Almost Half of Job-Seeking College Graduates Regret Their Major| BestColleges (2024)

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Almost Half of Job-Seeking College Graduates Regret Their Major| BestColleges? ›

The takeaway: Almost half (44%) of job-seeking degree holders regret their college majors. The top three regretted majors, according to ZipRecruiter, are journalism (87%), sociology (72%), and liberal arts and general studies (72%).

44% of all current job seekers with college degrees regret their college major choice, according to a recent ZipRecruiter survey.

Despite wide differences in levels of regret when it comes to majors, the vast majority of respondents were glad they went to school. Only 9% of those who attended a public institution wish they had not gone to college, the Federal Reserve survey found.

More than half of recent four-year college graduates, 52 percent, are underemployed a year after they graduate, according to a new report from Strada Institute for the Future of Work and the Burning Glass Institute. A decade after graduation, 45 percent of them still don't hold a job that requires a four-year degree.

Higher Job Satisfaction

Eighty-six percent of college graduates consider their job a career or a stepping stone to their career, while only 57 percent of high school graduates say the same. The majority of bachelor's degree holders—60 percent—say they are highly satisfied and their job is more than just a paycheck.

The most-regretted college major is journalism, according to the study. Eighty-seven percent of those graduates sampled said they would choose a different major if they could. Below is the list of the top 10 most-regretted majors based on the 1,500 job seekers ZipRecruiter surveyed.

Business is often considered the least-regretted major, which means that individuals who choose business degree programs are ultimately more satisfied with their career path than those who choose to pursue other majors.

A survey conducted by Georgetown University concluded that Naval Architecture, Metallurgical Engineering and Mining are among the least popular but highest-paying fields after college.

90% Of People Have Regrets — Here's How To Learn From And Get Over Them. Everyone has regrets and, according to Happify, a website and app that offers psychology-based games to increase your happiness, 90% of us regret something major.

College is a good investment

By 2021, the difference had grown to 62 percent (and closer to 90% for workers with graduate degrees). Currently, California workers with a bachelor's degree earn a median annual wage of $81,000.

Why college grads are not employable? ›

The job market is extremely competitive, as more and more Americans attain college degrees. Furthermore, employers are requiring unrealistic professional experience for entry-level positions, making it difficult for recent graduates to compete in the job market.

They issued a big finding: 52% of graduates with only a bachelor's degree end up underemployed a year after getting their diploma — that is, they work in jobs that don't typically require a college degree. Ten years on, that number only drops to 45%.

Response: Four years after earning their 2015–16 bachelor's degrees, 74 percent of graduates worked full time, and 7 percent worked part time. Fourteen percent of graduates were out of the labor force, and 4 percent were unemployed.

"In addition to dealing with financial insecurity, only 46% of college grads surveyed say they currently work in their field of study. 29% report working in a different field, while 16% of those under age 54 (and therefore not likely retired) say they are currently unemployed.

A Gallup poll conducted this past summer found that confidence in higher education stood at just 36%, a sharp drop from 2018 (48%) and 2015 (57%). At the same time, there is robust evidence that people with college degrees are, on average, happier, healthier and more prosperous than those with less education.

In agreement, the Burning Glass Institute reported that the proportion of jobs requiring a college degree fell from 51% in 2017 to 44% in 2021.

"In addition to dealing with financial insecurity, only 46% of college grads surveyed say they currently work in their field of study. 29% report working in a different field, while 16% of those under age 54 (and therefore not likely retired) say they are currently unemployed.

"70 percent of people have career regret.

Starting too late

Many job seekers assume that landing their dream job is a quick process and tend to begin the process too late. The reality is you can't start your job hunt too early. Even if your job search is a few months or years out, don't hesitate to begin the process when you have the opportunity.