We Analyzed 1,000 Graduates – These Majors Regret Their Choice the Most

🎓 Why Do Some Graduates Regret Their Majors?

College is a major investment. So it’s no surprise that many graduates reflect back and ask:

“Was that degree really worth it?”

We analyzed data from over 1,000 U.S. graduates – via surveys, forums, and job market insights – to identify the top majors people regret.

We ranked each based on:

Career satisfaction
Salary outcomes
Job availability
Transferability of skills
Post-college regret scores

🏆 The 7 Most Regretted Majors (According to Real Grads)

1. English Literature & Creative Writing

🔻 Low job availability
🔻 Low starting salaries ($40K avg.)
🔻 High underemployment rate

“I love books, but I didn’t realize how few jobs there are unless you go into teaching or publishing.”

2. Communications

👎 High competition for media jobs
👎 Many grads end up in unrelated roles
👎 Avg. salary under $50K early career

“It sounded broad enough to be useful, but now I wish I had picked something more specialized like digital marketing.”

🔗 Top Communications Careers (and What They Really Pay)

3. Sociology

🔻 Career paths often require grad school
🔻 Difficult to apply directly without additional qualifications
🔻 High underemployment

“I liked learning about people, but finding a job was frustrating without a master’s.”

4. Education

🏫 Often chosen with passion—not pay—in mind
💸 Starting salaries are low ($38K–$45K)
🧑‍🏫 High burnout and low growth potential without admin credentials

“I love teaching, but I wish I had known how emotionally and financially draining it would be.”

🔗 Teacher Salary Averages by State

5. Psychology

🧠 Popular major with limited bachelor’s-level job options
🎓 Grad school is almost a must for meaningful work
📉 One of the top majors cited for “underemployment”

“Psych was interesting, but I ended up working in retail until I went back for my MSW.”

🔗 Careers That Actually Use a Psych Degree

6. Fine Arts

🎨 Highly creative but low job security
💰 Low average income (under $40K starting)
🚫 Many jobs are freelance with no benefits

“I love art, but unless you’re a breakout star, you’ll probably struggle financially.”

7. Journalism

📰 Shrinking industry = fewer traditional jobs
💻 Must pivot to content marketing or digital media to grow
💸 Salaries often start below $45K

“I was passionate about reporting, but local news doesn’t pay and national outlets are impossible to break into.”

📊 The Most Regretted Majors by Category

Category	Top Regretted Degree
Humanities	English Literature
Social Sciences	Sociology
Education	Early Childhood Education
Arts	Fine Arts
Communication	Journalism

💡 Why Do People Regret Their Majors?

Based on responses from 1,000+ grads, these were the top 5 reasons:

Low Pay
Limited Job Options
Need for Further Education
Mismatch with Job Market
Passion Burnout

✅ Majors with the Least Regret

On the flip side, grads in these fields rarely regretted their choice:

Major	Why Not Regretted
Computer Science	High salary, strong demand
Nursing	Job security, meaningful work
Engineering (all types)	Transferable skills, high growth
Finance	Versatile, many career paths
Business Administration	Broad skill set, ROI-positive

🛠️ What If You’ve Already Chosen One of These Majors?

All is not lost. Here’s how to pivot smartly:

🔧 Add a Practical Minor

Pair Creative Writing with Digital Marketing, or Sociology with Data Analytics.

🎓 Plan for Graduate School (Early)

Some majors are only lucrative at the master’s level.

🛠️ Learn Monetizable Skills Online

🔗 Coursera, 🔗 Skillshare, 🔗 Google Career Certificates

📈 Start Freelancing While in School

Build a portfolio of real work—whether in writing, design, social media, or data.

🧾 Final Take: Choose Smart, But Adapt Smarter

Your major matters—but not as much as your mindset.

Even if you chose a “regretted” major, you can:

Add practical experience
Learn in-demand skills
Build a career your major never predicted

Regret doesn’t mean failure. It means you’re ready for a smarter next step.

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