10 College Majors With the Lowest Starting Salaries
A rewarding career isn't measured in salary alone.
For many students, graduating from college means getting a shot at a full-time job and long-lasting career. Some careers come with low pay, but they can bring satisfaction in other ways such as allowing graduates to help families in need, work toward meaningful changes in society or pursue a passion. Using data from PayScale, here are the 10 college majors with the lowest median salaries for alumni with three years of postgraduate work experience whose highest degree is a bachelor's. Also included for each major is the college where alumni make the highest median salary in that field.
10. Design and applied arts
Median starting salary: $42,727
School with alumni earning the highest salary for this major: Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
U.S. News rank and category: 25 (tie), National Universities
Median salary for Carnegie Mellon University graduates in this field: $75,700
9. Liberal arts and general studies
Median starting salary: $42,617
School with alumni earning the highest salary for this major: Biola University (CA)
U.S. News rank and category: 185 (tie), National Universities
Median salary for Biola University graduates in this field: $65,100
8. Human development and related services
Median starting salary: $42,252
School with alumni earning the highest salary for this major: Cornell University (NY)
U.S. News rank and category: 17 (tie), National Universities
Median salary for Cornell University graduates in this field: $56,400
7. Criminal justice
Median starting salary: $42,025
School with alumni earning the highest salary for this major: George Washington University (DC)
U.S. News rank and category: 70, National Universities (tie)
Median salary for George Washington University graduates in this field: $58,400
6. Psychology
Median starting salary: $41,890
School with alumni earning the highest salary for this major: University of Scranton (PA)
U.S. News rank and category: 6, Regional Universities (North)
Median salary for University of Scranton graduates in this field: $66,100
5. Criminology
Median starting salary: $41,722
School with alumni earning the highest salary for this major: University of Maryland--College Park
U.S. News rank and category: 64 (tie), National Universities
Median salary for University of Maryland graduates in this field: $50,900
4. Health and physical education/fitness
Median starting salary: $41,608
School with alumni earning the highest salary for this major: Rice University (TX)
U.S. News rank and category: 17 (tie), National Universities
Median salary for Rice University graduates in this field: $56,700
3. Animal science
Median starting salary: $39,905
School with alumni earning the highest salary for this major: Colorado State University
U.S. News rank and category: 166 (tie), National Universities
Median salary for Colorado State graduates in this field: $55,400
2. Education
Median starting salary: $39,082
School with alumni earning the highest salary for this major: Boston University
U.S. News rank and category: 40 (tie), National Universities
Median salary for Boston University graduates in this field: $53,100
1. Social work
Median starting salary: $37,035
School with alumni earning the highest salary for this major: University of South Dakota
U.S. News rank and category: 263 (tie), National Universities
Median salary for University of South Dakota graduates in this field: $49,800
Learn more about college majors.
Find out what to consider when choosing a college major, and use the 2020 Best Colleges rankings to help inform your college decision. For more advice and information on how to select a college, connect with U.S. News Education on Twitter and Facebook.
Lowest-paying college majors
-- Social work
-- Education
-- Animal science
-- Health and physical education/fitness
-- Criminology
-- Psychology
-- Criminal justice
-- Human development and related services
-- Liberal arts and general studies
-- Design and applied arts
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