Heading to college can be great fun, but when tuition fees are so high, it’s important to put your money to good use and gain a degree you will actually use. Watch out for these 18 college degrees, as they may not offer much in terms of a career!
Art history
Studying art history is one of the most enriching majors, but job prospects are limited without additional specialization. With just two sectors in which you can pursue a career, many art history majors end up pursuing a master’s in art management or art curating to gain more opportunities.
Theater arts
Although being backed by a prestigious drama school is never a bad thing, educational training does not compare to what you’ll learn on the job. It’s much better to just get stuck into applying for drama roles, as those who are successful have genuine, raw talent, making the college degree irrelevant.
Philosophy
Philosophy is an intellectually stimulating study, but careers after graduation are limited. The subject helps develop skills that you could use across many careers, but the degree itself is rarely requested. Unsurprisingly, Times Higher Education says that most philosophy majors end up in careers that require a second degree or further training.
Anthropology
An anthropology degree is similar to philosophy; alone, it will not get you anywhere. You’ll need additional degrees to be employable, and many of these degrees are academic, requiring a significant time and financial commitment. It’s worth pursuing, but only if you have a strong educational mindset.
Gender studies
Gender studies is a niche field with restricted job prospects outside academia or advocacy. The subject doesn’t prepare you for any particular career path, at least for now, and has limited employability. Sadly, it’s an unavoidable reality that many with a gender studies major are told their degree is ‘useless.’
Fashion design
According to Zippia, 61% of fashion designers have a bachelor’s degree in the field. However, this highly competitive industry has limited job stability, and while the degree is important to a career, it’s not essential. Your portfolio will always speak louder than your college degree, just like with drama.
Fine arts
The fine arts industry often requires self-promotion and networking, with uncertain income prospects. It’s a field where your degree means relatively nothing, just like other creative degrees on this list, as your artistic skills speak for themselves. This industry is one where you are hired on talent, not education.
Music performance
Music is another performing arts field that is highly competitive with limited job stability. Again, it is a talent-based industry, and while the degree sounds nice, it doesn’t really mean anything to prospective employers. With low and unreliable incomes, the cost of education is usually not worth it.
Culinary arts
Long hours, low pay, and high competition in the culinary industry mean that a degree in culinary arts may be retired before it is utilized. Job opportunities will indeed be abundant for those with exceptional skills, but that’s true for any chef, not just those with degrees.
Hospitality management
Most success in the hospitality industry is through on-the-job training and climbing the career ladder, and you’ll rarely see employees with degrees. Whether you study hospitality management or not, you can still get to the same point in your career, so many consider this degree to be a waste of money.
Liberal arts
Studying liberal arts is often considered a DIY degree; it involves cross-disciplines, and the degree itself doesn’t tell prospective employers what you are actually trained in. This general degree may lack specific job market value as it doesn’t really tell anyone anything, so it’s best to choose something more recognizable.
Theology
Limited job opportunities are available to those who major in religious studies. Without further specialization or a related field, it is extremely difficult to secure a job after graduating with this major, and even if you do, CNBC points out that theology is one of the lowest-paying college majors.
Media studies
Media studies is a competitive field with a rapidly changing job landscape, yet it can be entered without a degree. It’s also a broad subject that covers all aspects of media without specializing in any, making it unhelpful for many job opportunities. Don’t waste your time and money on a media studies degree!
Sociology
Without advanced degrees or specialization, sociology is highly competitive. It’s a weak degree with a limited ROI and concerns skills that can be applied to any field but have no specific direction. It’s often a head-start in other careers, but it will rarely lead to a career itself.
Environmental studies
Studying environmental studies will inevitably result in a limited income. It requires additional certifications or advanced degrees for a competitive job market, and entry-level environmentalist jobs are not well paid. Those who have a high salary require exceptional training and usually specialize in engineering or technology.
Journalism
With print media declining, journalism is a shrinking market that requires adaptability to digital platforms. It’s also an industry that is heavily freelanced, making work unreliable and inconsistent. The industry involves a lot of hard work, and ultimately, your portfolio will always be more important than your education.
Creative writing
In the 21st century, influencers and celebrities are taking over the creative writing field, making this already competitive field extremely saturated. To make matters worse, AI has started automating many writing processes, rendering a college degree in writing pretty much useless.
General studies
This last useless degree speaks for itself: general studies lack specialized skills for specific job markets. College graduates are not prepared for any particular job market and will require additional training or certification. Even colleges that offer the degree, such as Northeastern State University, point out that it does not qualify someone for a particular job.
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