8 College Degrees With the Worst Return on Investment

8 College Degrees With the Worst Return on Investment Search 8 College Degrees With the Worst Return on Investment Share this articleTwitterLinkedinFacebookemailThese Worthless College Degrees Might Make You Happy, But Fail the Tuition ROI TestCollege Is it Worth It? Whats mora expensive than going to college? Until recently, the answer was easy not going to college. Numerous studies over the years have shown that individuals with college degrees significantly out-earn those with high school degrees by $1 million or mora over the course of a lifetime. But as the cost of education increases faster than inflation, people are beginning to question how they spend their education dollars. As student loans hit the $1.5 trillion fruchtfleisch and more and more graduates are faced with years of paying staggering monthly payments, many are starting to ask themselves, Are there worthless college degrees? While theres no doubt that a college degree increases earning power and broadens oppor tunities, todays high cost of education means it makes sense to more carefully consider which degree you earn. When it comes to return on investment (ROI), not all degrees are considered equal. This article exposes eight college degrees with poor ROI. MethodologyTo calculate ROI for a specific degree, we first determined the overall cost of the degree. We allowed the degree holder four years to graduate. Using data from a recent College Board study, we assigned a figure of $37,343 as an average cost of a four-year public liberal arts degree, and a figure of $121,930 for degrees earned at four-year private colleges. The total cost included tuition, room and board, and books, and did not factor in scholarships or grants. We then determined the median cash compensation over the course of 30 years of typical jobs requiring that degree using Salary.com data. We used current Salary.com figures, but added 4.3% per year to account for inflation and cost of living increases. To determine RO I, we subtracted the cost of the degree from the gains over 30 years, then divided that figure by cost.8. Sociology People who enter the field of sociology generally are interested in helping their fellow man. Unfortunately, that kind of benevolence doesnt usually translate to wealth. Here are three jobs commonly held by sociology majors (click on job title and/or salary for more info) SOCIAL WORKERzentralwert Salary$47,12130-Year Earnings $2,779,195ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 73%ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 21%CORRECTIONS OFFICERzentralwert Salary$39,63030-Year Earnings $2,337,376ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 61%ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 18% CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY COUNSELORzentralwert Salary$47,21030-Year Earnings $2,784,444ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 73%ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 21%7. Fine Arts Artists are respected, revered and celebrated. The trick is achieving that p osition while theyre leise alive. After all, the term starving akrobat didnt come from nowhere. Here are three jobs commonly held by workers with a fine arts degree MUSEUM RESEARCH WORKERzentralwert Salary$48,40130-Year Earnings $2,854,689ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 75%ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 22% GRAPHIC DESIGNERMedian Salary$47,75330-Year Earnings $2,816,470ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 74%ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 22%PAINTER/ILLUSTRATORMedian Salary$37,81930-Year Earnings $2,230,563ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 58%ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 17%6. Education Ah teaching. One of the noblest professions. And while it stands to reason wed pay great sums to the chosen few who shape the minds of future generations, it doesnt quite work out that way. Here are three commonly held jobs in education DAYCARE CENTER TEACHER Median Salary$27,910 30-Year Earnings $1,646,131 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 43% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 13% ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER Median Salary$52,241 30-Year Earnings $3,081,172 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 82% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 24% HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER Median Salary$54,473 30-Year Earnings $3,212,815 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 85% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 25% 5. Religious Studies/Theology Talk about finding your calling. While devoting your life to the church and dedicating your life to the service of others is laudable, its not going to leave you with a lot of profit after you earn your degree. Here are three commonly held jobs theological jobs RELIGIOUS EDUCATOR Median Salary$47,957 30-Year Earnings $2,828,502 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 75% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 22% CHAPLAIN HEALTHCARE Median Salary$51,127 30-Year Earnings $3,015,174 ROI of Degree Earner Atte nding Public College 80% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 24% ASSOCIATE reverend Median Salary$61,811 30-Year Earnings $3,645,610 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 96% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 29% 4. Hospitality/Tourism