College is frequently praised as a period when young individuals can delve into their aspirations and hobbies. However, enthusiasm alone won’t cover expenses. Recent data shows that graduates with majors in fields like education, social work, or the arts experience some of the lowest median earnings within just five years after graduation.
data
from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Foreign language majors receive the smallest salaries among all entry-level college graduates, with a median yearly earnings of $40,000. Those who majored in general social sciences follow closely behind at $41,000 as their median pay. Graduates from performing arts programs do slightly better, earning an average of $41,900 annually. At the lower end of the spectrum, anthropology and early childhood education alumni complete the last five positions, each making a median salary of around $42,000 per year.
Although having foreign language abilities can be advantageous for numerous job hunters, these skills do not necessarily lead to better-paying positions. Today, individuals have greater opportunities to achieve linguistic competence without pursuing a traditional degree, thanks to applications like
Duolingo
People who study foreign languages often enter sectors with lower salaries, like public service or translating.
Despite reaching mid-level career positions, individuals from these fields often find themselves with substantially lower salaries compared to those in technology-related professions. Graduates who majored in early childhood education experience some of the least remuneration at this stage, reporting a median yearly income of $49,000. Those who focused on elementary education see only marginal improvement, earning an average of $53,000 annually midway through their careers.
Students who
major in STEM fields
For instance, fields like engineering and computer science often result in higher earnings because these specialized skill sets are in greater demand within lucrative sectors such as finance and technology.
In summary, the least lucrative college degrees in terms of starting salaries include:
- Foreign language ($40,000)
- General social sciences ($41,000)
- Performing arts ($41,900)
- Anthropology ($42,000)
- Early childhood education ($42,000)
- Family and Consumer Sciences ($42,000)
- General education ($42,000)
- Miscellaneous biological science ($42,000)
- Social services ($42,000)
- Theology and religion ($42,000)
The lowest paying degrees in terms of mid-career income are:
- Early childhood education ($49,000)
- Elementary education ($53,000)
- Social services ($54,000)
- General education ($55,000)
- Special education ($55,000)
- Secondary education (58,000)
- Theology and religion ($60,000)
- Miscellaneous education ($60,000)
- Family and Consumer Sciences ($62,000)
- Health services ($65,000)
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