College degrees that aren’t as valuable as they once were
Back in the late ’60s to the early ’80s, baby boomers were graduating from college with bachelor’s degrees that, in many cases, led them to impressive career paths.
Today’s generation would say that things in the job landscape have changed a lot. A bachelor’s degree is no longer a guarantee of a great career. Many young people must go on to study advanced degrees or training to even be considered for a role.
Here are some degrees from the baby boomer era that are quickly becoming obsolete in the digital age.
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of human evolution and culture throughout the ages. It appeals to students who are seeking an opportunity to complete deep research on humanity from a physical and historical perspective.
Unfortunately, anthropology graduates have one of the highest unemployment rates in the country at 7.90%. The main reason for this is that many anthropology careers require advanced degrees, so a bachelor’s degree alone won’t land many jobs.
Fine Arts
Degrees in fine arts, such as painting, drawing, and sculpture, currently face a 7.70% unemployment rate. For graduates in these degrees, it can be difficult to assess their employment rates since many work on a freelance or contract basis. Others rely on government grants or artist residencies. A degree in the fine arts likely won’t translate into a 9-to-5 corporate job, so graduates need to be prepared.
International Affairs
People with an international affairs degree study the economic, historical, and political relationships between countries. This degree is ideal for those who wish to work with global non-profit organizations or as a public policy analyst. Unfortunately, the degree is seen as a broad, interdisciplinary program that lacks teaching concrete skills. Students will likely need an advanced degree to break into the job market.
Environmental Studies
The issue with an environmental studies degree is that it is seen as too broad by many employers. Students will have to stand out with extracurriculars, internships, and specialized training to get a job out of college. The current unemployment rate for this degree is 6.30%.
Performing Arts
Similar to fine arts, graduates in performing arts like theater, singing, and playing musical instruments also don’t have a linear career path. Many of these graduates will rely on contracts for specific roles or performances. Others might find more steady work if they are hired as part of a performing group with a dedicated season. For this degree, learning to teach their craft through acting or music lessons is one way to make a steady income while using their educational background.
Information Systems And Management
Information Systems and Management seems like a cutting-edge degree that would be sought after in the digital age. The degree focuses on using technology to organize business operations, from storing information to implementing employee training. However, this is a field that has been hit hard by a competitive market, with new job openings being rare or younger candidates being passed over for more experienced workers.
Physics
Surely a degree in physics would lead to guaranteed employment, right? Surprisingly, no. Graduates with a general science degree like physics often struggle to find work, with the unemployment rate for this degree sitting at 6.60%. In order to find meaningful work in this field, students will need to go on to an advanced degree or pair their degree with another, more practical option, like teaching.
Art History
Art history is the study of visual arts throughout history, understanding why and how certain artistic movements emerged from society. It is an area of study that appeals to people with a passion for the arts who wish to do a deep dive into certain artistic periods. Unfortunately, specific jobs that require an art history degree are quite rare, although graduates can apply their skills to other career paths outside the realm of art history.
Computer Science
Recent grads with a computer science degree have a 7.0% unemployment rate. Similar to computer engineering, the field has become saturated with recent grads, making it difficult to secure a job right out of college. That, along with new technologies that have replaced human roles, has made this degree less valuable.
Psychology
Psychology is another broad degree that rarely leads to employment on its own. For those wanting to be a licensed psychologist, it requires the completion of a four-year college degree plus a doctoral program, supervised clinical training, and passing the national licensing exam. All in all, it takes about 8-12 years, and many students drop out before reaching the finish line.
Leisure and Hospitality
The hospitality and leisure industry highly prioritizes hands-on work experience over degrees. That means that post-secondary students must choose a program that includes work experience or internships to gain those valuable skills that are impossible to get otherwise. Since many entry-level roles in this field don’t even require a degree, it can be extremely competitive.
Mathematics
Graduates with a mathematics degree have a 5.80% unemployment rate. Those who pair their degree with another field of study, like accounting, financial services, or data science, have a better success rate of securing work.
