Choosing the right college degree has never been more critical for career success. With rapidly evolving job markets and economic uncertainties, prospective students and career changers need reliable data to guide their educational investments.
A recent Federal Reserve Bank of New York analysis provides valuable insights into which college degrees offer the best employment prospects. It examines unemployment rates and mid-career earning potential across various academic disciplines.
These are the best college degrees for finding a job in the US in 2025:[1]
| Rank | Field of Study | Unemployment Rate (%) | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nutrition Sciences | 0.4% | $75K |
| 2 | Construction Services | 0.7% | $100K |
| 3 | Animal & Plant Sciences | 1.0% | $70K |
| 4 | Civil Engineering | 1.0% | $100K |
| 5 | Special Education | 1.0% | $55K |
| 6 | Agriculture | 1.2% | $75K |
| 7 | Early Education | 1.3% | $49K |
| 8 | Aerospace Engineering | 1.4% | $125K |
| 9 | Nursing | 1.4% | $84K |
| 10 | Earth Sciences | 1.5% | $88K |
| 11 | Mechanical Engineering | 1.5% | $115K |
| 12 | Social Services | 1.7% | $54K |
| 13 | Elementary Education | 1.8% | $53K |
| 14 | Accounting | 1.9% | $88K |
| 15 | Engineering Technologies | 1.9% | $100K |
| 16 | Chemical Engineering | 2.0% | $120K |
| 17 | Electrical Engineering | 2.2% | $120K |
| 18 | Health Services | 2.2% | $65K |
| 19 | Business Analytics | 2.4% | $100K |
| 20 | General Engineering | 2.4% | $100K |
| 21 | Miscellaneous Education | 2.5% | $60K |
| 22 | Environmental Studies | 2.6% | $75K |
| 23 | Ethnic Studies | 2.6% | $83K |
1. The Top Performers: Nutrition Sciences and Construction Services Lead the Way
Nutrition Sciences is at the pinnacle of job security, boasting a remarkably low 0.4% unemployment rate. By mid-career, graduates earn a median salary of $75,000. This field’s exceptional performance reflects growing health consciousness among consumers and increased demand for qualified nutrition professionals across healthcare, food service, and wellness industries.
Construction Services follows closely with a 0.7% unemployment rate and higher median earnings of $100,000. The $25,000 salary advantage demonstrates how different industries value specialized skills. The construction sector’s strength stems from ongoing infrastructure needs, housing demand, and significant public works projects requiring skilled oversight and management. These fields represent ideal combinations of job security and solid earning potential, making them standout choices for students seeking stable career paths with growth opportunities.
In general, degrees that fall under Construction Services typically include:
Construction Management, Construction Engineering, Construction Technology, Civil Engineering Technology, Building Science, Construction Engineering Management, Architectural Engineering Technology, Construction Administration, Project Management (Construction focus), Building Construction Technology.
These degree programs typically prepare graduates for roles such as construction project managers, site supervisors, construction engineers, building inspectors, cost estimators, and construction administrators. The programs usually combine technical knowledge of construction methods, materials, and safety with business skills like project management, budgeting, and contract administration.
2. STEM Degrees Dominate High-Paying, Low-Unemployment Categories
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics disciplines consistently perform strongly in the job market. Animal and Plant Sciences graduates face just 1.0% unemployment while earning $70,000 annually, reflecting steady demand in agriculture, research, and environmental sectors. Civil Engineering matches this unemployment rate but commands $100,000 in median earnings, highlighting how engineering specializations often yield higher compensation.
Earth Sciences represents another strong STEM option with 1.5% unemployment and $88,000 in median earnings. The prevalence of STEM fields among top-performing degrees isn’t coincidental. These disciplines provide quantitative skills, problem-solving abilities, and technical expertise that remain highly valued across multiple industries. Combining analytical thinking, research capabilities, and practical application makes STEM graduates adaptable to changing technological landscapes and emerging market needs.
