Following your passion is great, but no one wants to struggle to pay the bills after graduating from college. That's why for some students it's important to avoid majors that traditionally don't pay well. A recent study by Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce identified a list of college degrees that place African Americans at the lowest end of the pay scale. Following our look at the <a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/2011/05/26/10-highest-paying-college-degrees-for-african-americans/" target="_blank"><strong>highest paying degrees for African Americans</strong></a>, here's a look at the majors most likely to leave your wallet a little lighter.
<ul> <li><strong>No. 10. Elementary Education </strong></li> </ul> Although teachers mold young minds and help them reach their highest potential, their paychecks often don't reflect the hard work and long hours. African Americans who obtain this degree can expect an average salary of $40,000. White Americans with this degree can expect the same.
<ul> <li><strong>No. 9. Mass Media </strong></li> </ul> Those in mass media often work as news analysts, reporters, and correspondents. African American mass media degree holders earn an average salary of $40,000, while White Americans with the same degree earn an average salary of $47,000.
<ul> <li><strong>No. 8. Liberal Arts </strong></li> </ul> Similar to mass media and elementary education degree holders<strong>, </strong>African American<strong> </strong>liberal arts degree holders earn an average salary of $40,000. White American liberal arts degree holders, however, can expect an average of $50,000.
<ul> <li><strong>No. 7. Physical Fitness Parks Recreation and Leisure </strong></li> </ul> Graduates with this degree work in careers in which they help others improve their quality of life through leisure activities. Their primary job is to provide recreational services to the public. African Americans with this degree earn an average of $39,000, while Whites with the same degree earn an average salary of $44,000.
<ul> <li><strong>No. 6. Fine Arts </strong></li> </ul> Graduates work as painters, sculptors, and illustrators. African Americans with this degree can expect an average salary of $38,000, while Whites with the same degree can expect $46,000.
<ul> <li><strong>5. Social Work </strong></li> </ul> Social workers assist people with finding resources. They might assist the homeless or someone experiencing family difficulties. African Americans who graduate with this degree receive an average salary of $38,000, while White social work degree holders receive an average salary of $40,000.
<ul> <li><strong>No. 4. Human Services and Community Organization </strong></li> </ul> Those with a degree in human services and community organization work in various areas of the community such as mental health clinics, schools, senior centers, hospitals, and corporations. African Americans who receive this degree can expect an average salary of $37,000, while Whites with this degree can expect $38,000.
<ul> <li><strong>No. 3. Family and Consumer Sciences </strong></li> </ul> This field of study combines the natural and social sciences. The relationship between individuals, families, communities, and their environments is analyzed. African American graduates with this degree receive an average salary of $37,000, while Whites receive $38,000.
<ul> <li><strong>No. 2. Early Childhood Education </strong></li> </ul> African Americans with a degree in early childhood education earn an average salary of $35,000, while Whites earn an average of $36,000.
<ul> <li><strong>No. 1. General Medical and Health Services </strong></li> </ul> College graduates with this degree often work as health information managers, clinical managers, and nursing home administrators. Among the list of lowest-paying jobs, the greatest disparity in pay seems to occur in this line of work. African Americans with this degree earn an average salary of $32,000, while White Americans earn an average salary of $50,000.
You mean cosmetology, black studies, haircare, television repair, sports and hospitality don’t pay as much as legal, engineering, medical, business and science degrees? Whhhhaaaaatttt? I am so shocked. C’mon brothers (and sisters), get real.
Christie
I hold an associates in medical assisting and I was offered more pay at a daycare center than I was being offered at medical facilities, plus they want PRN’s so no benefits are included and I would work only as needed. Now I am in Health Care Admistration getting my bachelors in hopes that it will bring more opportunity.Could be my location as well.
marc
@Christie I agree its about location I live in a port city town in the state of Nc where unemployment for black are well above country average I have two degrees but I am considering barber school instead as more of a practical move in this economy.
Sol Man
Chaqbar, you obviously didn’t read the article. “cosmetology, black studies, haircare, television repair, sports and hospitality…” WTH? I’m surprised you didn’t throw in “watermelon eater, boot black, mammy…”
Mrs. C
This article only touches the surface of the real issue: Why are so many African Americans choosing these majors? Too often African Americans are encouraged to go to college and get an education without the proper advice on how their major and skills will transfer in the real world. I have witnessed so many black students who major in social services or a related field, usually because they want to help people. Still there are others who want to study mass media because of dreams of working in the entertainment field. But so many avoid majors that involve math or science. And very few understand what kind of careers are available majoring in something like business. Most students understand careers like lawyer, teacher doctor, but don’t know what an Account Executive or an Actuary is. And they probably don’t know what it takes to become one.
DKelley
Social work doesn’t pay unless you pursue a Masters degree in the field. Same as for psychology. Licensing increases your value, job prospects, and income several time over. Consultation in that field gave me hourly rates of $125.00 per hour (Los Angeles, CA) and I was still able to still serve the “urban” communities. Masters in the field of social work allows you to be a professional in the field of psychotherapy, research, business, forensic, community planning and organization – just to name the few. Don’t knock the field.
D. Collins
WoW. I am inspired by your response. I start school in January for Psychology and it is good to know that there are more avenues to choose from. I have also been doing my research and I believe what ever field we choose we should go for the gold (MASTERS OR DOCTORS, PHD…the sky is the limit) INSPIRED:)
Keith
Should just be called “Lowest Paying College Degrees”. These degrees are worthless no matter what color your skin is!
Trilochan
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V. Thomas
@ Mrs. C – well said. While STEM is important and the careers are bright with great pay, there are business careers that pay extreme salaries, but the research must be done because it won’t be shared. Again, well said and thank you.
Lilandra
This is so misleading – could the variances in pay be more in line of where you are working? I mean, a white person who works in social services could be working in a private practice in a suburb is going to earn more than a black person working in the inner city for a grant based or church foundation. I think it has nothing to do with skin color and everything to do with location. Why else would teaching be paying the same regardless of skin color and all other private sector occupations have disparities?
houston
gboogie dot net Blacks in America should be looking at their past and study how blacks before the 70′s got serious about their communities and started their own businesses.
The Great White
Come on you fucking niggers, you know the majority of you worthless fucks wont even pass the 9th grade. Fucking waste of oxygen.
Alexander
Wow. Angry, and certainly not wohitut reason…I would be angry too if I had spent money on a degree when I could have done more research and gone elsewhere.A couple notes: 1) Making a general statement, “for profit schools suck” is just that; too general. You have had 1 experience with 1 school. Sounds like it sucked. That said, the other non-profit / public universities you are speaking of that offer online degrees; GOT INTO the online space because the “for profits” were the first to pioneer the way and show them how to do it. 2) Again on your second sentence; too general – “the only thing they care about is their damn bottom line”. Certainly education is a business; whether it be for profit or public. Anyone who tells you differently is lying. So let’s take a public university; the University of Florida (my alma mater). Their Online Masters Degree programs cost nearly twice ($40K vs. $25K) than the for profit avg. Masters degree offering. Taking one off examples (like UOP or UF) is somewhat meaningless, and certainly there are schools that are more money and schools that are less money. The PURPOSE of this post was [...] Was this answer helpful?
Wisdom Tooth Pain
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10 Lowest-Paying College Degrees for African Americans
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