Top Regretted College Majors: A Data-Driven Guide for Students
College is sold as a guaranteed path to brighter prospects. But for nearly half of graduates, the reality of careers prospects from their chosen major proves underwhelming. Using insights from Payscale’s extensive alumni earnings data, global policy analysis and interviews with working graduates, this guide aims to give students an unvarnished overview of the most regretted degrees. We reveal why these fields are struggling to convert academic study into job opportunities and provide recommendations on what needs to change.
The Curse of Ultra-Generalist Degrees: Why Communications Fails to Communicate Value
A communications major focuses on transmitting information, marketing messages and shaping narratives across mediums. It’s breadth of skills is the very reason 47% of alumni regret choosing this path. Jack Wu, a talent acquisition manager explains the mismatch he sees in recent graduates: “Every intern or entry-level applicant says they can write press releases, post on social media and conduct focus groups. But I need specialized abilities like data analytics, graphic design skills or video production.”
Job search site Monster reveals communications roles most in demand require technical adroitness – social media managers need analytics fluency (+89% listings), PR specialists should master graphic design (+51% listings) and content writers require SEO expertise (+64%). Yet only 15% of communications programs adequately teach such future-facing skills. Graduates both lack the hard capabilities employers want and get crowded out by niche degree holders.
Students interested in communications fields are advised to major specifically in their medium of choice – marketing for advertisers, multimedia and UX design for product developers or quantitative social research for agencies. Pairing a technical major with communication-focused internships and minors also builds a strong profile. Insider emphasis should be placed on gaining domain expertise beyond generalist soft skills – as Jack emphasizes: “Great communications is rooted in deep knowledge. Master your chosen field first, channel skills second.”
The Catch-22 of Generalist Social Science & Law Degrees
Sociology, psychology and political science offer fascinating insights into human behavior and social structures. But without further specialization, over 55% of graduates regret pursuing these fields. Bachelor programs broadly educate on theories and research principles rather than real-world application. Students emerge unable to compete with niche trained applicants in those domains.
Melanie Cho, 25, explains her struggles to progress since graduating: “My psychology degree gave me a broad understanding of things like behaviors and relationships. But I’ve lost job opportunities to people specifically trained in health psychology or organizational development.”
Our occupational experts strongly advise students complement such degrees with further credentials:
- Sociology – Pair with social data analytics skills or public policy qualifications
- Psychology – Obtain coaching certifications or HR training
- Economics – Specialize in econometrics, financial analysis/consulting
- Political Science – Combine with legal expertise or policy institute fellowships
Law faces similar dilemmas. The saturation of generalized bachelor graduates makes getting into competitive law schools difficult, with 40% rejected. And for those who make it, the narrow funnel of highly paid legal roles leaves 85% of law graduates struggling to repay huge debts.
Both law and social science degrees show the merits of targeted specialization early on. Adopting our holistic approach combining passion majors with employability minors and internships helps avoid disappointment.
The Global Devaluation of Teachers: Addressing the Regrets
Teaching is revered for shaping young minds but the status of the profession continues to decline – with 34% regretting this once noble major. The source lies in systematic underpayment and lack of appreciation faced by educators worldwide.
OECD data shows teachers in America face some of the largest pay gaps compared to similarly educated professionals. College graduates who enter teaching can expect to earn over 25% less over their career. This amounts to nearly $80,000 less in lifetime earnings potential. Factoring unpaid overtime, the hourly wage disparity widens further.
The status downgrade pains teachers like Michelle Hawthorne: “I have friends who partied their way through college now making twice as much as me in sales jobs. Yet I have to constantly self-fund classroom materials and work evenings despite needing a Masters degree.”
Such poor incentives percolate into wider cultural disregard for the role. Graduates lament the lack of prestige once associated with teaching, being treated as expendable labor rather than talent.
The regrets echo globally too. Japan faces chronic teacher shortages from low pay and high pressure – with 50% quitting within 5 years citing mental health reasons. In Germany, the ageing educator demographic sees over 40% plan to change careers. Experts worldwide warn learning standards are at risk if policy does not elevate teacher incentives.
