30 College Majors with High Unemployment Rates
Although college has historically been viewed as a place to learn for the sake of learning and pursue your passions, most Americans–and certainly most parents–view college as a pathway to a job. The result is that students are often pressured to major in something “practical.” If you’re looking to encourage your child to get a job after college, consider these unemployment rates for several popular college majors. Perhaps they’ll want to double major in something they love and something YOU love. Why not? Let’s take a look!
#30 - Chemical Engineering
Unemployment Rate: 5.2 percent
Underemployment Rate: 17.0 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $70,000
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $94,000
#29 - Communications
Unemployment Rate: 5.4 percent
Underemployment Rate: 58.1 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $36,000
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $62,000
#28 - Nutrition Sciences
Unemployment Rate: 5.5 percent
Underemployment Rate: 54.4 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $36,000
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $50,000
#27 - Criminal Justice
Unemployment Rate: 5.5 percent
Underemployment Rate: 74.4 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $33,000
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $60,000
#26 - Foreign Language
Unemployment Rate: 5.7 percent
Underemployment Rate: 51.8 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $33,000
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $51,000
#25 - Commercial Art and Graphic Design
Unemployment Rate: 5.8 percent
Underemployment Rate: 41.7 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $35,000
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $52,000
#24 - Liberal Arts
Unemployment Rate: 5.8 percent
Underemployment Rate: 58.3 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $32,000
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $56,000
#23 - Mathematics
Unemployment Rate: 5.9 percent
Underemployment Rate: 26.3 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $42,000
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $77,000
#22 - History
Unemployment Rate: 5.9 percent
Underemployment Rate: 56.6 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $35,000
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $60,000
#21 - Psychology
Unemployment Rate: 5.9 percent
Underemployment Rate: 51.3 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $30,000
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $52,000
#20 - Industrial Engineering
Unemployment Rate: 6.2 percent
Underemployment Rate: 25.6 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $60,000
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $81,000
#19 - Physics
Unemployment Rate: 6.2 percent
Underemployment Rate: 34.2 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $50,000
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $80,000
#18 - Public Policy and Law
Unemployment Rate: 6.3 percent
Underemployment Rate: 63.1 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $32,000
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $60,000
#17 - Sociology
Unemployment Rate: 6.5 percent
Underemployment Rate: 56.5 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $33,000
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $54,000
#16 - Medical Technicians
Unemployment Rate: 6.7 percent
Underemployment Rate: 59.6 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $44,000
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $60,000
#15 - Information Systems and Management
Unemployment Rate: 6.7 percent
Underemployment Rate: 45.3 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $43,000
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $70,000
#14 - International Affairs
Unemployment Rate: 6.8 percent
Underemployment Rate: 47.4 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $40,000
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $70,000
#13 - Architecture
Unemployment Rate: 6.8 percent
Underemployment Rate: 37.1 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $40,000
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $68,000
#12 - Performing Arts
Unemployment Rate: 6.8 percent
Underemployment Rate: 66.5 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $30,000
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $47,000
#11 - Theology and Religion
Unemployment Rate: 6.8 percent
Underemployment Rate: 50.8 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $28,600
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $45,000
#10 - Political Science
Unemployment Rate: 7.2 percent
Underemployment Rate: 49.7 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $38,000
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $70,000
#9 - Ethnic Studies
Unemployment Rate: 7.3 percent
Underemployment Rate: 57.1 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $32,000
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $60,000
#8 - English Language
Unemployment Rate: 7.5 percent
Underemployment Rate: 51.7 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $32,200
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $55,000
#7 - Fine Arts
Unemployment Rate: 7.6 percent
Underemployment Rate: 62.3 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $29,000
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $50,000
#6 - Art History
Unemployment Rate: 7.8 percent
Underemployment Rate: 58.9 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $32,000
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $53,000
#5 - Earth Sciences
Unemployment Rate: 7.9 percent
Underemployment Rate: 41.8 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $30,300
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $63,000
#4 - Environmental Studies
Unemployment Rate: 8.5 percent
Underemployment Rate: 53.7 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $30,000
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $60,000
#3 - Mass Media
Unemployment Rate: 8.6 percent
Underemployment Rate: 56.5 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $31,200
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $56,000
#2 - Geography
Unemployment Rate: 8.8 percent
Underemployment Rate: 48.1 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $34,500
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $60,000
#1 - Anthropology
Unemployment Rate: 8.8 percent
Underemployment Rate: 59.1 percent
Median Wage (Early Career): $30,000
Median Wage (Mid-Career): $50,000
(Data from this list comes from 2013-2014 averages reported by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.)
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