College Degrees and Employment

When it comes to finding employment immediately after graduating from college, there are certain degrees that seem to be more useful. Studies have shown that recent college graduates who had degrees in fields that were not technical, such as art degrees, would have a higher chance of being unemployed for a longer period of time. Meanwhile, those who finished college with a degree in particular fields, such as healthcare, education, and engineering, would have a higher chance of being employed immediately after graduating from college.

One of the authors of this study, Anthony Carnevale, claims that the major students take during college has everything to do with the ability of finding employment. While some may assume that having a college degree in general will automatically lead to employment, this is entirely untrue. With a weakened job market after the recession, leading to a higher unemployment rate, not all degrees equal employment.

The study showed that students who had majored in either healthcare or education were less likely to be unemployed, as the unemployment rate for both healthcare and education was at 5.4 percent. In the meantime, students majoring in the arts were more likely to be unemployed, with a high 11.1 percent jobless rate for art majors. Architecture has also been hit hard due to the Great Recession. As of right now, the unemployment rate of architecture majors is at 13.9 percent.

To find the results of this study, various former students who had recently graduated from college, all between the ages of 22 through 26, were surveyed and studied. The information that has been provided within the study makes a lot of people wonder whether or not a college degree is really worth the hassle. Attending college can cost a lot of money, especially with the increase in tuition, which has turned into a lot of student loan debt. Many recent graduates who are dealing with student loan debt and unemployment are questioning whether or not going to college was truly worth it.

Aside from the unemployment rates for students with different degrees, the study also determined the average amount of money certain degree holders earn each year. On average, students with a degree in engineering earn about $55,000 a year. In the meantime, students with a degree in the arts are earning, on average, about $30,000 each year.

Carnevale says that the amount of money an individual will make each year will ultimately depend on the choices they make while in college. He advises students to take the right courses and earn a degree in a field that will not only allow the individual to be successful but will also help them to earn a considerable amount of money each year. He says that certain degrees can lead to earnings of $100,000 a year while other degrees may only lead to earnings of $30,000 a year, possibly even less.