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<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">The COVID-19 pandemic has created a heightened sense of uncertainty about many aspects of American life, including higher education. Classes at American colleges and universities are resuming, though already, thousands of cases have been reported at campuses across the country, prompting some to suspend classes again. The crisis has forced many students to make a difficult choice about whether or not to continue their education, knowing that going to school means potentially risking their safety while also incurring further student debt in the midst of an economic crisis.</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">Student loan debt is soaring in the United States, overtaking both auto loans and credit card debt in recent years to become the second largest form of consumer debt, after only home mortgages. Americans hold a cumulative total of $1.6 trillion in outstanding student loans. </span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">This record high debt level is due in part to climbing tuition costs. The annual cost of attending a four-year private institution in the U.S. reached nearly $50,000 in 2019, more than double what it was less than two decades ago. </span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">Using average annual earnings data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 24/7 Wall St. identified the college majors that will pay off the least. Average annual incomes of working Americans who chose these majors range from about $46,000 to just under $28,000. It is important to note that while these salaries are on the low end of the spectrum for adults with bachelor’s degrees, they are all well above the $13,364 annual salary for the average worker without a four-year degree. </span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">The subjects on this list are largely in areas like education, the humanities, and the arts. And for many Americans who go into these fields, earning potential after graduation is not their first priority. Occupations like social work or teaching are well suited to many students’ talents and interests, even though they are not typically high paying. </span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">Still, it is important to consider, and take measures to minimize, the financial burden of choosing these majors. This may mean applying for scholarships, or attending a school with lower-than-average tuition costs.</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>35. Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $45,957</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 3.1%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 90,700</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>34. Communication Disorders Sciences and Services</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $45,930</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.6%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 236,401</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>33. Court Reporting</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $45,828</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 0.7%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 6,351</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>32. Medical Assisting Services</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $45,735</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.6%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 77,537</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>31. Miscellaneous Agriculture</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $43,769</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.6%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 17,674</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>30. Miscellaneous Health Medical Professions</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $43,570</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.8%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 118,688</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>29. Educational Psychology</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $42,825</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.2%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 24,666</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>28. Miscellaneous Fine Arts</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $42,502</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 3.9%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 25,887</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>27. Social Psychology</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $42,491</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 4%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 11,356</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>26. General Social Sciences</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $42,014</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 3.3%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 136,914</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>25. Music</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $41,994</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.7%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 421,734</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>24. Counseling Psychology</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $40,267</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.1%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 67,490</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>23. Fine Arts</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $40,170</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 3.2%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 593,978</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>22. Physical and Health Education Teaching</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $39,121</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 280,544</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>21. Visual and Performing Arts</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $39,074</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.6%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 82,949</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>20. Science and Computer Teacher Education</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $38,371</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.1%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 78,457</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>19. Cosmetology Services and Culinary Arts</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $38,343</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 3.7%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 59,238</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>18. Theology and Religious Vocations</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $38,253</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.2%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 337,277</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>17. Human Services and Community Organization</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $38,015</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 4%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 112,720</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>16. Mathematics Teacher Education</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $37,587</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.2%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 101,386</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>15. Studio Arts</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $37,423</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.5%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 107,321</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>14. Special Needs Education</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $37,022</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 263,620</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>13. Social Work</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $36,303</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.4%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 554,692</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>12. Social Science Or History Teacher Education</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $36,001</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.5%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 135,776</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>11. Family and Consumer Sciences</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $34,182</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.7%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 427,344</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>10. Early Childhood Education</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $34,047</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.3%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 236,209</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>9. School Student Counseling</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $33,660</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 17,975</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>8. General Education</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $32,730</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.7%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 1,722,417</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>7. Miscellaneous Education</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $32,576</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.1%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 184,307</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>6. Art and Music Education</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $31,957</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.1%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 269,778</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>5. Language and Drama Education</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $31,931</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.4%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 229,978</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>4. Teacher Education: Multiple Levels</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $30,670</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.5%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 106,545</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>3. Secondary Teacher Education</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $29,363</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.7%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 193,386</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>2. Library Science</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $28,873</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 3.6%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 25,389</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>1. Elementary Education</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $27,542</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.5%</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>• <span style="color: #000000;">Total labor force:</span></strong> 1,343,882</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>Methodology:</strong></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">To determine the college majors that will pay off the least, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on average annual earnings from the Public Use Microdata Sample summary files of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey for over 170 bachelor’s degree fields. ACS respondents were asked to list majors they completed as part of a bachelor’s degree program, as well as additional questions on earnings, employment status, and workweek.</span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><span style="color: #000000;">Data on unemployment among the civilian labor force and the size of the employed workforce for each major also came from the ACS PUMS files. In cases where respondents have received multiple degrees, only the first degree listed was considered.</span></p>
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<p><span><span style="color: #000000;">To read the full article, </span><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/09/04/choosing-these-college-majors-will-pay-off-the-least/42369987/">click here</a><span style="color: #000000;">.</span></span></p>
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