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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That’s it! Hope this helps. For more ACT prep tips, check out the rest of our blog. Looking for 1-on-1 ACT or SAT prep tutoring? Want to join an SAT or ACT group class? Contact us today!

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