Students might weigh a number of factors when selecting a college major, including their interests, learning style, academic strengths, and future earning potential. If you’re concerned about the return on investment for a bachelor’s degree, you might be wondering what the lowest-paying college majors are.
Note that the school you attend, your grades, internships, and extracurricular activities also contribute to your career path and earnings after graduation. So college majors with less earning potential can still produce alumni that make good money.
With that in mind, here’s a look at the 10 worst-paying college majors, plus some high-earning majors and tips for building a career to consider.
Key Points
• Factors that influence low-paying majors include job market demand and earning potential over time.
• Many low-paying majors experience slower salary growth over time, as wage increases in fields like liberal arts and history can be modest compared to technical fields.
• Despite lower earnings, many graduates in majors such as social work and education report high job satisfaction due to fulfilling, service-oriented roles.
• Students may face difficulty repaying student loans due to the income disparity, particularly in majors where the cost of education outweighs expected earnings.
Factors Influencing Low-Paying Majors
What you choose to study can impact the types of industries and professions you’re qualified for after graduation. College majors offer students different types of skills and knowledge, as well as opportunities for internships and networking. Aligning your college major with the job market and your career goals can help put you on the path to financial and professional success.
Let’s take a closer look at how your college major can influence your future salary.
Job Market Demand
Certain sectors and industries are known for their stability, while others have significant growth potential. The same goes for specific professions.
Before declaring a major, students can consider the current and future job market demand for various academic disciplines, skills, and careers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) maintains a list of occupations with the most job growth, including projections for the next 10 years, that students can reference in their research.
The highest paying jobs in the U.S. require high-demand skills that are acquired, in part, through higher education. On the flip side, the lowest paying college degrees provide graduates with skills and expertise with less market demand.
Earning Potential Over Time
Getting hired after graduation may be a top priority, but as you explore options, it’s worth looking beyond the starting salary to assess a career’s long-term earning potential.
Some majors may provide in-demand skills for landing a job. So if you’re hoping to make a six-figure salary, you may want to factor in the opportunities for career advancement when selecting your college major.
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10 Worst Paying College Majors
To compile this list of the worst-paying college majors, we reviewed data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s most recent Labor Market for Recent College Graduates report.
Here are the 10 lowest-paying college majors in the U.S., ranked from lowest to highest average early-career salary.
1. Theology and Religion
Early Career Earnings: $38,000
Mid-Career Earnings: $56,000
Majoring in theology and religion can vary in its focus; students might study how religious beliefs and practices relate to society and culture, for example. Theology and religion majors typically pursue careers in teaching or religious ministry, which tend to pay lower salaries
2. Performing Arts
Early Career Earnings: $38,000
Mid-Career Earnings: $64,000
Choosing to major in performing arts can prepare you for careers in theater, acting, dance, or music performance. The performing arts industry is known for being highly competitive and providing inconsistent income compared to other career paths.
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3. Liberal Arts
Early Career Earnings: $38,000
Mid-Career Earnings: $65,000
Generally, a liberal arts major develops students’ critical thinking skills and foundational knowledge in multiple subject areas, such as literature, history, or philosophy. A liberal arts degree lends itself to further education and research, rather than a specific career, limiting a graduate’s earning potential if not combined with another major or degree.
4. Leisure and Hospitality
Early Career Earnings: $39,700
Mid-Career Earnings: $67,000
Majoring in leisure and hospitality can prepare students for careers in hotel management, culinary arts, and tourism. Entry-level roles are often in customer service, though graduates may work toward a career in management with greater earning potential.
5. Early Childhood Education
Early Career Earnings: $40,000
Mid-Career Earnings: $48,000
A major in early childhood education prepares students for careers in community settings, preschools, or elementary schools. These positions usually have lower salaries than other careers requiring a bachelor’s degree.
6. Elementary Education
Early Career Earnings: $40,000
Mid-Career Earnings: $52,000
Students who major in elementary education develop their skills to teach various subjects, such as math, science, language arts, and social studies.
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7. Family and Consumer Sciences
Early Career Earnings: $40,000
Mid-Career Earnings: $59,000
A major in family and consumer sciences may focus on a number of topics, including child development, nutrition, and parenting. Often, this major is intended to prepare graduates for a career in education.
8. Anthropology
Early Career Earnings: $40,000
Mid-Career Earnings: $65,000
Majoring in anthropology involves studying human behavior in the past and present, and it can prepare students for a variety of career paths or graduate studies. Depending on their specialization, anthropology students often pursue careers in archaeology, academia, cultural resource management, and human resources.
9. Fine Arts
Early Career Earnings: $40,000
Mid-Career Earnings: $68,000
With a fine arts major, students may study visual arts, music, theater, or other creative subject areas. Careers in fine arts can be competitive and earnings may be inconsistent compared to other fields.
10. General Social Sciences
Early Career Earnings: $40,000
Mid-Career Earnings: $70,000
A major in social sciences may incorporate multiple subject areas related to how human behavior impacts society. Graduates might pursue careers in fields like social services, human resources, education, and psychology.
Alternative Options for a Viable Career
Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in one of the lowest paying college majors have multiple options to improve their future earnings and career trajectory.
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Considering Higher-Paying Majors
If you’re passionate about a subject area with less earning potential, you might consider pursuing it as a college minor instead of declaring it as a major. In addition to expanding your course load with a minor, it may be worth looking into an easier college major that can lead to high pay.
Once you’ve settled on a major that’s of interest, use SoFi’s college search tool to explore options.
Skills, Interests, and Passion Areas
Going to college is an opportunity to develop skills and explore your interests and subjects you’re passionate about. Selecting a major that aligns with your skills and interests can put you on the path to a career you can find satisfying and excel at.
Balancing Earnings with Fulfillment
Success looks different to everyone. Finding a career that meets both your interests and financial needs and wants is essential for long-term job satisfaction.
Here are some considerations to keep in mind to achieve a balance of earnings with fulfillment.
Non-Monetary Value of Work
Discovering aspects of a job that you find rewarding can enrich your career. Perhaps you feel at your best when you’re helping people, being creative, or solving problems. Preparing for a career that aligns with these values can help you stay motivated and find meaning in day-to-day work.
It’s also important to think about your ideal work-life balance when considering a career path. Do you want a career that allows you to work part-time or from home? Are you willing to work more than the traditional 40-hour work week? All of these should be considered when determining your major and career.
Building Wealth Over Time
Having a steady income is just part of the equation to financial wellness. Besides salary, consider whether a career is likely to include employee benefits, such as health insurance and a pension plan, to lower expenses and provide retirement income, respectively.
Paying off debt, investing for retirement, and sticking to a budget are other strategies to start building wealth.
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The Takeaway
The worst-paying college majors can still lead to a rewarding career that offers financial stability. When choosing a college major, future earning potential is one factor to consider alongside your skills and interests. Finding a balance between fulfillment and earnings can help ensure long-term satisfaction and avoid burnout.
Whatever your chosen major, you may need some help paying for your education.
If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.
FAQ
Can I make up for a low-paying major with additional certifications?
Acquiring certifications can demonstrate additional skills and knowledge to employers, which could improve your qualifications for higher-paying jobs, even if you have a low-paying major.
Should I choose a major based solely on potential earnings?
Choosing a major based on earnings alone could hinder your academic success if the coursework isn’t aligned with your skills. Furthermore, your job satisfaction may be low if you pursue a major and career based exclusively on potential earnings.
Is graduate school worth it for a low-paying undergraduate major?
Graduate school could be worthwhile to develop knowledge and in-demand skills in a field that you’re interested in working in, especially if it’s different from your undergraduate major.
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