Youre the wizard behind the curtain. The one whos working like a dog to make it all happen while everyone else is enjoying the fruits of your labor. Unfortunately, there isnt always a lot of financial benefit after earning your degree. Here are three commonly held hospitality jobs MEETING/auffhrung PLANNERMedian Salary$55,47630-Year Earnings $3,271,972ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 87%ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 26%HOTEL RESIDENT MANAGERMedian Salary$65,07630-Year Earnings $3,838,180ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 102%ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 30%CATERING MANAGERMedian Salary$42,53330-Year Earnings $2,508,595ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public Coll ege 66%ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 20%3. Nutrition Its hard work making sure everyone else eats right, preparing nutritious meals and/or checking to make sure the nations food supply is up to snuff. But all that hard work and education necessary to land this job might not turn a huge profit. DIETICIAN Median Salary$53,679 30-Year Earnings $3,165,985 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 84% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 25% FOOD SERVICES MANAGER Median Salary$56,711 30-Year Earnings $3,344,813 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 89% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 27% FOOD SCIENTIST Median Salary$64,019 30-Year Earnings $3,775,838 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 100% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 30% 2. Psychology Were starting to notice an unfortunate trend regarding doing work for others with minimum pay. Maybe you can get inside the head of someone influential and find out why wor kers in this field dont get paid more for these jobs HUMAN SERVICES WORKER Median Salary$22,738 30-Year Earnings $1,341,086 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 35% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 10% CAREER COUNSELOR HIGHER EDUCATION Median Salary$43,384 30-Year Earnings $2,558,787 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 68% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 20% BEREAVEMENT COORDINATOR Median Salary$52,200 30-Year Earnings $3,078,754 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 81% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 24% 1. Communications Youd think the ink-stained newsrooms and TV studios are full of wealthy and famous journalists. Not quite. Although these skills require lots of education and training, they buried the lead regarding the lack of payoff. Check these communications jobs out COPYWRITER Median Salary$52,549 30-Year Earnings $3,099,338 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 82% ROI of Degree Earner Attendi ng Private College 24% NEWS REPORTER Median Salary$37,393 30-Year Earnings $2,205,438 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 58% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 17% absatzwirtschaft COORDINATOR Median Salary$50,455 30-Year Earnings $2,975,834 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 79% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 23% Be Prepared We know money isnt everything. A lot of people do these jobs and have great and fulfilling careers. But as the cost of education increases, its important to know if youll get your moneys worth and see a positive ROI. Good luck. Related Salary.com Content Knowing What Youre Worth 3 Keys to Determine Your Market Value 10 Things You Should Never Tell Your Boss 10 Ways to Avoid Office Politics From our trusted Partners From our trusted Partners Home Articles 8 College Degrees With the Worst Return on Investment8 College Degrees With the Worst Return on Investment Search 8 College Degrees With the Worst Return on Investment Share this articleTwitterLinkedinFacebookemailThese Worthless College Degrees Might Make You Happy, But Fail the Tuition ROI TestCollege Is it Worth It? Whats more expensive than going to college? Until recently, the answer was easy not going to college. Numerous studies over the years have shown that individuals with college degrees significantly out-earn those with high school degrees by $1 million or more over the course of a lifetime. But as the cost of education increases faster than inflation, people are beginning to question how they spend their education dollars. As student loans hit the $1.5 trillion mark and more and more graduates are faced with years of paying staggering monthly payments, many are starting to ask themselves, Are there worthless college degrees? While theres no doubt that a college degree increases earning power and broadens opportunities, todays high cost of education means it makes sense to more carefully c onsider which degree you earn. When it comes to return on investment (ROI), not all degrees are considered equal. This article exposes eight college degrees with poor ROI. MethodologyTo calculate ROI for a specific degree, we first determined the overall cost of the degree. We allowed the degree holder four years to graduate. Using data from a recent College Board study, we assigned a figure of $37,343 as an average cost of a four-year public liberal arts degree, and a figure of $121,930 for degrees earned at four-year private colleges. The total cost included tuition, room and board, and books, and did not factor in scholarships or grants. We then determined the median cash compensation over the course