Least Useful Degree: What Degrees Don’t Pay Off in 2025

When people talk about the least useful degree, a college program that offers little return on investment in terms of job prospects, salary, or career growth. Also known as worthless degrees, it often refers to programs that don’t clearly connect to in-demand skills or industries. It’s not about how hard the class was—it’s about whether it gets you closer to a job that pays well and lasts.

Many students pick degrees based on interest, family pressure, or tradition—not the job market. A degree in fine arts, a field focused on creative expression, often with limited full-time employment opportunities might sound fulfilling, but if you’re spending $100,000 on it and ending up with freelance gigs and side jobs, that’s not a career—it’s a hobby with debt. The same goes for certain liberal arts majors, programs that emphasize broad critical thinking but rarely train students for specific, paid roles. These aren’t bad paths, but they’re risky if you’re counting on them to pay your rent.

What really matters now isn’t the name on your diploma—it’s what you can do. Employers care about skills: coding, data analysis, project management, communication, problem-solving. A business administration degree, a common major that often lacks specialization and hands-on training might look impressive on paper, but if you can’t use Excel, manage a budget, or lead a team, it won’t get you far. Meanwhile, someone with a least useful degree but who taught themselves Python, built a portfolio, and landed freelance work is already ahead.

Look at the data: jobs in tech, healthcare, skilled trades, and public service are growing fast. Degrees tied to those fields—nursing, cybersecurity, electrician training, data science—have clear paths. But degrees that just teach theory without practice? They’re fading. The real question isn’t "Is this degree hard?" It’s "Will this get me hired?"

You’ll find posts here that dig into why some degrees look good on paper but fall flat in real life. We’ll show you which majors leave grads struggling, what employers actually want, and how to turn even a "useless" degree into something valuable—if you’re willing to adapt. No fluff. Just facts about what works—and what doesn’t—in today’s job market.