Payback starts with earnings. To spotlight degrees that make it harder to break even within a decade, we looked at median annual earnings by field of bachelor’s degree, credible, nationwide figures that capture what typical workers bring home.
Fields with lower medians often require additional schooling, cluster in lower-paid industries, or rise more slowly with experience, all of which can stretch loan repayment timelines.
Don't misunderstand – plenty of people thrive in these fields, but planning matters more.
1. Family and consumer sciences
This major feeds into roles like community education, nutrition assistance, and family services, important work that tends to sit in government or nonprofit pay bands. Many jobs value master’s-level credentials, which can delay earnings growth and compound borrowing costs.
Geography also matters; wages are highest in large metros but still trail business and STEM fields. If you’re set on this path, look for strong in-state tuition, paid practicums, and employers offering loan assistance or public-service forgiveness to manage the tradeoffs.
Median annual earnings: $52,850.
2. Fine arts
Fine arts majors often juggle freelance gigs, part-time teaching, or gallery work while building a portfolio. That patchwork can depress early earnings, and the income distribution is wide; some artists do very well, but the median remains low.
Many grads pursue MFAs or specialized certificates, adding time and cost before pay rises. Consider public programs, strong alumni networks, and access to big creative markets if you want to improve your odds without over-borrowing.
Median annual earnings: $53,450.
3. Elementary education
Teaching is high-impact but salary schedules are typically flat early on, with pay moving mainly through years of service or advanced credentials. Because many districts require additional licensure or a master’s within a few years, out-of-pocket costs can rise even as pay stays modest.
Union contracts and state funding drive big regional differences, so check local salary steps and stipends for in-demand specializations (like ESL or special education) before borrowing.
Median annual earnings: $54,900.
4. Social work
Most social work roles are in hospitals, schools, or community agencies with tight budgets. Many advanced positions require an MSW and state licensure, adding tuition and exam costs before wages step up.
Loan-forgiveness programs can help, but they require years of qualifying service. If you’re aiming for clinical practice or medical settings where pay is higher, plan for the extra time and credentials so a 10-year payoff stays in reach.
Median annual earnings: $55,060.
5. General education
General education majors often start in entry-level teaching or paraprofessional roles while finishing licensure, which holds down income in the early years. Even after landing a classroom, pay ladders advance slowly without graduate credits.
To shrink payback time, target districts with strong salary scales, high-need subject bonuses, or tuition support for credentialing.
Median annual earnings: $58,000.
6. Other education degrees
Fields like secondary education or subject-specific teacher prep can pay a bit more than elementary, but they still rely on public-sector salary grids. Schools may offer stipends for coaching, advanced certifications, or hard-to-staff subjects, yet those boosts are incremental.
If borrowing for an education degree, compare local pay lanes and consider starting in districts with higher base salaries or relocation incentives to avoid stretching repayment past 10 years.
Median annual earnings: $58,120.
7. Commercial art and graphic design
Designers often begin in junior roles or freelance contracts, where rates vary widely and benefits are limited. Many niches, like nonprofit or editorial design, pay less than tech or advertising.
Because software and portfolio quality matter more than pedigree, a low-cost program plus internships can deliver the same jobs with far less debt, improving the 10-year payoff picture.
Median annual earnings: $59,770.
8. Physical fitness, parks, recreation, and leisure
Recreation management and fitness roles are mission-driven and often seasonal or part-time, which keeps early pay modest. Some grads move into municipal leadership or corporate wellness for better wages, but the climb takes time.
Certifications (like CSCS or recreation credentials) can help, yet add costs. If you choose this path, prioritize programs with paid co-ops and aim for employer types health systems, universities, well-funded parks districts that pay above the field’s median.
Median annual earnings: $61,580.
9. Psychology
With a bachelor’s, psychology grads commonly enter human services, HR, or research support useful experience but not high-paying. Many career goals (counseling, clinical work, testing) require a master’s or doctorate, which pushes break-even further out.
If you prefer to keep loans low, target analyst roles, market research, or user-experience pathways that leverage data and communication skills for better pay early on.
Median annual earnings: $62,270.
10. Liberal arts
The broad skills in writing, analysis, and communication are valuable, but the first job can be diffuse administrative roles, sales, and support functions are common entry points. Without a defined technical niche, wage growth can lag in the first decade.
Internships, certificates (analytics, project management), and choosing higher-paying industries like tech or finance-adjacent roles can improve payback timelines.
Median annual earnings: $63,180.
11. Sociology
Sociology majors often land in community outreach, research assistance, or entry-level policy roles. These jobs deliver meaningful experience but sit near the lower end of the pay scale. Graduate school can boost earnings in data analysis or public policy, yet that raises costs.
For a faster payback, pair the major with quantitative electives and internships that build applied research or evaluation skills valued by higher-paying employers.
Median annual earnings: $63,660.
12. Criminal justice and fire protection
Public safety careers are stable with benefits, but starting pay is often modest outside large metro departments. Overtime and promotions can raise income, yet those increases usually arrive several years in.
Training academies may be covered by employers, which helps, but borrowing heavily for a criminal justice degree can lengthen the path to break-even compared with certificates or direct-to-hiring routes.
Median annual earnings: $64,690.
13. English language and literature
Strong writing travels across industries, but entry roles in publishing, communications, or education are competitive and often lower-paid. Many grads pivot into marketing or content strategy, where salaries improve with technical skills (SEO, analytics).
To keep a 10-year payoff realistic, emphasize internships and certificates that make your writing measurable and tied to revenue or user growth.
Median annual earnings: $65,060.
14. Communications
Communications majors often begin in media, PR, or internal comms where pay varies by market and employer size. Progress is portfolio-driven: quantifiable wins, audience growth, campaign ROI, and move salaries faster.
Without that traction, earnings tend to lag the first decade, extending payback windows. Target industries with higher budgets (healthcare, tech) and build data skills to speed up raises and bonuses.
Median annual earnings: $67,840.
15. History
History graduates have flexible skills but often start in schools, nonprofits, or entry corporate roles that pay less than technical fields. Many pursue law, archives, or public history master’s programs great options, but they add cost and delay higher earnings.
If you want a quicker payoff, pair the major with data, policy, or business minors and seek internships in higher-paying sectors like consulting or government analysis.
Median annual earnings: $73,560.
16. Business management and administration
“Business” sounds like a safe bet, but generalist tracks can lead to support roles that pay less than specialized paths like finance or analytics. Without technical depth (SQL, spreadsheets at scale, forecasting), raises in the first decade can be slow.
To tighten payback, build a stack of tangible skills, operations analytics, supply-chain tools, or revenue ops that push you into higher-paying roles earlier.
Median annual earnings: $75,600.
17. Marketing
Marketing salaries vary widely by channel and industry. Entry positions in social media or community roles often pay less than performance marketing or product marketing, slowing early repayment.
Results-driven experience campaign attribution, paid search, CRM automations move wages faster than creative-only portfolios. Choose internships that tie directly to revenue to help the 10-year payoff pencil out.
Median annual earnings: $75,930.
18. Other business degrees
Catchall business majors outside accounting and finance cluster in roles like sales support, office administration, or customer success. Those can be excellent launchpads, but starting pay tends to lag more specialized tracks.
Stack certificates in analytics or operations, and target industries with higher commission or bonus potential to shorten the payback runway.
Median annual earnings: $77,160.
Methodology
Salary figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest field-of-degree tables, with additional context from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce.
