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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 who 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.
• Humanities and arts graduates often experience lower median earnings compared with graduates in many STEM fields.
• Students that study college majors with lower average salaries can still have rewarding careers, depending on their career goals and personal interests.
• Students may face difficulty repaying student loans due to the income disparity, particularly in majors where the cost of education outweighs expected earnings.
• If you have a low-paying major, acquiring certifications can demonstrate additional skills and knowledge to employers, which could help you secure a higher-paying job.
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 up to 2034, 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 your 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.
Recommended: Average Salary per Year
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. Pharmacy
Early Career Earnings: $40,000
Mid-Career Earnings: $85,000
Pharmacy students study subjects including biology, chemistry, medication safety, and patient care. Graduates can work in many health care settings, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics.
2. Theology and Religion
Early Career Earnings: $41,600
Mid-Career Earnings: $66,000
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 often pursue careers in teaching or religious ministry, which tend to pay lower salaries than many other career areas.
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3. Social Services
Early Career Earnings: $43,000
Mid-Career Earnings: $60,000
Majoring in social services typically involves studying human behavior, psychology, and social welfare policies. Graduates might work as case managers, substance abuse counselors, and social workers.
4. Performing Arts
Early Career Earnings: $44,000
Mid-Career Earnings: $75,000
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.
5. Anthropology
Early Career Earnings: $45,000
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 government, academia, and nonprofit and community-based organizations.
6. Art History
Early Career Earnings: $45,000
Mid-Career Earnings: $91,000
With an art history degree, students learn to analyze, research, and interpret art by studying works across different time periods and cultures. Art history graduates may pursue careers in museums and art galleries, education, and marketing agencies.
7. Biology
Early Career Earnings: $45,000
Mid-Career Earnings: $83,000
A student majoring in biology learns about living organisms and how they interact with the environment. Biology graduates work in areas such as health care, education, and environmental science.
8. Early Childhood Education
Early Career Earnings: $45,000
Mid-Career Earnings: $52,000
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.
9. Elementary Education
Early Career Earnings: $45,000
Mid-Career Earnings: $55,000
Students who major in elementary education develop their skills to teach various subjects, such as math, science, language arts, and social studies.
Recommended: How Much Does a Teacher Make a Year on Average?
10. Fine Arts
Early Career Earnings: $45,000
Mid-Career Earnings: $72,000
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.
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.
Recommended: Average Salary by State
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 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 between earnings and fulfillment.
Nonmonetary Value of Work
Discovering aspects of a job that you find rewarding can enrich your career. Perhaps you feel 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 for 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 you can employ to start building wealth.
Recommended: Ways to Build Wealth at Any Age
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 you 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. Certifications can help bridge skill gaps and show employers that you have expertise beyond your degree.
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 if you want 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. Consider the cost of the program you’re interested in, the time commitment, and whether it aligns with your long-term career goals.
Photo credit: iStock/Drazen Zigic
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