The decision to pursue higher education is one of the most significant financial investments a person can make. Yet, with the price of tuition continuing to climb and averaging $37,600 per year for private colleges in the U.S., according to College Board data, the burden has grown heavier for many students and families. This rising cost emphasizes the importance of selecting a college major with strong career potential.
Unfortunately, salary data from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) reveals that starting salaries for some majors are experiencing noticeable declines. Read on for 13 college majors where starting salaries are slipping in 2025 compared to prior trends.
Social Sciences
Graduates in social sciences, including sociology, political science, and economics, are facing declining starting salaries. The 2025 projection is $67,316, a 3.6% drop year-over-year. Despite the steady demand for professionals in these fields, job market competition and limited public-sector budgets impact entry-level pay.
Advancing careers in social sciences often requires pursuing advanced degrees, a key consideration for aspiring professionals. While earnings growth picks up considerably for social scientists as they gain experience, the initial salary decline could make early career stages more challenging.
Communications
The starting salary for communications majors in 2025 is projected at $60,353, marking a 3.0% decline from the previous year. While traditional roles in media, public relations, and digital content creation maintain steady demand, employers are increasingly prioritizing technical skills like data analytics and SEO—areas where many communications programs fall short.
The industry is also experiencing slower growth. The U.S. digital communications sector expanded by just 1.2% in 2023, the lowest rate in over a decade.
Mathematics and Science
Majors in mathematics and science, such as biology, chemistry, and environmental science, are projected to earn an average starting salary of $69,709 in 2025, a 1.9% decrease from the previous year. Despite this modest decline, STEM fields remain a strong choice for students aiming to enter growth industries.
However, many high-paying roles require graduate-level qualifications. Notably, environmental scientists with master’s degrees earn more than their bachelor’s-level peers, showcasing the value of continued education in these fields.
Psychology
Psychology majors continue to face disappointing starting salaries compared to the field’s popularity. Entry-level roles often require additional certifications, such as those for counseling or clinical work, limiting the earning potential for bachelor’s graduates.
Without further education, many psychology majors struggle to find high-paying opportunities. Statistics from the American Psychological Association reveal that only 27% of psychology graduates secure jobs closely related to their degree immediately after graduation.
Education
Despite educators’ essential role in society, teacher preparation programs continue to grapple with salary concerns. In 2025, the average starting salary for teachers is projected at $53,698, significantly below the overall graduate average of $62,000.
These low salaries have contributed to widespread teacher shortages in school districts across the country, making the profession a persistent challenge.
English and Literature
English and literature graduates face tough job prospects as the market increasingly values technical and data-driven skills over traditional humanities degrees. Many graduates end up working outside their field, often in lower-paying roles.
A 2022 survey by Inside Higher Ed found that 53% of humanities graduates take jobs unrelated to their major due to limited opportunities directly tied to their degree.
Philosophy and Religious Studies
As reported by Big Economics, philosophy and religious studies majors earn some of the lowest starting salaries across all fields of study. These degrees develop critical thinking and ethical decision-making skills, but the limited job market applications often push graduates toward pursuing advanced degrees.
However, philosophy majors who transition into law or policy-related fields frequently achieve some of the highest mid-career earnings growth, demonstrating the long-term potential of these skill sets.
History
History majors face challenges similar to those of their English counterparts, with fewer opportunities directly connected to their field of study. While their strong analytical and critical thinking skills are valuable, many history graduates turn to careers in education, law, or business for more practical employment options.
The American Historical Association reported an average salary of $55,000 for history majors in 2014, but earnings could decline after 25 years in the workforce.
Fine Arts
Fine arts graduates often face significant challenges when entering the workforce. The competitive nature of creative industries and limited job openings mean that starting salaries usually lag behind economic inflation. Many fine arts professionals supplement their income through side gigs or freelance projects to make ends meet.
The median starting salary for fine arts graduates in 2025 is projected to be $39,950, nearly 25% below the average starting salary across all fields, which has risen to £32,000 according to a recent ISE Student Recruitment Survey. This highlights the lower earning potential fine arts graduates may face compared to other fields.
Anthropology and Archaeology
Career opportunities for anthropology and archaeology graduates are typically confined to academia or research institutions, leading to a highly competitive job market. Those seeking industry roles often pivot to UX research or other related disciplines.
An emerging trend shows that anthropology programs integrating digital anthropology or human-computer interaction are experiencing better employment outcomes, as Forbes highlighted in 2023.
Political Science
Political science graduates maintain a strong interest in roles related to policy analysis, government affairs, and public administration. However, starting salaries for these graduates have seen slight declines due to budget constraints in many government-funded positions.
Entry-level policy analysts in the USA earn an average of $67,542 annually, while the overall average salary for policy analysts is $83,229 annually. According to PayScale, in 2025, this has not kept pace with recent industry demands.
Sociology
Sociology majors face economic challenges similar to other social science graduates, with limited public sector employment initially affecting earning potential. However, long-term career opportunities remain promising, especially for those pursuing advanced urban planning or public administration degrees.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for sociologists is expected to grow, though not as rapidly as in some other fields. Many job openings will arise from replacements rather than new positions. Interestingly, sociology graduates with expertise in statistical methods often secure higher-paying roles than their peers.
Journalism
The evolving media landscape has significantly impacted journalism careers, leading to shrinking starting salaries and reduced opportunities. Declining advertising revenues have forced many legacy outlets to scale back on entry-level positions.
The rise of digital media has severely disrupted the traditional revenue model for newspapers and magazines, leading to layoffs of full-time journalists across major outlets. These industry changes continue to challenge journalism graduates as they enter the workforce.
Key Takeaways
While college is still widely seen as a pathway to higher earning potential, this data tells a more nuanced story. In 2025, the average starting salary for graduates sits at $62,000, but majors like fine arts and education fall well below that benchmark—with fine arts grads starting around $39,950, nearly 25% less than average.
Even traditionally respected majors like philosophy and political science are experiencing salary dips, despite offering strong mid-career growth. A surprising stat: only 27% of psychology graduates land jobs closely tied to their degree right after graduation. These trends highlight a growing need for students to consider not just passion but also practicality when choosing a major.
Disclaimer – The Finance Key does not provide and does not intend to provide financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Information contained in this article is for informational and educational purposes only. This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. Including links to third-party content is not an endorsement by The Finance Key of such content or services. Please do your due diligence and use your discretion.
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