Is There a Least Useful Degree? A Candid Look at College Choices and Career Impact
Posted on Jul 13, 2025 by Elara Greenfield
You probably know someone who put years into college, racked up massive debt, only for their degree to have little payoff. Maybe it’s the running joke about the person with the degree in underwater basket weaving (which, fun fact, isn’t actually a degree). Or maybe, like me, you’ve agonized over your kid picking a college major when all you hear in the news is panic about job markets, automation, and unpredictable futures. Yet, what does "useful" even mean when we talk about degrees? Is there truly a least useful degree, or is the question itself trickier than it sounds?
The Trouble With ‘Useful’: What Does It Even Mean?
First off, let’s unpack what people mean by "useful." Most families, when they invest in college, hope there’s a payoff—a good job, salary growth, maybe some job security. The media loves to rank degrees by starting salary or employment rates, pushing STEM to the top and shaming the arts or humanities. But is money the only metric that matters? Many folks with philosophy or art degrees end up in rewarding careers that need strong critical thinking or communication skills, like marketing, publishing, or even leadership roles. And I know teachers who say their drama or history degrees are the secret sauce behind their classroom charisma.
The metrics can be misleading. Take the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard: It shows median salaries 10 years after enrollment, but those numbers might miss entrepreneurs, freelancers, or those who took time out for family (hello, mothers like me!). Another catch is that "usefulness" shifts as society evolves. For example, tech boomed over the last two decades, but right now, layoffs and AI anxiety have even computer science grads thinking twice. Plus, a 2023 LinkedIn report found that transferable skills—creativity, empathy, adaptability—are increasingly more employable than narrow technical knowledge.
And let’s get real for a second—some people choose a major because they genuinely love the field. That counts for something, even if it doesn’t show up in salary stats. Still, when the stakes are high, and college is so expensive, knowing the risks with certain majors matters.
The Hard Truth: Degrees With Slim Job Prospects
Data doesn’t lie, but it can sting if you see your dream major on the “worst ROI” lists. The Federal Reserve Bank’s survey from 2024 showed that graduates in certain fields consistently face higher debt, lower pay, and less job security. Here’s a closer look at some degrees often labeled ‘least useful’ in strict career terms:
- Performing Arts and Visual Arts: According to Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW), fine arts, drama, and music have some of the lowest mid-career pay. It’s not rare for arts grads in the U.S. to earn less than $40,000 a year even after a decade, and unemployment hovers close to 10%.
- Philosophy and Religious Studies: Mid-career salary is typically below $50,000. Recent data shows these majors have a 7-12% underemployment rate (working in jobs that don’t require a degree) just a year out from school.
- Anthropology and Archaeology: The specialist job market is tiny. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates fewer than 800 new jobs annually in the country, mostly in academia or museums, and salaries are routinely under $55,000.
- Photography and Film Studies: Despite the growing content industry, the path is fiercely competitive, and a portfolio can matter far more than a degree. Only around 15-20% of grads land related full-time work in their first three years.
- General Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies: While these teach great critical thinking, the lack of specialization can make internships and jobs harder to find. Studies show up to 35% of these majors look outside their field within a year after graduation.
Check out this table for median annual salaries three years after graduation (U.S. numbers, drawn from Georgetown CEW and Survey of Earned Doctorates 2024):
| Degree | Median Salary (3 yrs post-grad) | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Fine Arts | $36,000 | 10% |
| Philosophy | $44,000 | 8% |
| Anthropology | $42,500 | 7% |
| Film/Photography | $38,500 | 11% |
| Liberal Arts | $39,000 | 9% |
| Business Admin (for comparison) | $58,800 | 5% |
| Computer Science (for comparison) | $73,200 | 3.5% |
But remember, these are median figures. That means plenty of arts grads do break out and thrive—there are always outliers. The problem is, for every Taylor Swift, hundreds are waiting tables or hustling for their break at 28.
Why Do People Still Pick These ‘Impractical’ Degrees?
This is where things get personal. If you talk to someone who chose one of these majors, you’ll likely hear passionate stories. I have a neighbor who studied illustration and now works as a children’s book author. It took years, lots of ramen, side gigs, and sheer persistence. For her, the “impractical” path turned magical, eventually. The scenario’s the same for theater majors who’ve spun their skills into teaching, event planning, or even law (dramatic negotiation, anyone?).
Creative fields draw people because of a deep love, a need to create, or the thrill of expression. There’s also a persistent belief (and sometimes true) that talent, a killer portfolio, and connections matter more than the diploma specifics. In fact, the National Endowment for the Arts’ latest survey found around 40% of working artists don’t have arts degrees at all—they trained on the job, or retrained later on. But there’s a flip side. Being happy in your work can mean you’re willing to accept lower pay, little job security, and patchwork gigs for years. I’ve also seen parents, including me, gently nudge their kids toward “safer” majors—think engineering or business—but passion’s hard to bottle up. Kael, my son, reminds me daily that interests can’t be forced, and pushing against a kid’s true calling only backfires. But that’s why honest conversations about career realities are so important, so kids don’t get blindsided.
On the good side, more universities have started offering double majors or minors, blending art with practical skills like business or data analysis. That’s a lifeline for students who want the creative core but don’t want to graduate broke or frustrated.
Choosing Wisely: How to Judge a Degree’s Real-World Value
If you’re helping someone pick a major (or picking one yourself), it’s not all doom and gloom. There’s a bunch of ways to play it smart, no matter your interests.
- Look Up Employment Data: Don’t trust college brochures—use real career data from sources like the Bureau of Labor Statistics or regional job boards. See what grads actually earn a few years down the road.
- Check For Transferable Skills: Communication, leadership, digital literacy, and adaptability open up job doors, even if your major is niche. Employers hire for skills, not just paper credentials.
- Get Experience Early: Internships, summer jobs, or freelancing in your field (or near it) changes everything. A philosophy major with project management chops will outshine peers with just classroom experience.
- Consider Hybrid Options: Double majoring (e.g., journalism + computer science), or picking a marketable minor, increases your flexibility.
- Network Like Crazy: For creative or “soft” fields especially, who you know is just as important as what you know. Go to industry meetups, local events, or even virtual job fairs.
Remember: a degree is a tool, not a guarantee. The more practical, adaptable, and proactive you are with it, the likelier you’ll score a job that excites you—and pays the bills.
The Bottom Line: Is There a Degree No One Should Choose?
It’s easy (and clicky) to bash the "least useful degree." But context is everything. Education, when it’s affordable and paired with real-world skills, isn’t a waste, but a stepping-stone. What’s useless for one person can be lifeblood for another. The trick is seeing past the marketing, the pressure, and the old myths—and demanding the data for yourself.
I keep telling Kael that, yes, some degrees will make landing a job harder. But nothing is set in stone. People build their own detours every day. You can make your path a little less rocky by knowing what you’re up against, asking hard questions before signing a student loan, and staying nimble no matter what you study. If you can pair passion with practical skills along the way, you won’t just survive—you might actually thrive. Now that’s what I call useful.