Full Breakdown
Recent Graduates Report Regret Over Chosen College Majors, Survey Shows
4/26/2026, 1:25:29 AM
Survey Highlights Regret Among Recent Graduates
ZipRecruiter surveyed 3,000 individuals who earned a degree in 2024 or are slated to graduate in spring 2025. Approximately one in five respondents said they would choose a different major if given the chance. Regret was most prevalent among liberal-arts majors, especially those in political science, international relations, and public policy.
Labor Market Context for Early-Career Workers
Early-career workers confront a tightening labor market. Entry-level job listings comprised about 38.6% of all postings on ZipRecruiter in early March, a decline from 43.4% in the same period two years earlier. A Federal Reserve analysis cited by CBS News indicates that older workers tend to view their college degrees more positively than younger workers.
Regret Rates, Employment Outcomes, and Salary by Major
Regret rates varied by discipline. Forty-six point three percent of graduates in political science, international relations, or public policy reported dissatisfaction, while 39.2% of communications, media studies, or public-relations graduates expressed similar regret. Physical-science majors (physics, chemistry, earth sciences) showed 35% regret, and criminal-justice or law-enforcement graduates reported 34.1% regret. Approximately 33% of nursing graduates reported having secured employment before completing their degree, and the median starting compensation for these graduates was $70,000. Public-health and health-administration graduates earned roughly 44% less than expected, and graduates in agriculture, environmental science, natural-resources, English, literature, and journalism earned about 30% less than anticipated.
Why It Matters
The data suggest that major selection influences early labor-market outcomes and earnings expectations. High regret among liberal-arts graduates may steer students toward fields with clearer employment pathways, while employers may need to adjust recruitment strategies to address skill mismatches.
Official Statements & Responses
ZipRecruiter described the survey as a snapshot of recent graduate sentiment, noting the decline in entry-level postings and the higher employment rate for nursing majors. The Federal Reserve, referenced by CBS News, reported that older workers generally view their degrees more positively than younger workers.
Criticism & Opposition
Critics argue that liberal-arts curricula insufficiently prepare students for a competitive job market, prompting calls for greater emphasis on quantitative and technical skills. The survey’s high regret rates among political-science, communications, and interdisciplinary majors underscore these concerns.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The two sources differ on physical-science regret, reporting 35% and one-third respectively. ZipRecruiter’s findings rely on self-reported responses from 3,000 graduates and lack longitudinal tracking of career outcomes, limiting broader generalization.
Verbatim Quotes
"about 20% wish they'd picked a different major, with regrets clustering around the liberal arts and some science fields." — CBS News, Report
"Political science, international relations, and public policy, where 46.3% of grads in that arena say they're unhappy with their choice." — CBS News, Report
"Nearly a third of nursing majors had jobs lined up before graduation, and their median starting pay leads the pack at $70,000." — ZipRecruiter, Survey
"Entry-level roles accounted for 38.6% of postings on ZipRecruiter as of March 1, down from 43.4% two years ago." — ZipRecruiter, Survey
