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10 lowest-paying college majors

By WTOP Staff

WASHINGTON — It pays to go to college. But not all majors lead to jobs that pay well.

College information website, College Factual, evaluated data to determine which majors can lead to low-paying jobs.

While it’s important for students to follow their passion, compensation can be important for a generation of graduates with mounting student debt.

Roughly 37 million people in the U.S. are saddled with $1 trillion in student debt. Estimates show that the average four-year graduate accumulates $26,000 to $29,000 in loans, and some leave college with six figures worth of debt.

College Factual used data collected by Pay Scale for the ranking of low-paying majors. The Pay Scale information is based on survey responses from thousands of college graduates, USA TODAY reports.

View the lowest-paying majors and the amounts they earn, according to College Factual.

  1. Behavioral Science: $33,800. Students in this major study a combination of psychology, biomedical science and social science. The major can be wide-ranging, which leads students to no obvious career path. Many behavioral science majors end up working in labs as research assistants.
  2. Education, General: $33,800. Education majors are taught to become teachers. The slow hiring of teachers and low pay for teachers at the primary and secondary levels have led many education majors to struggle in their job searches.
  3. Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies: $33,500. Students explore recreation and leisure theories and learn about providing recreation services to the public. Many majors go on to find jobs managing hotels, parks, spas and other facilities.
  4. Radio, Television and Digital Communication: $33,300. Majors in the field learn about operating audio and video recording and editing equipment as well as telling stories as a journalist. The radio and television industries are competitive and jobs can be difficult to obtain.
  5. Culinary Arts: $33,000. Culinary Arts majors learn everything about cooking and baking as well as some business and management skills. Jobs in culinary arts can be competitive and demanding.
  6. Human Development, Family Studies and Related Services: $32,700. The major explores the ways in which people develop as well as the framework of family and society. The major can lead to jobs such as counseling or social work. Without a master’s degree, it can be a low-paying career.
  7. Theological and Ministerial Studies: $32,500. Students study spirituality and are prepared for careers in ministry, missions or religious education.
  8. Child Development and Psychology: $32,300. The major focuses on the emotional and mental needs of children. Career paths include social work, education or research.
  9. Social Work: $32,200. Social work majors study human behavior and interactions as well as some mental health issues. Graduates often go on to careers in social work or mental health.
  10. Animal Science: $31,100. Majors in Animal Science study animal biology, anatomy and physiology. Its students go on to get jobs in agriculture, such as farm or ranch jobs, or research.

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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