3. Engineering Fields: Where Job Security Meets Six-Figure Salaries
Engineering disciplines excel at balancing employment stability with exceptional compensation. Aerospace Engineering leads salary rankings at $125,000 annually while maintaining a low 1.4% unemployment rate, reflecting the field’s specialized nature and consistent demand from the defense and commercial aviation sectors.
Multiple engineering specializations achieve six-figure salaries: Mechanical Engineering offers $115,000 with 1.5% unemployment, while Chemical and Electrical Engineering provide $120,000 median earnings with unemployment rates of 2.0% and 2.2% respectively. General Engineering and Engineering Technologies reach $100,000 annually, with 2.4% and 1.9% unemployment rates.
This consistent performance across engineering disciplines stems from their fundamental role in technological advancement, infrastructure development, and manufacturing processes. Engineering skills translate across industries, providing graduates with diverse career options and strong negotiating power in the job market.
4. The Education Paradox: High Job Security, Lower Pay
Education fields present an interesting contrast between employment security and financial compensation. Special Education demonstrates exceptional job stability with only 1.0% unemployment, though median earnings reach $55,000. Early Childhood Education shows similarly strong employment prospects at 1.3% unemployment but offers $49,000 in median compensation.
Elementary Education maintains 1.8% unemployment and $53,0000 earnings, while Miscellaneous Education fields average 2.5% unemployment and $60,000 annually. This pattern reveals a persistent challenge in education: high demand for qualified professionals and compensation levels that don’t match those of other fields requiring similar educational investments.
The consistent employment opportunities in education reflect ongoing needs for qualified teachers and specialists, particularly as student populations grow and educational requirements become more specialized. However, the compensation gap highlights broader societal questions about valuing essential services versus market-driven industries.
5. Healthcare and Science Degrees Strike a Strong Balance
Healthcare-related degrees demonstrate solid performance, combining reasonable job security with competitive compensation. Nursing stands out with 1.4% unemployment and $84,000 median earnings, reflecting critical healthcare workforce needs and the profession’s essential role across medical settings.
Health Services shows slightly higher unemployment at 2.2%, but still offers meaningful earning potential at $65,000 annually. The variation within healthcare fields reflects different specialization levels and educational requirements; however, the overall sector benefits from demographic trends, including an aging population requiring increased medical care and ongoing public health initiatives.
These fields provide stability because healthcare needs remain consistent regardless of economic fluctuations, making them recession-resistant career choices with long-term growth prospects.
6. Business and Analytics: Solid Prospects in the Modern Economy
Business-focused degrees continue showing strong market performance, particularly in analytical and financial specializations. Business Analytics demonstrates robust prospects with 2.4% unemployment and $100,000 median earnings, reflecting the growing importance of data-driven decision making across industries.
Accounting maintains lower unemployment at 1.9% with a $88,000 median compensation, benefiting from consistent regulatory requirements and business needs for financial oversight. These fields capitalize on digital transformation trends and the increasing complexity of modern business operations, creating sustained demand for professionals who can interpret data and manage financial systems effectively.
7. Understanding Employment Challenges in Other Fields
While this analysis focuses on the best-performing degrees, it’s essential to acknowledge that some academic disciplines face higher unemployment rates. Fields like Fine Arts and certain social sciences often show elevated joblessness despite offering valuable skills and knowledge. The job market reality reflects economic priorities and industry demands that don’t always align with academic interests or societal needs.
Some high-paying technical fields also experience higher unemployment rates, suggesting that specialized skills sometimes create narrower job markets with more competition for available positions.
Conclusion
The data reveals clear patterns favoring STEM disciplines, healthcare, and practical professional fields when considering employment prospects and earning potential. Nutrition Sciences and Construction Services lead the rankings, while engineering disciplines consistently deliver six-figure salaries with strong job security.
Prospective students should consider these employment realities alongside personal interests and aptitudes when making educational decisions. The most successful career paths often combine individual strengths with market demands, suggesting that students might benefit from choosing degrees that offer both personal fulfillment and practical employment advantages.
Understanding these trends can help guide educational investments toward fields offering the best job security, growth potential, and financial rewards in the current economic landscape.