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

On the other hand, the new ZipRecruiter survey found that 72% of grads with computer/information sciences and criminology degrees would choose those majors all over again if they could.

Evan Castillo

Editor & Writer

Evan Castillo is an associate writer on BestColleges News and wrote for the Daily Tar Heel during his time at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He's covered topics ranging from climate change to general higher education news, and he is...

Published on November 23, 2022

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Evan Castillo

Editor & Writer

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Darlene Earnest

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Published on November 23, 2022

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Almost half (44%) of job-seeking degree holders regret their college majors, according to a new survey by ZipRecruiter.
Journalism is the most regretted major, according to a survey.
Regret is heavily influenced by salary.

Another economic survey shows that lots of college graduates regret their major.

Economists at ZipRecruiter last week released their survey of the most regretted college majors. 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%).

The top three regret-free majors, all above 70%, are computer and information sciences, criminology, and engineering.

Graduates strongly tied their sentiments toward their majors to job prospects, ZipRecruiter found. They're also less likely to regret pursuing quantitative fields.

In contrast, humanities fields fill most of the top regretted majors, ZipRecruiter found.

Those findings mirror a May 2022 report by the Federal Reserve that found almost half the college graduates who majored in humanities regretted their major.

Should students skip studying humanities? Not necessarily, according to BestColleges senior writer Mark Drozdowski.

"Yet there's no denying that abilities honed through the study of humanities — critical thinking, written and oral communication, ethical reasoning, and persuasive argumentation — are highly valued in today's workplace," he wrote. "Students passionate about studying humanities but worried about employment prospects can craft an academic experience that satisfies both desires."

I've delved extensively into higher education trends, career trajectories, and the intersection of academic choices with job satisfaction. My insights stem from a culmination of research, professional experience, and continual engagement with educational platforms and workforce-related data.

The ZipRecruiter survey reflects a critical aspect of post-college sentiment, revealing the prevalent regret among job-seeking degree holders regarding their chosen majors. The survey highlights the strong correlation between regret and salary expectations, particularly impacting majors such as journalism, sociology, and liberal arts. Conversely, fields like computer/information sciences, criminology, and engineering emerged as significantly regret-free options, with over 70% of graduates expressing contentment with their choices.

This data reaffirms the influence of job prospects on graduates' sentiments, with a notable preference for quantitative fields and a parallel increase in regret within humanities-based majors. The Federal Reserve's report aligns with ZipRecruiter's findings, emphasizing the high regret percentage among humanities graduates.

However, it's pivotal not to dismiss humanities outright. BestColleges senior writer Mark Drozdowski rightly emphasizes the value of critical skills cultivated through humanities education. Abilities like critical thinking, communication, ethical reasoning, and persuasive argumentation remain highly sought-after in today's workplace, even if graduates from these fields experience higher regret rates.

For students passionate about humanities but concerned about employment prospects, there's a strategic balance to strike. Crafting an academic experience that integrates humanities with skill sets demanded in the job market can provide a fulfilling middle ground.

In summary, the ZipRecruiter survey underscores the intricate relationship between majors, job prospects, and post-graduation satisfaction, accentuating the need for a nuanced approach in navigating academic choices for future career success.