Home » Living » Career » The Most Useless College Degrees – Sociology, Psychology and the Arts
The times they are a changing! Just a decade ago, the most coveted life accomplishment to ensure life success was a college degree. Today, in an economy that is dwindling – and where entrepreneurship is often occurring outside of the brick and mortar walls of college, many professionals, and institutions are rethinking the importance of college as a secondary education.
In the United States, the vast majority of high schools offer technical programs and dual enrollment programs which enable a graduating senior to leave high school with a viable degree that enables them to work professionally. More so, with the availability of academic writing services and professional essay writers who can help students with their assignments, studying becomes easier. The same cannot be said for those attending four-year universities. Recently, the Harvard Law School published a report that stated 5/6ths of all graduating law students are struggling to find a job – and are unable to find work in the field of their choice. So what are these students to do with their high dollar educations, student loans, and fancy dreams? Meanwhile, the kid in high school who went to a trade school to become a licensed electrician or nurse – has spent the past 5 years employed, owns their own home and is on the fast track to success.
This has many people wondering what are the most useless college degrees to obtain in this day and age.
According to the Inquisitr, the worst college degree to pursue – and the one most highly pursued is a liberal arts degree. According to Forbes magazine, far too many families fail to realize that high dollar colleges are actually businesses who put a lot of money and effort into the trying to persuade people to buy their product. By the time a college graduate with a liberal arts or business degree graduates, they will likely only be able to find a job that makes an estimated $10 to $12 an hour. Another worthless degree is one in IT or Computer Science. Sure, we live in a technological age but the truth remains that most IT people make an estimated $38,000 per year, which will barely make the payment on student loans accumulated after 5 years of hard work. The reason that many of these light degree programs are so worthless is because businesses today are taking advantage of freelance or contract work that replaces the need for full time employees. Making the first step to start your own business can be a difficult venture Nowloan have recently released a very informative article regarding setting up anew business and examples of the cost. If your job can be done remotely by someone that a company does not have to pay benefits to, provide office space for, or be held to laws and regulations, chances are you have chosen a degree path that is not desirable.
Even more frightening, is that according to the Federal Reserve student loan debt is the fastest increasing debt in the United States. With the ‘average student’ owing near $30K, they will likely be paying off this costly debt well into their 30’s or even their 40’s. Student loan debt is currently one of the only debts not forgivable by bankruptcy.
According to Fox News Network, a college degree is worthless if you cannot expect a return on the investment in the education.
The Top 8, most worthless college degrees based on earnable lifetime income are as follows:
- Sociology. Based on a poor return of investment, and with the market flooded with so many people seeking sociology degrees to do a white variety of jobs, this degree can make you virtually un-hirable. And the average income rests around $32,000 per year.
- Fine arts. No matter how much the arts are revered, unless you can put your art to work for you – chances are it won’t pay off in the end.
- Education. Nearly 2 out of every 3 degrees earned in 2010, according to Fox news was an education-based degree. This means the market if flooded with people hoping to engage in the world’s noblest profession. Worse, teachers pay is not that great. On the flip side, if family in the future is important to you – then teaching can be a great job where you can still remain with your family.
- Theology. You would think with God on your side, all things would be possible. The problem is that the earning for a pastor are minimal, and there are a lot of politics involved as well.
- Tourism/Travel. The vast majority of degreed individuals in the tourism industry earn salary based on commission. The problem is that tourism is market driven, and the short and long-term tourism markets do not look good.
- Nutritionist. If you are going for healthcare, go a little further and get your RN.
- Psychology. Unfortunately, clinical psychology doesn’t pay well unless you are Dr. Phil and being backed by Oprah. Analysts believe that this is another degree where just too many people are flooding the market with qualified applicants.
- Communications. The range of jobs that you can land with a communication degree is wide. However, the pay off is not. You would be better off working from the ground up in a company and being promoted to earn a healthy paycheck.
The bottom line is that a college education is not a guarantee of a happy, middle class lifestyle. While it is true that you will be happier in life doing something you love, and that education is important – it is also necessary to think long and hard before investing time and money into a degree program that may not enable you to recoup your investment. Trade and technical schools are making a comeback, and as unemployment rates of well-educated people hit all time highs, many highs school seniors are contemplating the efficacy of pursuing trade type careers.
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Stef Daniel
Stef Daniel is the 40ish year old, experienced (meaning crazy already) mother of count ‘em…4 daughters (yes, she takes prayers) who have taught her nearly E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G she needs to know about raising kids and staying sane.
22 Responses
I disagree about psychology. There is a lot you can do with it. I am majoring in psychology and planning on earning a masters in gerontology. Gerontologists make excellent money, but without majoring in psychology, I would go into my masters not knowing anything. You can also go into social work. Depending on the kind you do, you can make pretty good money. “Unless you’re Dr. Phil or backed by Oprah…” that’s a load of crock. Psychologists make excellent money, especially if they’re in private practice. The times when psychology is useless is when you stop at a bachelors. Then you can’t do anything with it.
In reference to other majors, $48,000 to start per year isn’t actually all that shabby. That is a living wage and most places you can live comfortably on it. Let’s be real here, you’re not going to make much more than that starting out anyway.
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A BA in psychology landed two friends colleagues in excellent careers. One is an administrator with Disabled Student Services at a major university, and another works for Child Protective Services as a case worker. Both own homes and are in their fifties now. Those jobs exist!
