- Unemployment Rate: 8.0%
- Underemployment Rate: 62.3%
- Median Wage Early Career: $41,000
If you ask others who have gone down the route of an art history major, most will tell you the same thing: you're basically trying to do the equivalent of being an astronaut. It just isn't feasible as a career choice. While there are a number of job openings for decent- and well-paying jobs, they are incredibly competitive. There are people all over the world applying for these positions who have a good network and years of experience.
Even if you make all the right moves and have all the right skills, chances are you will not end up where you want to be. Most individuals with an art history degree end up in minimum-wage jobs, many of which have nothing to do with their degree. Unless you believe fate has called you to this degree (and maybe a bit of nepotism is involved), consider pursuing something else.
- Unemployment Rate: 4.1%
- Underemployment Rate: 47.3%
- Median Wage Early Career: $41,000
There are not many jobs that specifically seek out philosophy majors. Certain jobs might just look for a certain sort of college graduate, of which some philosophy majors might be included. Your chances of teaching philosophy are basically nonexistent.
If you are open to finding a job outside your degree specialty, you might just have a fighting chance. Many philosophy degree holders end up becoming lawyers or go into consulting. However, if you choose to stick to your field, your opportunities are slim. You’ll end up as a barista pondering the existential significance of latte art while serving customers who couldn't care less about Plato's cave.
- Unemployment Rate: 6.6%
- Underemployment Rate: 48.4%
- Median Wage Early Career: $42,000
You've dissected Dickens and wrestled with Woolf, and chances are you’re now a library assistant, barista, proofreader, or writing tutor. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with these jobs, especially if that was your goal, these minimum wage jobs are not what most English Lit majors have in mind.
While you might dream of becoming the next great American novelist, the reality for most English Literature graduates is far less romantic. Unless you're planning to pursue further education or have a clear career path you’re working toward (like teaching or publishing), you might find yourself crafting eloquent cover letters for jobs that have nothing to do with literature.
- Unemployment Rate: 5.5%
- Underemployment Rate: 65.9%
- Median Wage Early Career: $38,000
The road to stardom is paved with part-time jobs and side gigs. While the unemployment rate might not look too bad, the underemployment rate tells the real story. You might find yourself waiting tables or tending bar more often than you're on stage.
The harsh reality is that for every successful actor, there are hundreds struggling to make ends meet. Your degree might help you land roles in community theater or as an extra, but these gigs rarely pay the bills. Unless you have a backup plan or are willing to diversify your skills (like into technical theater or arts administration), you'll find yourself stuck at a dead-end job.
- Unemployment Rate: 4.5%
- Underemployment Rate: 45.3%
- Median Wage Early Career: $40,000
Studying human cultures and societies might seem fascinating, but turning that knowledge into a lucrative career can be challenging. While the unemployment rate looks promising, nearly half of anthropology graduates find themselves underemployed. Instead of unearthing ancient civilizations, you might be unearthing the best deals at the grocery store where you work.
Jobs directly related to anthropology are limited and highly competitive. Many graduates end up in unrelated fields, often at entry-level positions that don't require a specific degree. Unless you're planning on pursuing a PhD or have connections in niche industries, your anthropology degree will be more of a conversation starter than a career launcher.
- Unemployment Rate: 9.2%
- Underemployment Rate: 55.5%
- Median Wage Early Career: $28,000
If you thought your passion for music would translate into a harmonious career, think again. With the highest unemployment rate on our list so far and a startlingly low median early career wage, music graduates often find themselves singing the blues–literally, at open mic nights for tips.
While a select few might make it big or secure stable positions in orchestras or as music teachers, the majority struggle to find full-time work in their field. You might end up giving private lessons or working at a music store, but these gigs often pay little more than minimum wage. Unless you have exceptional talent, connections, or a willingness to expand into music-adjacent fields like sound engineering or music therapy, you’re going to struggle to find anything more than flipping burgers.
- Unemployment Rate: 7.9%
- Underemployment Rate: 56.7%
- Median Wage Early Career: $38,000
A Liberal Arts degree is often touted as a versatile option, providing a well-rounded education. However, this "jack of all trades, master of none" approach can leave graduates struggling to find their niche in the job market. With a high unemployment rate and over half of graduates underemployed, the truth is far from liberating.
While the degree does cultivate valuable soft skills like critical thinking and communication, employers often prefer candidates with more specialized knowledge. You might find yourself working a series of minimum-wage jobs, trying to convince your manager that your essay on post-modern literature makes you uniquely qualified to work the front desk greeting hotel guests.
- Unemployment Rate: 5.5%
- Underemployment Rate: 49.6%
- Median Wage Early Career: $48,000
You've studied society, now experience it firsthand! As a grocery cashier, witness the societal microcosm of people arguing over expired coupons. Nearly half of sociology degree holders find themselves in positions that don't require their specialized knowledge. Sure, you'll gain insights into social structures and human behavior, but employers often struggle to see how this translates to practical skills.
