20 College majors that land the lowest-paying jobs.

With the cost of a college education higher than ever, it’s important for students and parents to carefully plan a student’s major.  With 70% of graduates holding student loans to the average tune of $25k or more, choosing the right major – and therefore right profession – can make the difference between struggling financially for decades compared to a profitable and financially comfortable career. 

 

So here are the 20 college majors that yield the lowest paying careers.  We compiled the list from information released by payscale.com, who compiled data after polling 1,000 universities, encompassing 88% of U.S. schools.

 

Of course, students still want to go into creative fields that they’re passionate about (like music, art, drama, etc.) but getting a college major in that subject might not be the most pragmatic approach. Likewise, there are many majors that are important to society – like teachers and social workers. 

 

So here are the 20 majors that will land you the lowest paying jobs:

 

20. Liberal Arts

Starting Salary: $36,600

Mid-Career Salary: $ 60,500

 

19. Psychology

Starting Salary: $36,300

Mid-Career Salary: $60,700

 

18. Art

Starting Salary: $36,100

Mid-Career Salary: $57,100

 

17. Interior Design

Starting Salary: $36,000

Mid-Career Salary: $59,300

 

16. Public Health

Starting Salary: $35,900

Mid-Career Salary: $56,500

 

15. Music

Starting Salary: $35,700

Mid-Career Salary: $51,400

 

14. Hospitality & Tourism

Starting Salary: $35,700

Mid-Career Salary: $62,600

 

13. Drama

Starting Salary: $35,600

Mid-Career Salary: $56,300

 

12. Criminal Justice

Starting Salary: $35,300

Mid-Career Salary: $58,400

 

11. Horticulture

Starting Salary: $35,200

Mid-Career Salary: $50,900

 

10. Paralegal Studies

Starting Salary: $35,000

Mid-Career Salary: $53,000

 

9. Physical Education Teaching  

Starting Salary: $34,900

Mid-Career Salary: $56,300

 

8. Culinary Arts

Starting Salary: $34,800

Mid-Career Salary: $51,100

 

7. Special Education

Starting Salary: $33,800

Mid-Career Salary: $49,600

 

6. Animal Science

Starting Salary: $33,600

Mid-Career Salary: $55,200

 

5. Social Work

Starting Salary: $33,000

Mid-Career Salary: $46,600

 

4. Broadcast Journalism

Starting Salary: $32,700

Mid-Career Salary: $68,800

 

3. Exercise Science

Starting Salary: $32,600

Mid-Career Salary: $51,000

 

2. Elementary Education

Starting Salary: $32,200

Mid-Career Salary: $45,300

 

1. Child & Family Studies

Starting Salary: $30,300

 

Mid-Career Salary: $37,200