“8 College Degrees with the Worst Return on Investment,” an article that Dawn Dugan wrote for Salary.com, offers some advice for college students who are trying to pick their majors. “While there's no doubt that a college degree increases earning power and broadens opportunities,” Dugan writes, “today's high cost of education means it makes sense to more carefully consider which degree you earn. When it comes to return on investment (ROI), not all degrees are considered equal.”
Lowest Paying College Majors by Average Salary
Dugan analyzed the salaries that are earned by students who majored in different fields. Here are the eight majors that generated the lowest payback . . .
- Sociology – Social workers earn an average base salary of: $61,147.
- Fine Arts – Museum research workers earn a median salary of: $56,55.
- Education – High school teachers earn a median salary of: $61,800.
- Religious Studies – Associate pastors earn a median salary of: $74,753.
- Hospitality/Tourism – Meeting and event planners earn a median salary of: $57,547.
- Nutrition – Dieticians earn a median salary of: $66,225.
- Psychology – Career counselors earn a median salary of: $60,510.
- Communications – Senior marketing coordinators earn a median salary of: $74,154.
Which Majors Offer the Best Return on Investment?
Dugan doesn’t answer that question in her article. But you won’t have to look far or do much online searching to find the answer to that question. Most experts today agree that majoring in Business, Health Care, or Technology gives you the best chances of getting hired and earning a good salary.
How to Increase the ROI of Your College Degree
A good way to increase the ROI of your college degree is to lower your overall cost of college. You can do this by taking your general education courses online at StraighterLine. Students have reduced their college costs by up to 60% by taking classes with us. Our courses start at $79 with our monthly membership and textbooks and tutoring are included.