Many graduates end up in fields far removed from sociological research or social work, wondering how their understanding of Durkheim's theories applies to their current role in customer service. The median wage might seem reasonable, but consider this: that's the midpoint, meaning many earn less. You could spend years analyzing social inequality, only to become a living example of it.
- Unemployment Rate: 7.1%
- Underemployment Rate: 58.5%
- Median Wage Early Career: $46,000
The allure of becoming the next great novelist might be strong, but the reality for most creative writing graduates is not so great. With over half of graduates underemployed, you might find yourself writing more job applications than bestsellers. The median wage looks decent, but remember, that's for those lucky enough to land a job in their field.
Many end up in unrelated minimum-wage jobs, penning short stories on their breaks and dreaming of their big break. Unless you have a backup plan or are willing to venture into more practical writing fields like technical writing or copywriting, you’re simply out of luck.
- Unemployment Rate: 11.4%
- Underemployment Rate: 62.3%
- Median Wage Early Career: $30,000
Lights, camera...unemployment? With the highest unemployment rate on our list so far and a staggeringly low median wage, film studies graduates often find themselves on the cutting room floor of the job market. Your dreams of becoming the next Scorsese might be put on hold indefinitely as you struggle to find work in the industry.
Most graduates end up in jobs that have nothing to do with film, often at minimum wage. You could find yourself analyzing the cinematography of the security cameras at the retail store where you work. Unless you have exceptional talent, industry connections, or are willing to start at the very bottom of the film industry ladder, your film studies degree might turn out to be useless.
- Unemployment Rate: 3.2%
- Underemployment Rate: 44.1%
- Median Wage Early Career: $38,000
While the unemployment rate for religious studies graduates looks promising, don't start counting your blessings just yet. With nearly half of graduates underemployed, many find themselves preaching the virtues of fast delivery service instead of contemplating the mysteries of faith.
Jobs directly related to religious studies are limited and often require additional qualifications or ordination. Many graduates end up in unrelated fields, often at entry-level positions with no specific degree requirement. Unless you're planning on entering the clergy or pursuing a career in academia, your religious studies degree will leave you praying for better job prospects.
- Unemployment Rate: 4.7%
- Underemployment Rate: 50.4%
- Median Wage Early Career: $47,000
You'd think a degree in communications would help you effectively communicate your value to potential employers, but the statistics tell a different story. While the unemployment rate isn't terrible, the fact that over half of graduates are underemployed suggests many are not using their degrees as intended.
Instead of crafting corporate messaging or managing public relations, you might find yourself communicating "Paper or plastic?" at your local grocery store. The skills learned in this degree are valuable but not always directly marketable. Unless you have a set career path or internship experience, you’ll probably be communicating your way through a long list of minimum-wage jobs.
- Unemployment Rate: 4.7%
- Underemployment Rate: 41.8%
- Median Wage Early Career: $47,000
In an era of "fake news" and declining traditional media, journalism graduates are facing a tough story. While the unemployment rate looks decent, the underemployment rate suggests many are not working in a job related to their expertise. The median wage looks good on paper, but remember, that's for those who actually land journalism jobs.
Many graduates find themselves writing product descriptions for e-commerce sites or managing social media accounts for small businesses—a far cry from investigative reporting or news anchoring. Unless you're willing to start at the very bottom, possibly as an unpaid intern, or pivot to content marketing, your journalism degree will leave you working as an overqualified bookstore clerk.
Unemployment Rate: 5.4%
Underemployment Rate: 48.4%
Median Wage Early Career: $40,000
While understanding human behavior is important and fascinating, turning that knowledge into a lucrative career can be challenging. Nearly half of psychology graduates find themselves underemployed, often in jobs that don't require their specific degree.
Instead of analyzing complex human behaviors, you might find yourself working as a daycare assistant for minimum wage. Most well-paying psychology jobs require advanced degrees. Unless you're planning to pursue a master's or doctorate, or have a specific career path in mind (like HR or marketing), your psychology degree will have you psychoanalyzing why you chose this major in the first place.
- Unemployment Rate: 4.8%
- Underemployment Rate: 45.7%
- Median Wage Early Career: $50,000
While the unemployment rate and median wage for political science graduates look promising, don't start planning your campaign for office just yet. The underemployment rate shows nearly half of graduates working in jobs that don't require their specific degree.
A large number themselves in unrelated fields, far from the corridors of power they envisioned. You might end up campaigning for customer satisfaction at a call center rather than for public office. Unless you have connections in politics or government or are willing to pursue law school or other graduate programs, you’ll be stuck at an unfulfilling job, possibly as a polling station worker—hey, at least it's related!
- Unemployment Rate: 1.9%
- Underemployment Rate: 42.0%
- Median Wage Early Career: $50,000
At first glance, geography looks like a winner with the lowest unemployment rate on our list. But while that percentage is uplifting, still, the high underemployment rate suggests many graduates aren't working in their field of study.
While some find work in urban planning or GIS, many end up in unrelated jobs, typically at entry-level positions. You might find yourself geographically displaced, working a minimum-wage job, and wondering how to navigate to a better career. All you’ll have to look forward to is charting a course up from a weather station assistant.
