In the United States, college grads aren’t always working in the fields they studied. Can you believe that four out of ten end up in unrelated jobs, many of which don’t require a degree at all? This mismatch between education and employment, called underemployment, is a growing issue for young Americans. And considering the average annual cost of college sits around $35,000, it’s a painful reality.
The problem runs deeper than frustration. Taking a job outside your field often means lower pay than expected, with no chance to use those hard-earned skills from years of study. No wonder fewer than one in three Americans now believe a college degree is worth it, according to Strada Education Network.
But underemployment isn’t evenly spread across all degrees. Some majors lead straight to solid employment. Others, not so much.
According to data from the higher education research group Degreechoices, these are the ten degrees with the highest underemployment rates:
- Criminal Justice: 71.5%
- Performing Arts: 65.9%
- Art History: 62.3%
- Leisure and Hospitality: 57.6%
- Arts: 56.7%
Criminal Justice tops the list, with 71.5% of graduates working in jobs that do not require their degree. Performing Arts follows closely at 65.9%, and Art History at 62.3%. Other fields like Leisure and Hospitality also show significant underemployment at 57.6%. These findings highlight a growing concern among graduates who struggle to find work related to their studies.
Students considering these majors are encouraged to weigh potential job prospects carefully and possibly pair their interests with additional skills or certifications to improve their employment outcomes.