Is a college degree really worth it? As more and more companies (including many in the tech sector) no longer require their employees to have a college degree, there are quite a few who believe that the value of a degree has diminished.
In any case, the data show that a college education is worth it, even in countries where it can be expensive. In the U.S., the report «The College Payoff» by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce shows that college graduates earn 84% more than those with only a high school diploma.
However, there are significant differences between degrees. Those who studied science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) earn the most.
Degrees in the fields of health and business are also very well paid in the U.S., as salaries for both new hires and those with more years of experience are higher than those of graduates in history, literature, philosophy, sociology, psychology, the arts, etc.
However, a ZipRecruiter study conducted among 1,500 job-seeking college graduates in the U.S. shows that 44% regrets the major they chose.
Journalism, sociology, communication, and education are at the top of the list of majors with the highest percentages of graduates who regret their choice.
Students may choose these fields without considering salary levels and job security while they’re in school, but «when they graduate, they realize the reality,» according to ZipRecruiter economist Sinem Buber. «When you’re barely able to pay your bills, your salary probably becomes more important,» she explains to CNBC.
Of the graduates who regret their choice, most say that if they could turn back time, they would study computer science or business administration.
In the U.S., those with one of the highest-paying degrees will earn, on average, 3.4 million than those who studied fields with the lowest salaries.
Graduates who enter the job market with good employment prospects and high starting salaries are the most satisfied with their choice of major.
Those who studied computer science are the most satisfied, as in the U.S., their starting salary is close to $100,000 a year.
Those who have studied criminology, engineering, nursing, and business and finance are also very satisfied with their choices.