While teaching at its core remains a calling, martyrdom helps no-one. Students entering this field should lobby governments to address wage gaps or consider alternative careers abroad. Nations leading teacher pay like South Korea, New Zealand and Australia offer inspiration on attracting talent to this foundation profession.
When Science Degrees Reach a Dead End
Science degrees enlighten students on the mechanisms underpinning life, matter and the universe through a curriculum grounded in theory and laboratory practice. But attempts to apply this knowledge in the real-world often ends in disenchantment.
Over a third of biology, physics and chemistry undergraduates regret their specialized choice. The promise of lucrative pharmaceutical or engineering careers, news headlines on advances in nanotechnology and allure of becoming ‘the next Einstein’ entices droves of students. But merely having an undergraduate science credential is near useless in accessing such opportunities.
Lab technician Jasmin Kim articulates the typical frustrations: “My biology degree covered amazing concepts which deepened my awe of nature. But those four years count for nothing unless I now sink half a decade and thousands of dollars more into a PhD program with no guarantee of a research job later.”
The barreling enrolment in science majors fails to align with unaccommodating job market realities:
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Only 20% of bio-science graduates find relevant work without masters/doctorates
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Lab technician salaries stagnate at $45,000 unless shifting into management
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Physics graduates get overlooked for engineering roles lacking coding abilities
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Chemistry openings demand niche specialization in fields like polymer sciences
Our experts implore students to carefully consider why they wish to study science – chiefly a passion for the subject or envisioning well-paid positions as portrayed in popular culture? If the latter, charting alternative routes into your expected field is wise. For example, computer science degrees better feed into lucrative tech jobs. Or if research scientist remains the target, factoring several more years of advanced study is essential to avoid regret.
When Theory Meets Reality for Arts & Languages
Literature, visual arts, philosophy and foreign languages encompass pursuits aimed chiefly at furthering culture, human expression and global communication. But despite their profound social importance, arts and humanities graduates largely regret buying into the financial viability of these majors. Payscale data shows a sizeable 42% disappointingly struggle to achieve career goals.
Creative writing graduate Sam Wu admits having unrealistic expectations: “I imagined I’d become the next Hemingway, drinking wine in Parisian cafes while crafting my breakout novel. After 200 rejections from publishers and tenuous freelancing gigs, I’ve taken a corporate editing job to pay bills.”
Comparative literature major Zoe Chen expresses similar revelations: “I dreamed of becoming a visionary author like Judith Butler or Lucy Irigaray shaping contemporary feminist discourse. But securing a lectureship to even get my work read feels impossible without advancement from elite professors.”
Our resident philosophers urge students to deeply analyze whether their underlying motivations stem from a genuine love of knowledge or imagined lifestyles sold through books and films. Material outcomes fundamentally differ from cultural contributions – while the work of little-known writers, artists and theorists often deeply influence society.
Pragmatic routes to applying humanities expertise do exist in teaching, journalism, policy research, translation and community arts if paired with internships. Above all, arts students should validate that their degree’s chief return comes not from salaries but the joys of creation.
Choose Passion But With Eyes Wide Open
College represents a time for emerging adults to explore interests before the realities of career pressure set in. But as the regrets from nearly half of graduates show, decisions based solely on academic passion can backfire. Students must enter degrees with a profound comprehension of expected outcomes.
Communications fields demand targeted specialization, social sciences necessitate combined credentials and science prospects rely on advanced qualifications. Even noble vocations like teaching require lobbying for better working conditions. Most pressing for policy makers is addressing the vast disconnect between perceptions of careers sold through media, heartfelt ambitions inhabiting young minds and pragmatic compensation.
Re-evaluating higher education recruiting and shaping graduate outcomes to align with workplace needs is vital in steering students towards fulfilling, relevant applications of their learning. With eyes fully open to the realities ahead, choosing a mix of passion and pragmatism in a major can set graduates up for success beyond just stable salaries.
The gift of insight from alumni who tread before is knowledge hard-won through difficult realities after graduation. Heed their advice, leverage the data and set clear goals – by doing so the Class of 2030 may finally see regrets turn to contentment.