Lowest-paying college majors

Bachelor's degree majors ranked from the lowest median graduate earnings up. Low pay is not the same as low value, but it is worth knowing before borrowing.

#	Major	Median earnings	Programs
1	Business Operations Support and Assistant Services	$23,549	12
2	English Language and Literature/Letters, Other	$37,962	16
3	Dance	$38,227	73
4	Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft	$39,248	296
5	Visual and Performing Arts, General	$40,491	82
6	Fine and Studio Arts	$41,077	451
7	Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians	$41,133	14
8	Religious Education	$41,796	14
9	Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries	$42,051	33
10	Music	$42,251	306
11	Graphic Communications	$42,490	67
12	Zoology/Animal Biology	$43,689	56
13	Film/Video and Photographic Arts	$44,145	155
14	American Sign Language	$44,176	24
15	Bible/Biblical Studies	$44,345	42
16	Sociology and Anthropology	$45,120	11
17	Anthropology	$45,184	205
18	Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management	$45,348	39
19	Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General	$45,475	50
20	Theological and Ministerial Studies	$45,716	32
21	Literature	$45,749	10
22	Natural Sciences	$45,910	15
23	Religion/Religious Studies	$46,205	51
24	Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies	$46,374	149
25	Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians	$46,496	20

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Ranked on the median of program-level median earnings, majors with at least 10 reported programs. Earnings are measured a few years after finishing, so fields where graduates commonly continue to further study can look lower here than their long-run pay.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10). Earnings are median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing, and describe past graduates rather than a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.