If you are applying to college soon or looking to change your major, you may want to think twice before committing to this popular STEM major.

Computer science ranked seventh amongst undergraduate majors with the highest unemployment at 6.1%, one of the highest unemployment rates across all areas of study, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Scroll to see the list of top 10 unemployment rates among college majors.

“Seeing such a high unemployment rate for majors like computer science may stun many Americans. After all, it’s been one of the most encouraged majors in recent years due to the unprecedented need in the field by many businesses,” Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek.

“However, an abundance of those who major in a field doesn’t necessarily create more talent, and as many companies have developed more complex needs, they often want employees more skilled with a proven track record of success. As a result, some new graduates may find it more difficult than expected to obtain a job, especially in our current environment where some employers are scaling back.”

During the COVID 19 pandemic, demand for tech products and tech changes to accommodate remote work skyrocketed, according to the National Institutes of Health.

But the tides have changed.

In 2025, companies such as Google, Microsoft and Amazon have done massive layoffs, totaling more than 60,000, according to the Economic Times.

Computer science ranked above other STEM majors like physics, which has a 7.8% unemployment rate, and computer engineering with a 7.5% unemployment rate.

It also ranks above popular humanities majors such as anthropology, which has a 9.4% unemployment rate, and fine arts, at 7%.

Majors like nutrition sciences, construction services and civil engineering had the lowest unemployment rates, between 1% and 0.4%.

Unemployment among recent graduates is increasing, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

The unemployment rate for recent college graduates increased to 5.8% in March from 4.6% last year.

“Computer science majors have long been sold a dream that doesn’t match reality. Pick the ‘right’ major, work hard, and you’ll land a stable, high-paying job. But just like many majors and related jobs, the reality hits hard – too many grads, not enough jobs, crippling student debt and a market that rewards pedigree over potential,” Bryan Driscoll, a human resources consultant, told Newsweek.

“The problem is the system. We’ve overproduced degrees without addressing how exploitative and gatekept the tech hiring pipeline has become. Entry-level roles are vanishing, unpaid internships are still rampant, and companies are offshoring or automating the very jobs these grads trained for.”

Top 10 unemployment rates among college majors:

1. Anthropology, 9.4%
2. Physics, 7.8%
3. Computer Engineering, 7.5%
4. Commercial Art and Graphic Design, 7.2%
5. Fine Arts, 7%
6. Sociology, 6.7%
7. Computer Science, 6.1%
8. Chemistry, 6.1%
9. Information Systems and Management, 5.6%
10. Public Policy and Law, 5.5%