Architecture
The current unemployment rate for those with an architecture degree is 6.80%, but these stats vary widely according to location. In areas with large population growth, architecture firms are looking for workers to meet the demand, although entry-level jobs have been reduced across the board. Those with an architecture degree might need to relocate to find work in their field.
General Communications
With the right experience and some hands-on skills, a communications degree can lead to an interesting and profitable career. Otherwise, the numbers can look bleak. Currently, communications graduates have high unemployment rates. In order to succeed in the job market, they will need extensive work and internship experience in the field.
Pharmacy
Here is another career that is tough for new grads, but in the long-term, guarantees employment. Location and the type of pharmacy work you want to do will also impact your chances of getting a job. The unemployment rate for this degree is 5.60% for new graduates, but this becomes lower over time as people gain work experience.
Theology and Religious Studies
The job market for those with a theology and religious studies degree can be mixed. Many are able to find work in their chosen field, but in the long-term, they might struggle with “underemployment,” where their job doesn’t fully tap into their full potential. This degree has one of the lowest median incomes for new grads aged 22-27, with them earning about $41,600 per year.
Commercial Art & Graphic Design
Commercial art and graphic design have been hit hard by the shift to AI-generated images. Graphic designers who are adept at networking and landing freelance opportunities can find success, as their connections can lead to future job opportunities. Those with this degree should also focus on creating high-quality and original work that will set them apart from other designers and AI.
Philosophy
Philosophy is another degree that has long had a reputation for being “useless”, but like a lot of degrees on this list, it needs to be combined with another area of study to seem valuable to future employers. In fact, philosophy graduates have lower unemployment rates than those in STEM fields because the degree can be quite versatile, focusing on strong analytical skills.
Sociology
Sociology is the scientific study of human societies, social interactions, and institutions. Researchers in this field can examine topics related to family structures, social inequalities, and crime. Since it is such a wide field of study, students will need to focus on a specific topic to land a career that interests them.
Political Science
Political science is another broad field of study that many students enter, making the entry-level job market extremely volatile. Students who wish to work in this field need to supplement their degree with extracurriculars, internships, and networking connections. The unemployment rate for this degree is currently 4.50%.
Marketing
Marketing is another popular college degree, and that’s where the problem lies. With so many choosing to study marketing, the job market is highly competitive. Another issue is that marketing degrees often don’t teach applicable skills, so graduates will need to do additional, hands-on training to become proficient at SEO, SEM, and analytics.
Biology
Biology degrees provide a strong foundation for students, but many will have to go on to advanced studies or specialized training to secure a role in this field. The unemployment rate for this degree is currently 4.30%.
Chemistry
A bachelor’s degree in chemistry is far from a guaranteed career path. The unemployment rate for this degree is 4.30%, forcing many new grads to pursue advanced degrees that allow specialization or pair this degree with another option like teaching to create a tangible career path.
General Business Studies
Those with a general business studies degree face a 4.30% unemployment rate. The main reason for this is that the degree is very common and lacks any sort of specialized skills. If you are trying to land a job with this degree, be sure to gain some experience in a targeted field and network as much as possible.
Early Childhood Education
Of all the degrees on this list, Early Childhood Education is one that is actually in high demand. People who pursue this degree can expect to find a job easily because of labor shortages. The challenge comes in maintaining the career long-term. Early childhood education workers experience higher levels of burnout because of job stress. They also cite low wages as a reason to leave the profession.
English Language And Literature
English majors are probably tired of hearing that their degree is useless. The truth is that those with an English language and literature degree have a 6.10% unemployment rate, but the degree is far from worthless. When paired with another practical degree or certificate like law or teaching, English graduates have a better chance of finding lucrative career opportunities.
Social Services
Working in the social services sector can be very rewarding, but those with a bachelor’s degree are often put on the front lines, exposing them to difficult working conditions and high turnover rates. Individuals with a Master of Social Work degree can expect steadier employment and higher compensation levels. However, since many individuals in this field work for nonprofits, the job market can be completely dependent on an organization’s funding and budget for the year.