of 30 years of typical jobs requiring that degree using Salary.com data. We used current Salary.com figures, but added 4.3% per year to account for inflation and cost of living increases. To determine ROI, we subtracted the cost of the degree from the gains over 30 years, then divid ed that figure by cost.8. Sociology People who enter the field of sociology generally are interested in helping their fellow man. Unfortunately, that kind of benevolence doesnt usually translate to wealth. Here are three jobs commonly held by sociology majors (click on job title and/or salary for more info) SOCIAL WORKERMedian Salary$47,12130-Year Earnings $2,779,195ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 73%ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 21%CORRECTIONS OFFICERMedian Salary$39,63030-Year Earnings $2,337,376ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 61%ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 18% CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY COUNSELORMedian Salary$47,21030-Year Earnings $2,784,444ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 73%ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 21%7. Fine Arts Artists are respected, revered and celebrated. The trick is achieving that status while theyre still alive. After all, the term starving artist didnt come from nowhere. He re are three jobs commonly held by workers with a fine arts degree MUSEUM RESEARCH WORKERMedian Salary$48,40130-Year Earnings $2,854,689ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 75%ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 22% GRAPHIC DESIGNERMedian Salary$47,75330-Year Earnings $2,816,470ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 74%ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 22%PAINTER/ILLUSTRATORMedian Salary$37,81930-Year Earnings $2,230,563ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 58%ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 17%6. Education Ah teaching. One of the noblest professions. And while it stands to reason wed pay great sums to the chosen few who shape the minds of future generations, it doesnt quite work out that way. Here are three commonly held jobs in education DAYCARE CENTER TEACHER Median Salary$27,910 30-Year Earnings $1,646,131 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 43% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 13% ELEMENTAR Y SCHOOL TEACHER Median Salary$52,241 30-Year Earnings $3,081,172 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 82% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 24% HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER Median Salary$54,473 30-Year Earnings $3,212,815 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 85% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 25% 5. Religious Studies/Theology Talk about finding your calling. While devoting your life to the church and dedicating your life to the service of others is laudable, its not going to leave you with a lot of profit after you earn your degree. Here are three commonly held jobs theological jobs RELIGIOUS EDUCATOR Median Salary$47,957 30-Year Earnings $2,828,502 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 75% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 22% CHAPLAIN HEALTHCARE Median Salary$51,127 30-Year Earnings $3,015,174 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 80% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 24% ASSOCIATE PASTOR Median Sal ary$61,811 30-Year Earnings $3,645,610 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 96% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 29% 4. Hospitality/Tourism Youre the wizard behind the curtain. The one whos working like a dog to make it all happen while everyone else is enjoying the fruits of your labor. Unfortunately, there isnt always a lot of financial benefit after earning your degree. Here are three commonly held hospitality jobs MEETING/EVENT PLANNERMedian Salary$55,47630-Year Earnings $3,271,972ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 87%ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 26%HOTEL RESIDENT MANAGERMedian Salary$65,07630-Year Earnings $3,838,180ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 102%ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 30%CATERING MANAGERMedian Salary$42,53330-Year Earnings $2,508,595ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 66%ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 20%3. Nutrition Its hard work making sure everyone else eats right, preparing nutritious meals and/or checking to make sure the nations food supply is up to snuff. But all that hard work and education necessary to land this job might not turn a huge profit. DIETICIAN Median Salary$53,679 30-Year Earnings $3,165,985 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 84% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 25% FOOD SERVICES MANAGER Median Salary$56,711 30-Year Earnings $3,344,813 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 89% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 27% FOOD SCIENTIST Median Salary$64,019 30-Year Earnings $3,775,838 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 100% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 30% 2. Psychology Were starting to notice an unfortunate trend regarding doing work for others with minimal pay. Maybe you can get inside the head of someone influential and find out why workers in this field dont get paid more for these jobs HUMAN SERVICES WORKER Median