A recent study by ZipRecruiter reveals that roughly one in five recent college graduates regret their choice of major, with certain fields experiencing higher dissatisfaction rates. The survey, which polled 1,500 graduates from the class of 2025 and 1,500 soon-to-be graduates, found that liberal arts majors were most likely to express regret, often wishing they had pursued a scientific or quantitative field.
Political science, international relations, and public policy majors reported the highest regret rate at 46.3%, followed by communications, media studies, and public relations majors at 39.2%. However, regret is not limited to liberal arts fields—one-third of physical sciences majors also expressed doubts about their career path.
The study suggests that young graduates face heightened stress when entering the workforce, as research from the Federal Reserve indicates that middle-aged workers are generally more positive about the value of their degrees. The job market for recent graduates has become increasingly challenging, with entry-level roles accounting for 38.6% of postings on ZipRecruiter as of March 1, down from 43.4% two years ago. This decline in available positions coincides with rising demand for entry-level jobs, exacerbating the difficulties faced by new graduates.
Beyond job scarcity, recent graduates also encounter additional obstacles, such as lower starting salaries and limited career advancement opportunities, which may contribute to their dissatisfaction with their chosen majors.