Hey there! If you’re reading this, you’re probably standing at one of life’s biggest crossroads: choosing what to study. Or maybe you’re already in the thick of it, buried under a mountain of textbooks, and a tiny, nagging voice in your head is whispering, “Is this even going to lead to a job?”
First things first: take a deep breath. You’re not alone. This is a universal student anxiety. The landscape of work is changing faster than ever, driven by artificial intelligence, automation, and global economic shifts. What was a hot degree five years ago might be cooling off, and what seems obscure could be the next big thing.
This list isn’t meant to trash your dreams or declare any field of knowledge inherently worthless. Knowledge is never useless. The critical thinking, research skills, and perseverance you gain in any degree are lifelong assets. However, from a strict, direct-to-employment, return-on-investment perspective—especially considering soaring tuition costs—some degrees are currently viewed by employers as having a weaker link to specific, in-demand jobs.
Think of this as a strategic guide, not a judgment. We’ve compiled this list by analyzing 2025 hiring trends, employer surveys (like those from the National Association of Colleges and Employers), job growth projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and feedback from career counselors and hiring managers. The “useless” tag here specifically means: degrees that often require significant additional training (like a master’s or certifications), are in fields with shrinking demand, or don’t clearly articulate their skill set to the modern job market.
So, let’s dive in. Remember, for every degree on this list, we’ll also explore how to make it useful if it’s your true passion.
1. Performing Arts (Theater, Drama, Musical Theater)
· Why It’s Challenging in 2025: The performing arts industry is the epitome of a "winner-takes-most" market. Employment is overwhelmingly project-based, fiercely competitive, and often low-paying for the vast majority of practitioners. While streaming has created more content, it hasn’t necessarily created more stable, full-time acting careers. Employers outside the arts often don’t know how to translate "played Hamlet" into corporate skills, despite the incredible discipline it requires.
· The Employer Perspective: In a corporate hiring manager’s mind, the direct link to a business need is fuzzy. They might see a resume full of short-term gigs and wonder about stability and relevant hard skills.
· How to Make It Powerful: Double major or minor strategically. Pair it with Business, Marketing, Communications, Education, or even Physical Therapy. Become the actor who also knows digital marketing for self-promotion, or the dancer who understands arts administration. Build a stunning digital portfolio (TikTok, YouTube, professional website) that showcases your work. Develop related technical skills like stage management, lighting design, or video editing, which can offer more consistent freelance work.
2. Fine Arts (Painting, Sculpture, Studio Arts)
· Why It’s Challenging in 2025: Similar to performing arts, the traditional fine arts path is incredibly difficult to monetize sustainably. The gallery system is narrow, and making a living solely from sales is rare. Employers in standard industries may see the degree as purely creative without applied structure.
· The Employer Perspective: Without a clear portfolio of commercial or digital work, employers may struggle to see the application. The key is translation.
· How to Make It Powerful: Pivot hard into the digital and commercial world. Learn graphic design (Adobe Creative Suite mastery is non-negotiable), UI/UX design, concept art for games/film, or become a prodigy at 3D modeling (Blender, Maya). These are high-demand skills where your artistic eye is a massive advantage. Build a client-focused portfolio on Behance or Dribbble. An MFA with a digital focus can be a great bridge.
3. Philosophy:
· The Classic “What Are You Going to Do With That?” Degree.
· Why It’s Challenging in 2025: The challenge is purely about marketing. Philosophy graduates often possess top-tier skills in logical reasoning, argument deconstruction, and ethical analysis—highly valuable in our age of misinformation and complex problems. However, the degree name alone doesn’t signal a specific job function.
· The Employer Perspective: At the initial resume screen, a recruiter for a data analyst or project manager role might pass over "BA in Philosophy" in favor of a more obviously related field.
· How to Make It Powerful: You must become a translator of your own skills. Frame your degree around outcomes: "A degree focused on formal logic, complex problem-solving, and persuasive communication." Combine it with concrete, demonstrable skills. Learn to code (Python is great for logic lovers), get a certification in data analysis, paralegal studies, or technical writing. Philosophy majors can be phenomenal in law, AI ethics, compliance, and management consulting—but you have to build the bridge.
4. Communications (General/Undifferentiated)
· Why It’s Challenging in 2025: This is a surprise entry for many. Communications is a vital field, but the generic "Communications" degree has become a catch-all. In 2025, employers want specialists: Digital Marketing Managers, Content Strategists, Social Media Analysts, Public Relations Specialists with crisis experience, Technical Writers, or UX Writers. A broad communications degree without focus can seem outdated.
· The Employer Perspective: "Communications" is too vague. They want to see expertise in specific platforms (SEO, Google Analytics, Mailchimp, Hootsuite), writing samples, and campaign results.
· How to Make It Powerful: Specialize, specialize, specialize. From day one, choose a track. Take every digital marketing certification you can find (Google Analytics, HubSpot). Build a blog or social media presence as a living lab. Complete internships focused on a specific niche (e.g., healthcare PR, B2B social media). Your degree becomes the foundation; your portfolio becomes your job ticket.
