While it is still a pretty good bet that having an undergraduate degree will improve your chances for employment and a better
salary. The statistic say a high school graduate will make 40% less than
someone with a undergraduate bachelor degree and maybe more than twice as
likely to be unemployed. In today’s economy that is not a place if given the
choice and opportunity you would want to be. However, if you are going to spend
both the time and money to get an under-graduate degree, selecting the right
course of study would be a good way to improve the return on your investment.
So here are the results of a study of the 100 most popular majors for
under-graduate degrees the best and the worst you chose. Based on a study by PayScale
and Georgetown University's Center on
Education and the Workforce, The following are your top ten best and
worst undergraduate degrees. When selecting your course of study, do the
research this is not something you want to find out at graduation. The study
looked for majors whose graduates -- both recent grads (within the past five
years) and those well into their careers.
The following list of the worst majors starting
with the Best of the worst “English” and ending with the worst Anthropology. (Indiana
No. 10: English
Unemployment rate: 6.7% (average for all
graduates with bachelor's degree: 4.9%)Unemployment
rate for recent grads: 9.2% (average for top 100 majors: 7.7%)Median salary: $48,000 (median for
all grads with bachelor's: $54,756)Median
salary for recent grads: $32,000 (median for top 100 majors: $37,000)Projected job growth for this field, 2010-2020:
6% (average: 14%)
No. 9: Sociology
Unemployment rate: 7.0%Unemployment rate for recent grads:
8.6%Median salary:
$45,000Median salary for recent grads:
$32,000Projected job growth for this
field, 2010-2020: 18%
No. 8: Drama and theater arts
Unemployment rate: 7.1%Unemployment rate for recent grads:
7.8%Median salary:
$40,000Median salary for recent grads:
$26,000Projected job growth for this
field, 2010-2020: 4%
No. 7: Liberal arts
Unemployment rate: 7.6%Unemployment rate for recent grads:
9.2%Median salary:
$48,000Median salary for recent grads:
$30,000Projected job growth for this
field, 2010-2020: not available
No. 6: Studio arts
Unemployment rate: 8.0%Unemployment rate for recent grads: 11.1%Median salary: $37,000Median salary for recent grads: $35,900Projected job growth for this field, 2010-2020: 5%
No. 5: Graphic design
Unemployment rate: 8.1%Unemployment rate for recent grads:
11.8%Median salary:
$45,000Median salary for recent grads:
$32,000Projected job growth for this
field, 2010-2020: 13%
No. 4: Philosophy and religious studies
Unemployment rate: 7.2%Unemployment rate for recent grads:
10.8%Median salary:
$42,000Median salary for recent grads:
$30,000Projected job growth for this
field, 2010-2020: Not available
No. 3: Film and photography
Unemployment rate: 7.3%Unemployment rate for recent grads:
12.9%Median salary:
$45,000Median salary for recent grads:
$30,000Projected job growth for this
field, 2010-2020: 13%
No. 2: Fine arts
Unemployment rate: 7.4%Unemployment rate for recent grads:
12.6%Median salary:
$44,000Median salary for recent grads:
$30,000Projected job growth for this
field, 2010-2020: 5%
No. 1: Anthropology
Unemployment rate: 6.9%Recent grad employment rate: 10.5 Median salary: $40,000Median salary for recent grads:
$28,000Projected job growth for this
field, 2010-2020: 21%
The next list of the best majors starting
with the last of the best “Medical Assisting Service” and ending with the best Pharmacy and Pharmacology. (Working at the local Walgreens could
be a good thing.)
10. Medical Assisting Service
Unemployment rate: 2.9%
(Average for all grads with a bachelor’s degree: 4.9%)
Unemployment rate for recent grads: 5.4% (Average for top 100 majors: 7.7%)
Median salary: $51,000 (Median for all grads with bachelor’s: $54,756)
Median salary for recent grads: $43,000 (Median for top 100 majors: $37,000)
Projected job growth for this field, 2010–2020: 31% (Average: 14%)
Unemployment rate for recent grads: 5.4% (Average for top 100 majors: 7.7%)
Median salary: $51,000 (Median for all grads with bachelor’s: $54,756)
Median salary for recent grads: $43,000 (Median for top 100 majors: $37,000)
Projected job growth for this field, 2010–2020: 31% (Average: 14%)
9. Management Information Systems
Unemployment rate: 4.2%
Unemployment rate for recent grads: 7.4%
Median salary: $71,000
Median salary for recent grads: $51,000
Projected job growth for this field, 2010–2020: 18%
8. Construction Services
Unemployment rate: 5.4%
Unemployment rate for recent grads: N/A
Median salary: $65,000
Median salary for recent grads: $50,200
Projected job growth for this field, 2010–2020: 17%
7. Medical Technologies
Unemployment rate: 1.4%
Unemployment rate for recent grads: 5.4%
Median salary: $58,000
Median salary for recent grads: $45,100
Projected job growth for this field, 2010–2020: 13%
Unemployment rate for recent grads: 5.4%
Median salary: $58,000
Median salary for recent grads: $45,100
Projected job growth for this field, 2010–2020: 13%
6. Electrical Engineering
Unemployment rate: 5.0%
Unemployment rate for recent grads: 7.3%
Median salary: $86,000
Median salary for recent grads: $57,000
Projected job growth for this field, 2010–2020: 6%
Unemployment rate for recent grads: 7.3%
Median salary: $86,000
Median salary for recent grads: $57,000
Projected job growth for this field, 2010–2020: 6%
5. Chemical Engineering
Unemployment rate: 3.8%
Unemployment rate for recent grads: 7.5%
Median salary: $86,000
Median salary for recent grads: $64,500
Projected job growth for this field, 2010–2020: 6%
Unemployment rate for recent grads: 7.5%
Median salary: $86,000
Median salary for recent grads: $64,500
Projected job growth for this field, 2010–2020: 6%
4. Treatment Therapy Professions
Unemployment rate: 2.6%
Unemployment rate for recent grads: 5.4%
Median salary: $62,000
Median salary for recent grads: $60,400
Projected job growth for this field, 2010–2020: 33%
Unemployment rate for recent grads: 5.4%
Median salary: $62,000
Median salary for recent grads: $60,400
Projected job growth for this field, 2010–2020: 33%
3. Transportation Sciences and Technology
Unemployment rate: 4.4%
Unemployment rate for recent grads: N/A
Median salary: $68,000
Median salary for recent grads: $53,100
Projected job growth for this field, 2010–2020: 5%
Unemployment rate for recent grads: N/A
Median salary: $68,000
Median salary for recent grads: $53,100
Projected job growth for this field, 2010–2020: 5%
2. Nursing
Unemployment rate: 2.2%
Unemployment rate for recent grads: 4.0%
Median salary: $60,000
Median salary for recent grads: $48,000
Projected job growth for this field, 2010–2020: 26%
Unemployment rate for recent grads: 4.0%
Median salary: $60,000
Median salary for recent grads: $48,000
Projected job growth for this field, 2010–2020: 26%
1. Pharmacy and Pharmacology
Unemployment rate: 3.2%
Unemployment rate for recent grads: 5.4%
Median salary: $105,000
Median salary for recent grads: $51,200
Projected job growth for this field, 2010–2020: 25%
Unemployment rate for recent grads: 5.4%
Median salary: $105,000
Median salary for recent grads: $51,200
Projected job growth for this field, 2010–2020: 25%
The fact of the matter when selecting a course of study, it is not just about the money you will make, but when you consider of all the under-graduate degrees you have to chose from why not pick one you will both enjoy and also be able to make a living doing it.