Salary$22,738 30-Year Earni ngs $1,341,086 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 35% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 10% CAREER COUNSELOR HIGHER EDUCATION Median Salary$43,384 30-Year Earnings $2,558,787 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 68% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 20% BEREAVEMENT COORDINATOR Median Salary$52,200 30-Year Earnings $3,078,754 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 81% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 24% 1. Communications Youd think the ink-stained newsrooms and TV studios are full of wealthy and famous journalists. Not quite. Although these skills require lots of education and training, they buried the lead regarding the lack of payoff. Check these communications jobs out COPYWRITER Median Salary$52,549 30-Year Earnings $3,099,338 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 82% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 24% NEWS REPORTER Median Salary$37,393 30-Year Earnings $2,205,438 ROI of Degree Earner At tending Public College 58% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 17% MARKETING COORDINATOR Median Salary$50,455 30-Year Earnings $2,975,834 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 79% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 23% Be Prepared We know money isnt everything. A lot of people do these jobs and have great and fulfilling careers. But as the cost of education increases, its important to know if youll get your moneys worth and see a positive ROI. Good luck. Related Salary.com Content Knowing What Youre Worth 3 Keys to Determine Your Market Value 10 Things You Should Never Tell Your Boss 10 Ways to Avoid Office Politics From our trusted Partners From our trusted Partners Home Articles 8 College Degrees With the Worst Return on Investment8 College Degrees With the Worst Return on Investment Search 8 College Degrees With the Worst Return on Investment Share this articleTwitterLinkedinFacebookemailThese Worthless College Degrees Might Make You Happy, But Fail the Tuition ROI TestCollege Is it Worth It? Whats more expensive than going to college? Until recently, the answer was easy not going to college. Numerous studies over the years have shown that individuals with college degrees significantly out-earn those with high school degrees by $1 million or more over the course of a lifetime. But as the cost of education increases faster than inflation, people are beginning to question how they spend their education dollars. As student loans hit the $1.5 trillion mark and more and more graduates are faced with years of paying staggering monthly payments, many are starting to ask themselves, Are there worthless college degrees? While theres no doubt that a college degree increases earning power and broadens opportunities, todays high cost of education means it makes sense to more carefully consider which degree you earn. When it comes to return on investment (ROI), not all degrees are considered equal. Th is article exposes eight college degrees with poor ROI. MethodologyTo calculate ROI for a specific degree, we first determined the overall cost of the degree. We allowed the degree holder four years to graduate. Using data from a recent College Board study, we assigned a figure of $37,343 as an average cost of a four-year public liberal arts degree, and a figure of $121,930 for degrees earned at four-year private colleges. The total cost included tuition, room and board, and books, and did not factor in scholarships or grants. We then determined the median cash compensation over the course of 30 years of typical jobs requiring that degree using Salary.com data. We used current Salary.com figures, but added 4.3% per year to account for inflation and cost of living increases. To determine ROI, we subtracted the cost of the degree from the gains over 30 years, then divided that figure by cost.8. Sociology People who enter the field of sociology generally are interested in helping thei r fellow man. Unfortunately, that kind of benevolence doesnt usually translate to wealth. Here are three jobs commonly held by sociology majors (click on job title and/or salary for more info) SOCIAL WORKERMedian Salary$47,12130-Year Earnings $2,779,195ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 73%ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 21%CORRECTIONS OFFICERMedian Salary$39,63030-Year Earnings $2,337,376ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 61%ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 18% CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY COUNSELORMedian Salary$47,21030-Year Earnings $2,784,444ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 73%ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 21%7. Fine Arts Artists are respected, revered and celebrated. The trick is achieving that status while theyre still alive. After all, the term starving artist didnt come from nowhere. Here are three jobs commonly held by workers with a fine arts degree MUSEUM RESEARCH WORKERMedian Salary$48,40130-Yea r Earnings $2,854,689ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 75%ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 22% GRAPHIC DESIGNERMedian Salary$47,75330-Year Earnings $2,816,470ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 74%ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 22%PAINTER/ILLUSTRATORMedian Salary$37,81930-Year Earnings $2,230,563ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 