5. English Literature / Creative Writing
· Why It’s Challenging in 2025: The narrative is similar to Philosophy. The core skills—critical analysis, synthesizing information, and masterful communication—are desperately needed. Yet, the direct career path is not always clear. The dream of being a full-time novelist or poet is, for most, just that—a dream that doesn’t pay the bills.
· The Employer Perspective: They see a skilled writer, but wonder: Can they write for our audience? Can they write sales copy, technical manuals, or engaging web content?
· How to Make It Powerful: Embrace the “applied writing” mindset. Your deep understanding of narrative is a superpower in marketing (storytelling sells). Minor in Marketing, Information Science, or Business. Learn about SEO and content marketing. Go into technical writing, where you can command a great salary explaining complex products. Teach English abroad. Use your analytical skills in editing, publishing, or as a content strategist. A portfolio of diverse, real-world writing samples is key.
6. Anthropology / Archaeology
· Why It’s Challenging in 2025: These are fascinating fields that help us understand humanity. However, tenured academic and pure research positions are extremely scarce. Cultural resource management (CRM) jobs in archaeology exist but are limited and often low-paying.
· The Employer Perspective: They may not understand how studying ancient cultures or social systems applies to a corporate setting.
· How to Make It Powerful: Leverage your research and human-centric skills. Anthropology is essentially the study of human behavior—incredibly relevant to user experience (UX) research, market research, and human-centered design. Take courses in statistics, data visualization, and design thinking. Learn qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. Position yourself as someone who can understand customer behavior and cultural trends. A master’s in UX or Market Research can be a perfect pivot.
7. Fashion Design (At Low-Profile Schools)
· Why It’s Challenging in 2025: The fashion industry is brutally competitive. A degree from a non-top-tier fashion school (like FIT, Parsons, Central Saint Martins) often doesn’t provide the industry connections or prestige needed to break in. The rise of fast fashion and direct-to-consumer digital brands has also changed the landscape.
· The Employer Perspective: They look at school reputation and, most importantly, your portfolio and internship experience. Without a stellar, professional portfolio and relevant contacts, it’s very hard to get a foot in the door.
· How to Make It Powerful: If you’re not at a top school, you must out-hustle everyone. Build a phenomenal online portfolio. Master industry-standard software like CLO 3D and Adobe Illustrator. Complete multiple, relentless internships. Network aggressively on LinkedIn and at industry events. Consider specializing in a high-demand niche like sustainable design, athletic wear tech, or costume design for film/games. A parallel business degree is a huge asset.
8. Music (Performance, General)
· Why It’s Challenging in 2025: The path of the professional orchestral musician or soloist is narrow, with auditions that are few and far between. The income from teaching private lessons or gigging can be unstable.
· The Employer Perspective: Again, it’s about perceived skill translation outside the specific field.
· How to Make It Powerful: Diversify your musical skill set. Learn audio engineering, sound design for film/games (a booming field), music therapy (requires certification), or become an expert in music software (Ableton, Pro Tools, Logic). Combine it with a Business minor to work in arts administration, music publishing, or at a streaming service. Music performance teaches discipline, teamwork, and emotional intelligence—frame it that way!
9. Criminal Justice (Without Further Specialization)
· Why It’s Challenging in 2025: For many law enforcement roles, a CJ degree is not required—agencies have their own academies. For competitive federal jobs (FBI, Homeland Security), they often prefer degrees in more specialized fields like Computer Science, Accounting, or Foreign Languages. The degree alone can be limiting.
· The Employer Perspective: For corporate security or compliance roles, they may prefer someone with a business or IT background.
· How to Make It Powerful: Specialize within the field. Pair it with Cybersecurity, Forensic Accounting, Data Analysis, Psychology, or Computer Science. This makes you a candidate for digital forensics, financial crime investigation, intelligence analysis, or cybersecurity roles—all growing rapidly. Get relevant certifications (CompTIA Security+, CISSP later on).
10. Psychology (Bachelor’s Level Only)
· Why It’s Challenging in 2025: This is crucial: Psychology is an incredibly popular and valuable field, but a bachelor’s degree alone is not a terminal professional degree. You cannot become a licensed therapist or counselor with just a BA/BS. Many direct-help roles require at least a master’s.
· The Employer Perspective: They know this. A BA in Psych qualifies you for entry-level human services or admin jobs, but not for the high-skill, high-paying roles the field is known for.
· How to Make It Powerful: Go in with a plan for graduate school (Clinical, Counseling, Industrial-Organizational, School Psychology). If you want to stop at a bachelor’s, double major or minor in a highly complementary field: Marketing (for consumer behavior), Human Resources, Business, Sociology, or Data Science (for research). This opens doors to HR, market research, user research, and sales.
11. Liberal Arts / General Studies (Without a Clear Focus)
· Why It’s Challenging in 2025: In an era of specialization, a degree that proudly proclaims its broadness can be a tough sell. It can signal a lack of direction or commitment to a particular skill set.
