• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

'The demographic dividend of the last 40 years is ending': J.P. Morgan says the world is running out of the two things that kept interest rates down

2

Jensen Huang made his $172 billion fortune on AI chips. His family's $75 million gift to Vanderbilt argues art decides what technology is for

3

The $39 trillion U.S. national debt isn’t as high as Japan’s and Singapore’s relative to economy size—and yet it's still worse somehow

1

'The demographic dividend of the last 40 years is ending': J.P. Morgan says the world is running out of the two things that kept interest rates down

2

Jensen Huang made his $172 billion fortune on AI chips. His family's $75 million gift to Vanderbilt argues art decides what technology is for

3

The $39 trillion U.S. national debt isn’t as high as Japan’s and Singapore’s relative to economy size—and yet it's still worse somehow
FinanceEmployment

These are 2021’s most—and least—valuable college majors

By
Chris Morris
Chris Morris
Former Contributing Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Chris Morris
Chris Morris
Former Contributing Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
October 4, 2021, 11:25 AM ET
College Graduation Cap 2021
Paras Griffin—Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

It’s no surprise that the degrees most likely to result in the best jobs in 2021 are based in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), but the area of focus that’s most likely to prosper could be a surprise.

Architectural engineering majors are best positioned for a solid career, according to new rankings from Bankrate.com. Liberal arts majors could face the most hurdles.

The ranking, which measures majors based on median incomes and unemployment rates among other factors, found good job prospects and a high median income for people who study the science of buildings. It’s a niche degree, with only about two dozen schools offering that course of study. Median salaries average $90,000.  

“The degree nearly guarantees a job,” wrote Bankrate. “Architectural engineering majors typically line up full-time gigs well before the end of their senior years.”

It’s a big change from two years ago, when accounting topped a separate list.

Students who major in visual and performing arts ranked at the other end of the scale, with average salaries of $35,500 and unemployment hitting 3.6%.

Overall, Bankrate ranked 159 college majors, and there were several whose rankings proved surprising. Counseling and clinical psychology, for example, ranked very low (in part because of the need for advanced degrees). And computer science didn’t crack the Top 20.

Here’s a look at the five most valuable and five least valuable majors:

2021’s most valuable college majors

  1. Architectural Engineering

Median annual income: $90,000
Unemployment rate: 1.3%

  1. Construction Services

Median annual income: $80,000
Unemployment rate: 1%

  1. Computer Engineering

Median annual income: $101,000
Unemployment rate: 2.3%

  1. Aerospace Engineering

Median annual income: $100,000
Unemployment rate: 1.9%

  1. Transportation Sciences and Technologies

Median annual income: $86,000
Unemployment rate: 1.8%

2021’s least valuable college majors

  1. Clinical Psychology

Median annual income: $49,000
Unemployment rate: 3.8%

  1. Composition and Speech

Median annual income: $42,000
Unemployment rate: 4.9%

  1. Drama and Theater Arts

Median annual income: $41,000
Unemployment rate: 4.5%

  1. Miscellaneous Fine Arts

Median annual income: $38,000
Unemployment rate: 5.6%

  1. Visual and Performing Arts

Median annual income: $35,500
Unemployment rate: 3.6%

More finance coverage from Fortune:

  • After a rough September, investors can expect one thing for October: Volatility
  • Ozy CEO now says media startup will have its “Lazarus moment”—and will not shut down
  • These are 2021’s most—and least—valuable college majors
  • Pandora Papers show tax crackdowns are no match for the superrich
  • Joe Montana on why he invested in events startup Joy: “The problem was personal to them”

Subscribe to Fortune Daily to get essential business stories delivered straight to your inbox each morning.

About the Author
By Chris MorrisFormer Contributing Writer

Chris Morris is a former contributing writer at Fortune, covering everything from general business news to the video game and theme park industries.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

Latest in Finance

Can Apple’s incoming CEO bring back the product design mojo of the Steve Jobs era?
MagazineApple
Can Apple’s incoming CEO bring back the product design mojo of the Steve Jobs era?
By Sebastian HerreraJuly 25, 2026
1 hour ago
t
EconomyInflation
Meet the Americans learning to go without after the biggest grocery inflation in 50 years
By Dee-Ann Durbin, Terry Tang, Maggie Scales, Sandy Guatibonza, Hikari Mae Hida and The Associated PressJuly 25, 2026
1 hour ago
g
EconomyInflation
‘Rockets and feathers’: Economists say grocery prices shoot up like the first, fall like the second
By Dee-Ann Durbin and The Associated PressJuly 25, 2026
1 hour ago
A man stands looking out over his front porch where a sign reads, "No data centers."
EnvironmentData centers
Startups are installing tiny data centers in people’s homes to reduce strain on the beleaguered electrical grid
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 25, 2026
2 hours ago
Fortune Brainstorm E 2016
Success250 Years of Innovation
Bechtel CEO: to build America’s future, we must first build the builders
By Brendan BechtelJuly 25, 2026
3 hours ago
family
Real EstateHousing
The millennial generation is split in 2: an older crowd with boomer-style comfort, a younger set going ‘back to the early 1900s’
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 25, 2026
4 hours ago

Most Popular

'The demographic dividend of the last 40 years is ending': J.P. Morgan says the world is running out of the two things that kept interest rates down
Economy
'The demographic dividend of the last 40 years is ending': J.P. Morgan says the world is running out of the two things that kept interest rates down
By Eleanor PringleJuly 24, 2026
1 day ago
Jensen Huang made his $172 billion fortune on AI chips. His family's $75 million gift to Vanderbilt argues art decides what technology is for
Big Tech
Jensen Huang made his $172 billion fortune on AI chips. His family's $75 million gift to Vanderbilt argues art decides what technology is for
By Sydney LakeJuly 23, 2026
2 days ago
The $39 trillion U.S. national debt isn’t as high as Japan’s and Singapore’s relative to economy size—and yet it's still worse somehow
Economy
The $39 trillion U.S. national debt isn’t as high as Japan’s and Singapore’s relative to economy size—and yet it's still worse somehow
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 23, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of oil as of July 24, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of July 24, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 24, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of silver as of Friday, July 24, 2025
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Friday, July 24, 2025
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 24, 2026
1 day ago
Turns out Dead Internet Theory was right: AI agents are eating the Web, growing by nearly 8,000% and rewiring the Internet's business model
AI
Turns out Dead Internet Theory was right: AI agents are eating the Web, growing by nearly 8,000% and rewiring the Internet's business model
By Mia OsmonbekovJuly 23, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.