The 5 Worst Majors For A High-Paying Job Right Out Of School

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Earlier this week, we published the "Best Majors For A High-Paying Job" - a list highlighting majors with low unemployment and high starting salaries.

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By combining unemployment and starting salary statistics, we found the best and worst industries for students who want to get hired quickly and make a lot of money right off the bat. Ranking was determined by finding the combined percentage deviation off of both data sets' most desirable point - low unemployment and high salary.

Here are the 5 worst fields for college students looking for a high-paying job after graduation:

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#5 - Law and Public Policy

With high unemployment that can't be saved by its salary, law and public policy is the first entry in the low end of potential majors.

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Unemployment: 9.2%
Starting Salary: $33,000

Majors Include: Pre-Law and Legal Studies, Public Administration, Criminal Justice

#4 - Humanities and Liberal Arts

The humanities have long been derided as a job searcher's worst nightmare, and with these numbers it's not hard to understand why.

Unemployment: 9.0%
Starting Salary: $30,000

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Majors Include: English, History, Philosophy

#3 - Social Science

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The unemployment rate for social scientists is among the highest, but unfortunately their salary won't be.

Unemployment: 10.3%
Starting Salary: $36,000

Majors Include: Sociology, Economics, International Relations

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#2 - Arts

With an unemployment rate almost in the double digits, recent college graduates' true education may be the opportunity to "suffer for your art."

Unemployment: 9.8%
Starting Salary: $30,000

Majors Include: Drama and Theater, Music, Fine Arts

#1 - Architecture

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Architecture, the worst major for recent grads, actually has a good starting salary, but its disastrous unemployment rate makes it an exceptionally hard field to enter.

Unemployment: 12.8%
Starting Salary: $36,000

Majors Include: Architecture