- Unemployment Rate: 7.5%
- Underemployment Rate: 53.5%
- Median Wage Early Career: $40,000
Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it, and those who study history are often doomed to underemployment. With over half of graduates underemployed, many history majors find themselves making history in all the wrong ways—like setting records for most minimum wage jobs held in a year.
While the skills gained from this degree are valuable, they don’t always translate into versatile strengths. Instead of curating museum exhibits, you might find yourself arranging displays at a retail store. Unless you're planning on teaching, pursuing law school, or have a specific history-related career in mind that isn’t over-saturated, your degree might prove to be worthless.
- Unemployment Rate: 10.1%
- Underemployment Rate: 47.4%
- Median Wage Early Career: $32,000
You might have thought studying the intricacies of language would translate into a successful career, but the numbers speak for themselves. With a high unemployment rate and a low median wage, many linguistics graduates find themselves at a loss for words when it comes to job prospects.
While some find work in fields like translation or speech therapy, many end up in unrelated minimum-wage jobs, analyzing the syntax of "This call may be recorded for quality and training purposes" instead of complex linguistic structures. Hey, look! You’re fluent in the language of unemployment.
- Unemployment Rate: 10.2%
- Underemployment Rate: 47%
- Median Wage Early Career: $33,000
Smash the patriarchy—one minimum wage job at a time. While a Women's Studies degree can provide valuable insights into gender issues and social dynamics, it usually leaves graduates struggling in the job market. Many find themselves working in positions unrelated to their field of study.
The reality is that specific job opportunities for Women's Studies majors are limited, and graduates frequently end up in low-paying roles that don't use their academic knowledge. You might find yourself advocating for equal pay while ironically earning minimum wage yourself.
- Unemployment Rate: 4.6%
- Underemployment Rate: 45.8%
- Median Wage Early Career: $50,000
Ethnic Studies graduates often face a paradox: they're equipped with crucial knowledge about diversity and cultural issues, yet struggle to find well-paying jobs in their field. While the unemployment rate seems low, the high underemployment rate is grim.
Many end up in positions that don't require their specific expertise, leading to frustration and financial challenges. Unless you plan to use your degree in fields like education, social work, or non-profit organizations, don’t count on anything above a minimum-wage job.
- Unemployment Rate: 10.5%
- Underemployment Rate: 65.7%
- Median Wage Early Career: $25,000
Pirouette your way into a world of desk jobs and retail. With a staggering underemployment rate and low median wage, many dance graduates find themselves struggling to make ends meet. The competitive nature of the performing arts world means that only a select few will land coveted roles in professional dance companies.
For the rest, it's often a choice between teaching dance part-time, working in unrelated minimum-wage jobs, or hanging up their dance shoes altogether. You might have mastered the art of movement, but be prepared to choreograph a career that looks nothing like what you imagined.
- Unemployment Rate: 9.7%
- Underemployment Rate: 63.1%
- Median Wage Early Career: $27,000
Pursuing a Visual Arts degree can be a wonderful journey, but the career landscape often turns out to be rather bleak. With a high underemployment rate and low early career wages, many graduates find themselves struggling to turn their passion into a sustainable livelihood.
While some may dream of gallery exhibitions and commissioned works, the reality often involves working in coffee shops or retail stores to make ends meet. Unless you have a unique talent, excellent networking skills, or a trust fund to fall back on, you might find yourself creating street art instead of fine art to pay the bills.
- Unemployment Rate: 10.9%
- Underemployment Rate: 57.8%
- Median Wage Early Career: $30,000
A Classics degree can transport you to ancient civilizations, but it almost never translates into a thriving modern career. With a high unemployment rate and even higher underemployment rate, graduates often find themselves on an Odyssey-like journey to secure meaningful employment.
Your knowledge of Latin and Greek might be impressive, but it's not exactly in high demand at most workplaces. Unless you're planning to pursue academia or have a clear idea of how to apply your classical education to other fields, you’ll end up reciting Homer while folding freshly laundered towels at a hotel.
Unemployment Rate: 10.4%
Underemployment Rate: 67.2%
Median Wage Early Career: $28,000
It may sound harsh, but it kind of speaks for itself? Medieval Studies graduates face a challenging landscape with high unemployment and even higher underemployment rates.
While you might be an expert on feudal systems and medieval literature, these skills rarely apply to any sort of job outside of academia. And those job openings are few and far between. Expect to find yourself feeling like a time traveler stuck in the wrong era while you work an unfulfilling minimum-wage job.
- Unemployment Rate: 16.9%
- Underemployment Rate: 64.5%
- Median Wage Early Career: $36,000
The world of Fashion Design is glamorous, but don’t expect to see your work on the runways of Paris or Milan. With an alarmingly high unemployment rate and significant underemployment, many fashion design graduates struggle to break into the industry. The field is notoriously competitive, with only a handful of designers making it big.
For the rest, it often means taking on unrelated jobs or working in retail–selling clothes rather than designing them. Unless you have exceptional talent, industry connections, or are prepared for years of unpaid internships, you’ll probably find yourself hemming other people's pants at a dry cleaner's instead of creating the next big fashion trend.