· The Employer Perspective: They may appreciate the well-roundedness but will ask, "What specific problems can you solve for us?"
· How to Make It Powerful: Create your own narrative. Use the flexibility of the degree to craft a unique, interdisciplinary skill set. For example, combine courses in Environmental Science, Political Science, and Economics to position yourself for sustainability policy work. Build a stunning portfolio, complete multiple internships in different fields to find your niche, and be prepared to tell a compelling story about how your unique combination of knowledge is an asset.
12. Religious Studies / Theology
· Why It’s Challenging in 2025: Career paths are largely confined to ministry, academia, or non-profit work, all of which are niche and often lower-paying. The direct application to the secular corporate world is not obvious.
· The Employer Perspective: Similar to Philosophy, they may miss the transferable skills in ethics, cultural understanding, and textual analysis.
· How to Make It Powerful: Focus on the applied skills of interpretation, counseling, and community leadership. This is excellent preparation for careers in non-profit management, counseling (with further degrees), mediation/conflict resolution, ethics compliance (especially in healthcare or tech), or work with NGOs and international organizations. Pair it with a degree in Social Work, Public Administration, or International Relations.
13. Geography (General)
· Why It’s Challenging in 2025: The old image of map-making is gone, but the degree name hasn’t fully shaken it. Pure physical geography jobs are limited.
· The Employer Perspective: They might not realize what modern geography entails.
· How to Make It Powerful: Run, don’t walk, into the tech side. This is one of the most misperceived degrees with massive potential. Modern geography is Geographic Information Systems (GIS). GIS analysts are in huge demand in urban planning, logistics (think Amazon and UPS), environmental consulting, public health, disaster management, and marketing analytics. Load up on GIS courses, get certified (ESRI certifications are gold), and learn to code (Python for spatial analysis). Rebrand yourself as a Spatial Data Analyst.
14. Photography
· Why It’s Challenging in 2025: The professional photography market has been democratized (thanks to amazing smartphone cameras) and saturated. Clients often expect video and multimedia content, not just stills. Stock photography income has plummeted.
· The Employer Perspective: They want a multimedia content creator, not just a photographer.
· How to Make It Powerful: Expand your toolkit immediately. Become a master of videography, drone piloting (get licensed), and video editing (DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro). Learn how to run the business side: client management, contracts, and marketing. Specialize in a lucrative niche like real estate, corporate event videography, or product photography for e-commerce. Your eye for composition is your base; your technical and business skills are your livelihood.
15. Hospitality & Tourism Management (Post-Pandemic Context)
· Why It’s Challenging in 2025: The industry has rebounded but has been fundamentally changed. Many management roles now prioritize operational experience over a specific degree. The pay at lower and mid-levels can be low for the demanding hours.
· The Employer Perspective: They often value years of on-the-job experience in a hotel or restaurant just as much as, if not more than, the degree.
· How to Make It Powerful: Combine the degree with high-value, transferable skills. Specialize in Revenue Management (a data-driven, analytical role that pays very well), Event Technology, or Digital Marketing for hospitality brands. Minor in Data Analytics or Business. Use your degree to fast-track into corporate roles for large hotel chains, cruise lines, or experience-based travel tech companies (like Airbnb Experiences). Internships at prestigious brands are critical.
The Big Picture: How to Future-Proof ANY Degree:
Before you panic or change your major, remember this: No degree is a guaranteed ticket to a job, and no degree is a guaranteed dead-end. It’s all about what you do with it. Here’s your 2025 action plan, regardless of what you study:
1. Develop T-Shaped Skills: Have broad knowledge (the top of the T) but one or two deep, demonstrable, technical skills (the stem of the T). This could be data analysis, digital marketing, coding (even just HTML/CSS and Python basics), graphic design, project management (get a CAPM cert), or mastery of a key industry software.
2. The Portfolio is Non-Negotiable: You can no longer just have a resume. You need a digital footprint. A personal website with a blog, a LinkedIn profile optimized with keywords, a GitHub for coders, a Behance for creatives—this is your proof. Create work before you’re hired.
3. Internships & Experiential Learning Are Everything: Theory is fine, but applied experience is king. Do multiple internships, co-ops, or freelance projects. This is where you build your network and your resume simultaneously.
4. Learn to Translate Your Skills: This is the most important career skill of all. You must be able to articulate how analyzing Shakespearean themes makes you a better content strategist, or how ethnographic research methods make you a brilliant UX researcher. Use the language of business: problem-solving, project management, stakeholder analysis, ROI.
5. Embrace the Hybrid Path: The most interesting jobs in 2025 exist at the intersection of fields. Be the philosopher-coder. The artist-data analyst. The biologist-writer. Combine your passion with a marketable skill to create a unique and in-demand profile.
Final Thought: Choosing a field of study is a blend of passion and pragmatism. The worst degree is the one you pursue with no plan, no engagement, and no effort to connect it to the world outside the classroom. The best degree—even if it’s on this list—is one you pursue with eyes wide open, actively building bridges between your passion and the problems the world needs solving. You’ve got this.
Now, go build your unique, future-proof career path.
