15 college majors that have the highest unemployment rate in the US
Degrees just aren't what they used to be...
Getting a college degree used to guarantee you a good life, but in the last decade, the promises of higher education have fallen flat—even with American unemployment at a 54-year low according to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.
Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York
A February 10th report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York revealed just how dire the situation is among some college graduates. Here are the 15 majors that have the highest unemployment, pay attention to their underemployment rates and each degree's median pay, the data might shock you!
15. Journalism
Unemployment Rate: 6.5%
Underemployment Rate: 47.7%
Median Career Wage: $45,000
Median Mid-Career Wage: $75,000
14. Marketing
Unemployment Rate: 6.6%
Underemployment Rate: 52.0%
Median Career Wage: $50,000
Median Mid-Career Wage: $80,000
13. Aerospace Engineering
Unemployment Rate: 6.6%
Underemployment Rate: 27.1%
Median Career Wage: $72,000
Median Mid-Career Wage: $112,000
12. Political Science
Unemployment Rate: 6.9%
Underemployment Rate: 49.2%
Median Career Wage: $50,000
Median Mid-Career Wage: $80,000
11. Engineering Technologies
Unemployment Rate: 7.1%
Underemployment Rate: 39.6%
Median Career Wage: $62,000
Median Mid-Career Wage: $90,000
10. International Affairs
Unemployment Rate: 7.1%
Underemployment Rate: 49.3%
Median Career Wage: $50,000
Median Mid-Career Wage: $86,000
9. Public Policy and Law
Unemployment Rate: 7.4%
Underemployment Rate: 49.4%
Median Career Wage: $45,000
Median Mid-Career Wage: $70,000
8. Performing Arts Degrees
Unemployment Rate: 7.6%
Underemployment Rate: 64.0%
Median Career Wage: $39,000
Median Mid-Career Wage: $62,000
7. Foreign Language Degrees
Unemployment Rate: 7.8%
Underemployment Rate: 50.1%
Median Career Wage: $43,000
Median Mid-Career Wage: $39,000
6. Commercial Art & Graphic Design
Unemployment Rate: 7.9%
Underemployment Rate: 33.5%
Median Career Wage: $43,000
Median Mid-Career Wage: $70,000
5. Mass Media
Unemployment Rate: 8.4%
Underemployment Rate: 51.7%
Median Career Wage: $40,000
Median Mid-Career Wage: $75,000
4. Family and Consumer Sciences
Unemployment Rate: 8.9%
Underemployment Rate: 47.9%
Median Career Wage: $37,000
Median Mid-Career Wage: $60,000
3. Sociology
Unemployment Rate: 9.0%
Underemployment Rate: 52.3%
Median Career Wage: $40,000
Median Mid-Career Wage: $61,000
2. Philosophy
Unemployment Rate: 9.1%
Underemployment Rate: 57.1%
Median Career Wage: $42,000
Median Mid-Career Wage: $68,000
1. Fine Arts
Unemployment Rate: 12.1%
Underemployment Rate:55.4%
Median Career Wage: $40,000
Median Mid-Career Wage: $65,000
Want the best job outcomes? Go into Nursing
Nurses had a post-college employment rate of 99.7% and an underemployment rate of just 10.1%. Nurses also made on average $55,000 right out of school and usually earned a median income of $75,000 mid-way through their careers.
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