20 Worst-Paying College Degrees in 2010

[Ban Hammer 14,271]

If you want to avoid the worst-paying college degrees, think twice before choosing a college major that involves children.

Included among the 20 worst-paying college degrees are elementary education, special education, social work and child and family studies. That's the conclusion of the latest annual study of college degrees by Payscale, Inc. that compiled starting and mid-career pay for dozens of college majors.

Child and family studies earned the honors as the worst-paying college major. The average graduate earns a beginning salary of $29,500. What's equally discouraging is that the salary of someone in this field will barely budge after 15 years in the profession.

Food is another common theme for students who major in the worst-paying college degrees. Students who earn degrees in horticulture, dietetics and the culinary arts are more likely to end up struggling financially.

Worst-Paying College Degrees in 2010

College Degree..................Starting Pay.....Mid-Career Pay

1. Child and Family Studies.....$29,500..........$38,400

2. Elementary Education.........$31,600..........$44,400

3. Social Work....................$31,800..........$44,900

4. Athletic Training............$32,800..........$45,700

5. Culinary Arts................$35,900..........$50,600

6. Horticulture.................$35,000..........$50,800

7. Paralegal Studies/Law........$35,100..........$51,300

8. Theology.....................$34,700..........$51,300

9. Recreation & Leisure.........$33,300..........$53,200

10. Special Education...........$36,000..........$53,800

11. Dietetics...................$40,400..........$54,200

12. Religious Studies...........$34,700..........$54,400

13. Art.........................$33,500..........$54,800

14. Education...................$35,100..........$54,900

15. Interdisciplinary Studies...$35,600..........$55,700

16. Interior Design.............$34,400..........$56,600

17. Nutrition...................$42,200..........$56,700

18. Graphic Design..............$35,400..........$56,800

19. Music.......................$36,700..........$57,000

20. Art History.................$39,400..........$57,100

If you'd rather end up with one of the best-paying college degrees, you'll have to major in something that requires a lot of math classes.

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Edited August 12, 2010 by charles!

[^_^ 5,021]

This required a study or survey?

The worst degrees are the ones that are easy. If you got a degree without spending night after night after night working on projects, your degree is #######.

Oh and yes - math is crucial. If you had the kind of degree where there is no right or wrong answer, then....

Edited August 12, 2010 by Legacy member

[Harsh_77 718]

lol.......

Very interesting.

[Jenn! 918]

If you'd rather end up with one of the best-paying college degrees, you'll have to major in something that requires a lot of math classes.

yay math!

I remember when I was in my indecisive college years. Had transferred out of biomedical engineering into computer science, and not liking that, debating what to choose next. I remember telling my mother, "Why not just be a sociology major?" She told me that would be fine if I wanted to live in a cardboard box. Glad I didn't go that route.

Edited August 12, 2010 by Jenn!

[Ban Hammer 14,271]

yay math!

i knew you'd like that part

[BishopM 114]

#8 Theology (Hey!...there is math in Theology, see Trinity )

#12 Religious Studies (Hey, there is math in Religious Studie, see: 8 Fold Path )

Looks like I'll always be poor but I guess I knew that when I mentally moved 'to the top of the mountain'

"Blessed are the poor..."

[KaiserD 12]

The worst degrees are the ones that are easy. If you got a degree without spending night after night after night working on projects, your degree is #######.

This seems to be down to what college you go to just as much as what you choose to study.

Still somebody needs to do (most of) those jobs, not everyone is cut out for advanced maths classes. There's a difference between working hard to achieve something you struggle with and wasting your time because you're too stubborn to realize you just don't have what it takes.

[^_^ 5,021]

This seems to be down to what college you go to just as much as what you choose to study.

Still somebody needs to do (most of) those jobs, not everyone is cut out for advanced maths classes. There's a difference between working hard to achieve something you struggle with and wasting your time because you're too stubborn to realize you just don't have what it takes.

When it comes to quantitative subjects, you simply can't assume you don't have what it takes based on a small number of failures. Sometimes, it takes a lot of time.

[chri'stina 190]

I'm surprised Sociology isn't on there(which is what I have). My first jobs out of college were ####### pay and still would be if I was working. I had once wanted to major in biology but grew bored with it when I was leaving the community college with the 2 year degree and had to declare my major at the University. I picked Sociology because I really did enjoy it, obviously biology might be more helpful for careers. But unless I get a masters in it(sociology, maybe even Bio), I don't think I'd ever have a good paying job.

Edited August 12, 2010 by chri'stina

[mawilson 2,133]

When it comes to quantitative subjects, you simply can't assume you don't have what it takes based on a small number of failures. Sometimes, it takes a lot of time.

Well, I think it's fair to say that if you struggle with fractions, you probably won't get

very far in algebra and number theory.

[^_^ 5,021]

Well, I think it's fair to say that if you struggle with fractions, you probably won't get

very far in algebra and number theory.

I'd agree if the person is 18 and out of HS. But I know lots of younger kids who struggle with fractions and are given the message that math isn't their thing, they should just draw more. Math is hard for lots of kids and some of those kids, given the right amount of perseverance, will do just fine in the long run.

[Jenn! 918]

Well, I think it's fair to say that if you struggle with fractions, you probably won't get

very far in algebra and number theory.

If you struggle with fractions, it's because you weren't taught them correctly. Is it ever to late to learn? Probably.

[KaiserD 12]

When it comes to quantitative subjects, you simply can't assume you don't have what it takes based on a small number of failures. Sometimes, it takes a lot of time.

Well it took me three times to get a C in GCSE (and I was going to keep taking that ####### until I got a *real* passing grade), although my ability to understand things I'm sure would be much better by now. Still, I failed an ND in computer studies following that because I could not pass quantitative methods.

Nobody has time to keep hacking away at the same thing until they get it, more than one year retaking and you're disadvantaging yourself compared to peers who are moving along. If only life awarded gold stars for effort lol

Note that I'm not advocating willful ignorance of maths either, the "oh I suck at maths I'm just not cut out for it" POV, not being good at something is not a decent reason to avoid learning/studying/practicing it but I sure wouldn't advocate a career around it either.

[^_^ 5,021]

Note that I'm not advocating willful ignorance of maths either, the "oh I suck at maths I'm just not cut out for it" POV ...

Kinda sounds like you are.

[BishopM 114]

I'd agree if the person is 18 and out of HS. But I know lots of younger kids who struggle with fractions and are given the message that math isn't their thing, they should just draw more. Math is hard for lots of kids and some of those kids, given the right amount of perseverance, will do just fine in the long run.

Very good point...+1.

I 2x flunked 'Into to Accounting I' my freshman year before I finally 'got it' on the 3rd try. After that, I never again had any issues with any of the much more complicated accounting classes which I had to endure my way through . Without preserverance through that first class though my professional life could have/would have turned out quite differently.