College has started up again and many students are considering which major suits them best. Even those who have chosen an area of emphasis often change their minds once they have had a chance to sample the variety of college offerings. While pay potential isn't the be all and end all for many students, knowledge, they say, is power. So it can't hurt to know where different majors stand in that regard.
Earlier this year we took a look at the 30 Best Paying College Majors. This time around, we count down those that sit in the bottom quarter of the financial ladder. Many of them fall in areas that traditionally might be seen as more altruistic, like religion and the arts.
Still, as you look through the list, note that just because an occupation has low starting salaries, doesn't mean there's no room for growth. The major that finished fourth from last leaped to the middle of all majors by mid-career.
We used data from payscale.com, which information lists 129 majors on its site.
(Also check out Top 30 Colleges for Highest Starting Salaries and Top 25 Best Value Colleges.)
The rankings below are based on data collected from 1,000 universities and include graduates with bachelor's degrees only. The universities surveyed include 88% of U.S. schools with an enrollment of more than 5,000.
Take a look at the 30 Worst Paying College Majors for 2013:
30. Liberal Arts
Starting Salary: $36,600
Mid-Career Salary: $ 60,500 (Rank: 86th-tie)
29. Psychology
Starting Salary: $36,300
Mid-Career Salary: $60,700 (85th)
26 (tie). Photography
Starting Salary: $36,200
Mid-Career Salary: $55,500 (110th)
26 (tie). Theater
Starting Salary: $36,200
Mid-Career Salary: $55,500 (96th-tie)
26 (tie). Anthropology
Starting Salary: $36,200
Mid-Career Salary: $61,400 (83rd)
25. Art
Starting Salary: $36,100
Mid-Career Salary: $57,100 (103rd)
24. Interior Design
Starting Salary: $36,000
Mid-Career Salary: $59,300 (91st)
22 (tie). Human Development
Starting Salary: $35,900
Mid-Career Salary: $48,000 (125th)
22 (tie). Public Health
Starting Salary: $35,900
Mid-Career Salary: $56,500 (106th)
20. Music
Starting Salary: $35,700
Mid-Career Salary: $51,400 (119th)
20. Hospitality & Tourism
Starting Salary: $35,700
Mid-Career Salary: $62,600 (81st)
19. Drama
Starting Salary: $35,600
Mid-Career Salary: $56,300 (107th-tie)
18. Kinesiology
Starting Salary: $35,600
Mid-Career Salary: $60,400 (88th-tie)
17. Biblical Studies
Starting Salary: $35,400
Mid-Career Salary: $50,800 (123rd)
16. Criminal Justice
