Warning: These 10 College Majors Carry the Most Student Loan Debt - Is Your Degree on the List?

A stark financial warning emerges for graduates as new data reveals ten specific college majors are burdened with the highest levels of student loan debt, signaling a potential 10% correction in the perceived value of traditional education investments. The analysis, critical for young professionals entering the workforce, highlights a growing disconnect between educational costs and economic returns, mirroring volatility patterns observed in asset markets.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Almost half of undergraduate students take out loans, and the median amount of student debt for those students is about $25,084.
• Majors in curriculum and instruction often graduate with the most student debt, typically over $20,000 more than the average.
• Other majors that typically incur high debt include behavioral sciences, engineering-related technologies, and complementary and alternative medicine.

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Hoping to take on the least amount of debt while in college? You might want to avoid these 10 majors.

Almost half of undergraduate students take out loans for their education, according to the most recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics. Among these students, the median amount borrowed by the time they attained their bachelor's degree was about $25,084, according to a recent report from the Education Data Initiative.

Why This Matters

Federal student debt can be difficult for many college graduates to manage. Students weighing their college major should know the average cost and student debt for each option.

The college major with the highest median student debt among undergraduates is curriculum and instruction, according to the Education Data Initiative. These students often borrow more than $20,000 above the median for a bachelor's degree graduate. Curriculum and instruction majors typically aim to find careers as education researchers or policymakers, or to use the degree as a stepping stone to a graduate program in teaching.

Behavioral sciences majors had the second-highest median debt, $44,554. This degree can lead to jobs like a human resources specialist, research assistant, or mental health counselor, among others. The highest-paying jobs for behavioral science majors require a master's degree or additional certification, according to Indeed.

Engineering-related technology majors have borrowed about $41,308 by the time they graduate. This major can vary in specializations, but in general, it differs from an engineering degree by focusing on applied engineering and real-world scenarios.

The median student loan debt for complementary and alternative medicine majors is more than $40,000. This degree focuses on nontraditional medical practices, such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, and homeopathy.

A bachelor's degree can cost some students more than others, especially if they do not qualify for financial aid, attend pricier private schools, or take more than four years to finish their degree. Some degrees can also have higher unemployment rates or lower salaries than others.

Related Education

These factors can make it more difficult to pay off student debt post-graduation. Borrowers who are struggling can pause their federal student loan payments through forbearance or deferment, or lower their monthly payment amount through an income-driven repayment plan.

While these options allow borrowers to avoid missing payments and default, they give the debt more time to accrue interest, likely making the repayment period longer and more expensive.