College Graduates Earn $56,000 Average vs. $80,000 Salary Expectation, Survey Finds
A persistent gap between graduate salary expectations and actual entry-level wages raises questions about how higher education institutions communicate labor market outcomes to students before...
College graduates entering the U.S. workforce in 2025–2026 expect to earn approximately $80,000 per year in their first job, yet the average starting salary for bachelor's degree holders stands at roughly $56,000 annually — a difference of $24,000, or approximately 30 percent below stated expectations, according to survey data reported by Fox News on June 4, 2026, citing underlying labor market research. The outlet additionally reported that more than 40 percent of college graduates are currently classified as underemployed, meaning they hold positions that do not require a four-year degree.
The $56,000 average starting salary figure aligns with data published by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), which has tracked entry-level compensation trends through its annual Salary Survey. NACE's most recent publicly available reporting placed average starting salaries for Class of 2024 graduates in the range of $55,000 to $58,000 depending on degree field, with wide variation across disciplines such as engineering, liberal arts, and social sciences.
The underemployment figure — more than 40 percent — is consistent with research published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, which maintains a publicly accessible dataset on college labor market outcomes. The New York Fed defines underemployment as graduates working in jobs typically held by workers without a college degree and has reported underemployment rates for recent graduates in the 40–43 percent range in its most recent updates through early 2026.
The salary expectation gap carries potential policy relevance for federal higher education programs. Congress appropriates funding for the Department of Education's College Scorecard, a public-facing tool designed to provide prospective students with earnings data by institution and program. Whether the scorecard data is being effectively communicated to students prior to enrollment or at graduation remains a subject of ongoing oversight. The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce both hold jurisdiction over higher education disclosure requirements under the Higher Education Act.
What remains unknown is the specific survey methodology and sample size behind the $80,000 expectation figure cited in current reporting. The primary survey instrument and its full dataset have not been independently identified in a public federal filing or peer-reviewed release as of publication. The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program and the Census Bureau's American Community Survey would be the authoritative federal sources to confirm or refine both the expectation and actual-wage figures by degree level and field. A formal Government Accountability Office review of College Scorecard accuracy and student awareness would provide the most comprehensive public record on whether disclosure mechanisms are functioning as Congress intended.