Qualifying for a profitable college degree is rocket science. Really.
Degrees in engineering, computer science and physics can pay off big, and we've even discovered that you can
make a decent livingwith a degree in philosophy or international relations.
So which degree programs don't provide a good return on your college investment? A
Bachelors in Puppet Arts, perhaps? Oh, that's real. Also, I’m not sure you'll go far with a
music degree in bagpipingfrom Carnegie Mellon, but you'll certainly have a lot of fun.
We probably do not need to worry about a glut of bagpipers and puppeteers competing for jobs. So which larger fields of study bring in smaller paychecks?
We looked at data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. News & World Report and USA Today, along with research from salary websites like Payscale.com, Salary.com, and determined five degrees you should pursue purely out of passion, not profit.
#5 - Social work
We live in stressful times. Many people are still recovering from the Great Recession. Social workers help people hanging on by a thread—children placed in foster homes or the elderly who need to be connected with government benefits. However, most people with degrees in social work start with salaries in the mid-$30,000 range, rising eventually to a median income of $43,000.
#4 - Theology
The love of money is the root of all evil, the apostle Paul wrote to disciple Timothy in the Bible. Rich preachers aside, most of those who feel “called” to pursue a theology degree usually aren't planning on living the good life in this life. While the government reports clergymen (and women) have average salaries of $48,000, other religious workers are down at $33,000. Overall numbers suggest that a career in theology and pastoral ministry commands median pay of only $39,000.
#3 - News announcer
Oh, that's rich. Well, it is rich if you're Matt Lauer or Robin Roberts. They make a LOT of money. But, speaking as someone who started out in a small news market (Albuquerque back in the '80s where I was paid $7 an hour), there's a reason local anchors sit behind desks. That way they only need enough money to pay for a jacket. Pants don't matter. Median pay for news announcers is $33,000.
#2 - A tie between coaching and early childhood education
Preschool teachers take care of our children when they're young. Coaches and athletic trainers teach them teamwork and discipline later on. Both are pretty important, and yet their salaries do not show it. Median pay is $32,000.
#1 - Human services
This category includes counselors, community outreach workers, mental health workers. SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE ON THE PLANET. It must be a labor of love, because this field does not carry a financial payoff. Median pay is only $30,000. Counselors may need counseling to get by.
Kind of late, but What's the question.....
