10 Degrees Often Tied to Low Salaries

Light House Denver – Low salaries in some majors make choosing a field of study especially crucial to one’s career and financial future. While college graduates typically earn 84% more than those with only a high school diploma, according to research from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, some fields of study still lead to low salaries, offering far less financial return than others.

Many Graduates Regret Their Chosen Major

A survey conducted by ZipRecruiter involving over 1,500 college graduates currently seeking employment revealed that many regretted their choice of major. Fields such as journalism, sociology, communications, and education topped the list of most regretted college majors.

List of Majors Often Linked to Lower Starting Salaries

In addition to those four, the survey identified six more majors frequently associated with lower post-graduation income:

• Fine Arts
• Marketing
• Medical Assisting
• Political Science and Government
• Biology
• English Language and Literature

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According to Sinem Buber, lead economist at ZipRecruiter, many students choose their majors based on passion and personal interest. However, after graduating, they face harsh financial realities, often finding that their income isn’t sufficient to cover basic living expenses.

“When you can barely afford to pay your bills, your salary starts to feel a lot more important,” Buber said, as quoted on Saturday (June 7, 2025).

High-Paying Majors Offer Greater Career Satisfaction

On the other hand, majors that lead to strong career prospects and high starting salaries tend to leave graduates more satisfied with their academic choices. Computer science is a leading example, offering average starting salaries close to $100,000 per year.

Graduates from fields such as criminology, engineering, nursing, and business and finance also report high levels of satisfaction with their chosen studies.

Salary and Job Security Become Top Priorities

In an uncertain economic climate, graduate priorities have begun to shift. While salary remains a critical factor, job security has become equally important, especially in times of potential economic downturns.

“Salary is still the most important factor. But now, job security is gaining ground. That shift happens every time we fear a recession,” Buber added.

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