Study shows that unemployment varies based on degree; top UCF programs struggling

Are all degrees created equal?

Not according to a new study conducted by the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce.

The study shows that unemployment rates vary greatly among recent college graduates entering the workforce based, in some part, on the degree students earn.

Overall, the unemployment rate among recent graduates with a bachelor's degree is 8.9 percent.

Unemployment is highest among those majoring in architecture at 13.9 percent, due to the collapse of the construction and home building industry.

The UCF architecture program launched in 2010 in collaboration with Valencia College and the University of Florida.

The growing industries of healthcare and education show more promise, with unemployment rates for recent college students who majored in the sectors being relatively low at 5.4 percent.

However, some of UCF's top-ranked programs are not doing as well.

UCF's Rosen College of Hospitality Management is considered one of the top programs in the country, but hospitality management suffers from a slumping travel and tourism market with an unemployment rate of 9.1 percent.

However, Orlando was recently ranked the top tourism destination in the country and does not suffer as much as other areas in the country.

Engineering does relatively well at 7.5 percent unemployment, though civil and mechanical engineers still struggle to find work in the manufacturing and construction industries.

Psychology, consistently one of UCF's top-enrolled majors, has an unemployment rate of 7.6 percent among recent undergraduate degree earners.

Students who choose to postpone entering the workforce by earning a graduate degree tend to do better, with just 3 percent unemployment among graduate students.

UCF's graduate-school enrollment has increased by 807 students since the fall semester of 2008. For the spring semester, 8,149 students are enrolled.

Anna-Bradley Lozier is starting her second semester of graduate school working on a master's degree in nonprofit management. She decided to go for her master's because she believes it will make her more marketable to organizations in which she would like to work.

While graduate school might work for Lozier, she does not believe that continued education is for everyone.

"If you are not passionate about school and your degree program, graduate school will be miserable," Lozier said.

She added that going to graduate school to seek shelter from the job market will not help in the long run.

"Ask yourself what it is you want to do with your life," Lozier said. "What is the ultimate dream? If you need grad school to reach that dream – do it. If not, don't waste your time, energy and money."

Executive Director of Career Services Lynn Hansen believes that students should not choose a major based on the current job market. Instead, students should work to prepare themselves for employment. That includes gaining experience and networking, Hansen said.

Kelli Vanhouten, a sophomore interpersonal/organizational communication major, got her foot in the Disney door. She works in the food and beverage department at Walt Disney World but hopes to eventually move up the ranks and use her degree to work in communications.

"It's important to start looking before you graduate," Vanhouten said. "Start building those relationships now."

Career Services offers students resources to make them more employable, such as résumé-building and job-interview seminars, as well as hosting job expose with potential employers in the Central Florida area.

"It's a competitive job market, not a zero job market," Hansen said. "You just need to position yourself to be more competitive."