These Are the Most-Regretted College Majors

Survey finds that liberal arts majors are most dissatisfied, nursing grads are most secure
Posted Apr 25, 2026 8:50 AM CDT
These Are the Most-Regretted College Majors
Stock photo.   (Getty Images/Rattankun Thongbun)

Plenty of students are rethinking what they studied before they've even framed their diplomas. Per CBS News, a new ZipRecruiter survey of 3,000 people who graduated last year and are set to graduate this spring finds that about 20% wish they'd picked a different major, with regrets clustering around the liberal arts and some science fields. Topping the list: political science, international relations, and public policy, where 46.3% of grads in that arena say they're unhappy with their choice. One field stands out in contrast: nursing. Nearly a third of nursing majors had jobs lined up before graduation, and their median starting pay leads the pack at $70,000. Here, the 10 jobs spurring the most regret, along with the percentage of grads in that major wishing they could take back their decision:

  1. Political science, international relations, or public policy; 46.3%
  2. Communication, media studies, or public relations; 39.2%
  3. Interdisciplinary studies or general studies; 35%
  4. Physical sciences (physics, chemistry, earth sciences); 34.1%
  5. Criminal justice or law enforcement; 30.8%
  6. Sociology, anthropology, or social work; 30.2%
  7. Public health or health administration; 29.8%
  8. Biological sciences (biology, neuroscience, genetics); 28.4%
  9. English, literature, or journalism; 28.3%
  10. History or philosophy; 27.3%
More details, and other jobs on the list here.

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