well on their way to attaining this lofty goal.