From Best to Worst: the degrees that make a difference in America

Is a four-year college degree really worth it?

Looking at unemployment and underemployment

Some graduates aren't working in their fields

Is a four-year college degree really worth it?

In April 2024, the New York Federal Reserve Bank revealed the best and worst degrees in America. The ranking contained a few surprises that just might make you question the value of a four-year college degree!

Looking at unemployment and underemployment

The New York Federal Reserve Bank judged degrees based on a student's employment status following their graduation. Click to see information about unemployment rates by major and also underemployment rates for each of the degree types that were assessed.

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Some graduates aren't working in their fields

Some graduates with less-than-employable degrees might have found work after school but sometimes that work has nothing to do with their degree. With that said, let’s look at the top ten best and worst degrees in the United States in 2024, starting with the worst.

10. Commercial Art & Graphic Design

Unemployment Rate: 6.0%

Underemployment Rate: 33.7%

Median Career Wage: $45,000

Median Mid-Career Wage: $75,000

Share with a Graduate Degree: 11.3%

9. Physics

Unemployment Rate: 6.2%

Underemployment Rate: 31.2%

Median Career Wage: $62,000

Median Mid-Career Wage: $95,000

Share with a Graduate Degree: 67.9%

8. Mass Media

Unemployment Rate: 6.3%

Underemployment Rate: 47.7%

Median Career Wage: $42,000

Median Mid-Career Wage: $70,000

Share with a Graduate Degree: 20.8%

7. Technologies Majors

Unemployment Rate: 6.4%

Underemployment Rate: 54.8%

Median Career Wage: $50,000

Median Mid-Career Wage: $80,000

Share with a Graduate Degree: 18.1%

6. English Literature

Unemployment Rate: 6.6%

Underemployment Rate: 48.4%

Median Career Wage: $42,000

Median Mid-Career Wage: $72,000

Share with a Graduate Degree: 47.1%

5. History

Unemployment Rate: 7.5%

Underemployment Rate: 53.5%

Median Career Wage: $40,000

Median Mid-Career Wage: $70,000

Share with a Graduate Degree: 52.0%

4. Aerospace Engineering

Unemployment Rate: 7.8%

Underemployment Rate: 17.9%

Median Career Wage: $74,000

Median Mid-Career Wage: $120,000

Share with a Graduate Degree: 51.2%

3. Fine Arts

Unemployment Rate: 7.9%

Underemployment Rate: 55.5%

Median Career Wage: $40,000

Median Mid-Career Wage: $68,000

Share with a Graduate Degree: 22.6%

2. Liberal Arts

Unemployment Rate: 7.9%

Underemployment Rate: 56.7%

Median Career Wage: $38,000

Median Mid-Career Wage: $65,000

Share with a Graduate Degree: 30.2%

1. Art History

Unemployment Rate: 8.0%

Underemployment Rate: 62.3%

Median Career Wage: $41,000

Median Mid-Career Wage: $72,000

Share with a Graduate Degree: 43.8%

What about the best college degrees?

Finding college majors like physics, graphics design, and aerospace engineering on the list of the worst degrees in 2024 is rather interesting. But you might be just as surprised to see what made it onto the list of best degrees with career potential.

10. Secondary Eduction

Unemployment Rate: 1.6%

Underemployment Rate: 22.0%

Median Career Wage: $41,000

Median Mid-Career Wage: $55,000

Share with a Graduate Degree: 51.6%

9. Animal and Plant Sciences

Unemployment Rate: 1.6%

Underemployment Rate: 56.3%

Median Career Wage: $41,000

Median Mid-Career Wage: $70,000

Share with a Graduate Degree: 36.5%