20 Worst-Paying College Degrees in 2010

[Admin Khan]

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

20-worst-paying-college-degrees-in-2010: Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance

[pukhtana]

Religious studies....I feel pity for Qrratugai lol.

[abubaker]

some people don't do religious study to get rich you know


btw my degree is sort of there as well

oh well

[Laila]

Thank goodness mine is not up there!

[amna.]

Abubaker whats your degree

[Palwasha]

some people don't do religious study to get rich you know


btw my degree is sort of there as well

oh well

These are college degrees in America, it'd be different over here in the UK.

[شمله ور خراساني]

Religious studies....I feel pity for Qrratugai lol.

Loosing Dunya & Akhira. What a shame

[Zarawar]

da kho da gharbiano hal dai

[amna.]

Math is what you lads need

[Roshina]

Wow, people actually buy this? Folks, you guys just sit there and believe this stuff without having any wonders? THINK!

Firstly, you should never choose a field because of what it has to offer you; choose it for what YOU have to offer that field.

Secondly, there are many, many factors involved in how much money you get for your job. For example, if you wanna do Religious Studies (like me, and I'm not gonna quit it even if I were offered the lowest income for it! So go pity someone like yourselves, kids), your salary will/can depend on the following:

- there's no such thing as simple "religious studies" major anywhere; it always comes with a concentration. So you choose your concentration. If you're smart, you'll choose a field that hasn't earn establishment in your region yet -- and there are even sub-fields! For example, in Religious Studies, you might choose Islamic Studies (like me), but then even in Islamic Studies, there are specific topics. So, depending on which specific topics you opt for, you can be a no-one or one of the most important people in your field.

- what you plan to do with your major/degree. If you wanna be an Imaam/preacher/priest, the salary is the lowest.

- where you end up working. If you plan to become a professor (like me), it depends on: which institution you're teaching at, what its rank is, how well-known it is, etc; it also depends on how established and how popular you are. For example, if you write books/articles and become published, your salary can increase ten-fold.

- how much you contribute to the field you're in. For instance, have you written more works? Have you responded to the literature already available? Have you come up with new theories that others give time to?

Another thing to consider is your other degrees: Do you have bachelor's only? If so, then, duh - that's worth nothing in most fields today. Do you have a Master's? If so, good - but not good enough. PhD pays the most... and then add another degree, like a law degree, and you can't possibly get any more money than what you get.

Moreover, exceptional degree-holders receive what is called "grants," and the money from those can be so much that you can retire then and there and be financially comfortable for the next couple of generations even. And, again, these aren't for your typical professionals; you have to earn them ... and those who give the grants decide whether you earn it or not.

And, of course, passion takes us a looooooong, long way. And only with passion will you sincerely be able to contribute something to your field. As long as that passion isn't there and you're working only because you need the money, your life is a waste.

So! For all those people on whom Ramadhan has taken its toll and they wanna decide where someone will be in 10 years or so, try harder. It's not working because ... well, let's just say I'll let you folks decide where I am in 10 years from now (possibly less), ka khairee

P.S. If you're gonna remain average, you'll never make a difference. And if you don't make a difference in your field and bring new perspectives and new knowledge to your field, you're worthless and might as well not work at all -- oh, never mind: Clearly, people work only for money.

[abubaker]

Loosing Dunya & Akhira. What a shame

bechara
lol