58%ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 17%6. Education Ah teaching. One of the noblest professions. And while it stands to reason wed pay great sums to the chosen few who shape the minds of future generations, it doesnt quite work out that way. Here are three commonly held jobs in education DAYCARE CENTER TEACHER Median Salary$27,910 30-Year Earnings $1,646,131 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 43% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 13% ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER Median Salary$52,241 30-Year Earnings $3,081,172 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 82% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 24% HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER Median Salary$54,473 30-Year Earnings $3,212,815 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 85% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 25% 5. Religious Studies/Theology Talk about finding your calling. While devoting your life to the church and dedicating your life to the service of others is laudable, its not going to leave you with a lot of profit after you earn your degree. Here are three commonly held jobs theological jobs RELIGIOUS EDUCATOR Median Salary$47,957 30-Year Earnings $2,828,502 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 75% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 22% CHAPLAIN HEALTHCARE Median Salary$51,127 30-Year Earnings $3,015,174 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 80% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 24% ASSOCIATE PASTOR Median Salary$61,811 30-Year Earnings $3,645,610 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 96% ROI of Degree Earner Attend ing Private College 29% 4. Hospitality/Tourism Youre the wizard behind the curtain. The one whos working like a dog to make it all happen while everyone else is enjoying the fruits of your labor. Unfortunately, there isnt always a lot of financial benefit after earning your degree. Here are three commonly held hospitality jobs MEETING/EVENT PLANNERMedian Salary$55,47630-Year Earnings $3,271,972ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 87%ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 26%HOTEL RESIDENT MANAGERMedian Salary$65,07630-Year Earnings $3,838,180ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 102%ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 30%CATERING MANAGERMedian Salary$42,53330-Year Earnings $2,508,595ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 66%ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 20%3. Nutrition Its hard work making sure everyone else eats right, preparing nutritious meals and/or checking to make sure the nations food supply is up to snuff. But all that hard work and education necessary to land this job might not turn a huge profit. DIETICIAN Median Salary$53,679 30-Year Earnings $3,165,985 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 84% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 25% FOOD SERVICES MANAGER Median Salary$56,711 30-Year Earnings $3,344,813 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 89% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 27% FOOD SCIENTIST Median Salary$64,019 30-Year Earnings $3,775,838 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 100% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 30% 2. Psychology Were starting to notice an unfortunate trend regarding doing work for others with minimal pay. Maybe you can get inside the head of someone influential and find out why workers in this field dont get paid more for these jobs HUMAN SERVICES WORKER Median Salary$22,738 30-Year Earnings $1,341,086 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 35% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 10% CAREER COUNSELOR HIGHER EDUCATION Median Salary$43,384 30-Year Earnings $2,558,787 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 68% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 20% BEREAVEMENT COORDINATOR Median Salary$52,200 30-Year Earnings $3,078,754 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 81% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 24% 1. Communications Youd think the ink-stained newsrooms and TV studios are full of wealthy and famous journalists. Not quite. Although these skills require lots of education and training, they buried the lead regarding the lack of payoff. Check these communications jobs out COPYWRITER Median Salary$52,549 30-Year Earnings $3,099,338 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 82% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 24% NEWS REPORTER Median Salary$37,393 30-Year Earnings $2,205,438 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 58% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 17% MARKETING COORDINATOR Median Salary$50 ,455 30-Year Earnings $2,975,834 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College 79% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College 23% Be Prepared We know money isnt everything. A lot of people do these jobs and have great and fulfilling careers. But as the cost of education increases, its important to know if youll get your moneys worth and see a positive ROI. Good luck. Related Salary.com Content Knowing What Youre Worth 3 Keys to Determine Your Market Value 10 Things You Should Never Tell Your Boss 10 Ways to Avoid Office Politics From our trusted Partners From our trusted Partners Home Articles 8 College Degrees With the Worst Return on Investment