ZipRecruiter Survey: 20% of Recent Graduates Regret Their Major, Especially in Liberal Arts

Roughly one in five recent graduates regret their college major, according to a ZipRecruiter survey. The job site polled 1,500 graduates from the class of 2025 and another 1,500 students set to graduate in spring 2026. Liberal arts majors were most likely to regret their area of study, with many wishing they had pursued a scientific or quantitative field.

3% of majors expressed dissatisfaction with their choice. 2% expressing regret over their decision. One-third of physical sciences majors also expressed doubts about their major; these include those who studied physics, chemistry or earth sciences.

Middle-aged workers are generally more positive about the value of their college degrees than younger Americans, research from the Federal Reserve shows. Regret appears more acute among young graduates amid challenges in securing early-career roles. 4% two years prior.

Recent graduates face not only fewer job openings but also lower-than-expected pay in several fields. 8% lower than anticipated upon landing a job. Agriculture, environmental science or natural resources majors, along with English, literature or journalism majors, saw pay 30% below expectations.

In contrast, nursing degrees offer stronger outcomes. Nearly one-third of nursing graduates secured a job before graduation. Nursing majors earned the highest median salary upon graduation compared to other majors, at $70,000 a year.

Health care remains a robust sector driving employment. Health care jobs accounted for 43% of the total payroll gains in March 2026. U.S. population needing more care, providing a secure pathway for nursing graduates amid broader labor market difficulties for early-career workers.

The survey highlights broader dissatisfaction among young entrants to the workforce. Many struggle to land roles as entry-level opportunities decline while demand for them rises. These findings come as college degrees are viewed as a key to labor market success, yet early experiences often fall short of expectations.

ZipRecruiter's analysis underscores varying regrets across disciplines. While liberal arts fields top the list for dissatisfaction, even some science majors question their choices. The data reflects ongoing shifts in job availability and compensation that shape post-graduation realities.