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I agree ! College is an outdated, overpriced, inefficient and time consuming endeavor. All it does is create a pile of debts, and EMPLOYEES. Read that again, EMPLOYEES. A.K.A … modern day slaves. Contrary to how society and education has brainwashed people. Being a lifelong employee is no accomplishment. The fact that between college and employment. Working for 40-50 years… just to be able to retire ?! Inefficient. Education is a business. So they have to keep most of society brainwashed that college is so wonderful and the only way ! Get FINANCIALLY educated. Extensive financial literacy and education is the only way. Of course, college doesn’t teach this. And, if the FAKE teachers.. The professors. Had real financial education and literacy. They would be out there making big money. Rather than chasing after a measly paycheck, desperate for job security … (yawn) and a pension.
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“Another worthless degree is one in IT or Computer Science.”
That is the point in the article when I realized this is garbage. Someone needs to do their research and not classify these two as the exact same. Computer Science has got to be one of the most useful 4-year degrees imaginable. IT is more of the maintenance side, whereas CS is more of the creative side of creating software. There is a vacuum in the job market right now for Software Engineering positions. There are so many companies in need of Software Engineers that people who study Computer Engineering or Electrical Engineering are getting pulled into these non-hardware related jobs because there’s not enough people graduating in CS to keep up with the demand. The median pay is around 56k but its not too difficult to start at 70k or higher straight out of a 4 year university. Computer Science is worthless? This article is worthless.Reply
Agreed, this article is trash, the author was doubtlessly in the bottom 20% of his graduating class and clueless as to why he can’t get a job.
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While this is an important topic for prospective students, it’s a topic should probably be addressed by someone who knows what they are talking about. “Most Useless Degrees” is the type of dismissive language that a steroetypical culture warrior would use, not a journalist or an expert on the matter.
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Look at that, Jodi Arias graduated from college.
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I’m going to have to agree. Computer science is an ever changing field so what you know today won’t apply tomorrow. Sociology/Psychology are the most popular for people who didn’t learn much in K-12 and are bad at math; the reason is because they are so easy. Those who have sociology and psych degrees tend to get advanced degrees due to the low utility for the undergrad, no different than general studies. Study accounting and finance—much more useful. Also, gender studies and cultural studies are a waste—travel and library books can get you up to speed.
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Holy hell, you’re incredibly ignorant.
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My daughter graduated from UT atntue top of her class and is working as a Ptivate school teacher. My niece company recently phased out her position as an accountant due software upgrade. The market for degrees are flaky.
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Psychology was the most challenging degree at my university! And the only degree that actually studies appropriate science!
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Yet another article to encourage young people to jump off bridges and kill themselves. Steph, I pray you aren’t feeding this garbage to you children. Contrary to popular belief, many people do things that they are passionate about despite not making six figures, i.e. psychologists, pastors, educators, people who work in tech… basically everything you listed as not worthwhile. It’s sad that we live in an age where IG models and YouTubers are considered “professions”. God help us all!
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i disagree with sociology although it might be hard to get a job which is common with every course or profession this course is actually slept on. In the USA sociologists make a median annual wage of 83,420 dollars a year. sociologists straight out of college earn about 53,00 dollars a year well i don’t know if thats good but it’s definitely good for me. SIGH IGNORANCE!!!!!
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Certainly! I agree with you 👍
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I really hope this garbage isn’t being fed to the authors children because I disagree about Sociology. I’m currently starting my bachelors degree in Sociology and then I will get my Masters in Behavioral Health. At the bachelors level you can get a job at job as a Behavioral Health Technician or a Case Manager at best, both relatively great paying jobs starting out. You can also work as an investigator for CPS all while earning LCSW hours for your License if you plan to go that route. I really dislike articles like these because I feel like they are written from a biased point of view. Nobody should expect to make 6 figures right out of college because that’s just foolish. As with anything you have to build your brand from the ground up no matter what degree you have. Only then will you truly be successful but everyone starts somewhere
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It’s sad to see these majors on the list. There is a great need for professions in education and sociology and tourism, but they are paid very poorly. The field of education in particular is undervalued, I think.
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Your point is pretty valid 👍
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Hey Stef,
I looked at all your other articles titles. You’re a right wing hack. You should never offer your opinions to others again. Become a mute, not even a mime… That’s how worthless you are.
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The course anyone studied those not matter, what matters is the impact you used it to create for yourself, people around and the society at large. Because someone can equally study engineer, medicine,law etc without a Job. So there is a dignity in every labour. those u thought there’s is useless will get a job before u.
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What about economics and sociology?
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This is a condescending, inane article. Declaring an entire field or interest as “worthless” based on average income is not only insulting and idiotic; it’s incorrect. I know plenty of people with these degrees making a decent income, and most importantly: they are HAPPY. Money isn’t indicative of the entirety of something’s worth. Stef Daniel, I hope you manage to break away from the capitalistic propaganda that caused you to write this garbage.
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The author is missing the point. College is not a trade school where you learn specific job skills. You go there to learn how to write, think analytically, and understand complex subjects. Skills highly valued in the workplace. It does not really matter what you studied, but the fact you had the discipline and intelligence to complete a 4-year degree program. Need to determine what you value in life and the type of work you think you would be good at. College is not for everyone. For some people, a trade school is a better option.
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