In today’s competitive job market, not every college degree delivers a clear path to employment. This post covers 15 degrees that often leave graduates under‑ or unemployed, explains why, and offers advice on what to do instead. Ready? Let’s dive in.
1. Fine Arts / Studio Arts / Art History
These are consistently at the top of “least valuable” degree lists. Median early‑career pay hovers around $40‑$45K, unemployment rates near 5–8%, and many grads end up under‑employed (CNBC). Art history and liberal arts show up frequently in unemployment rankings; for example, art history has a 6.6% unemployment rate and 59% underemployment (tdn.com).
2. Performing Arts / Theater Arts
Degrees in drama, dance, music performance—even performing arts broadly—end up with some of the worst job numbers. Underemployment can exceed 60%, while unemployment rises above 7% .
3. Philosophy
Great for critical thinking—but tough to translate into a job. Philosophy grads often need graduate study, and struggle with job prospects otherwise. Unemployment is about 9%, and underemployment over 55% (SOCIETEMAG.com).
4. Anthropology / Archaeology
While fascinating academically, these fields offer few entry‑level roles. Many jobs require a Master’s or PhD. Unemployment rates reach ~6.5% and underemployment ~53% (iepmommy).
5. Communications / Mass Media / Journalism
This broad major faces saturation. Many jobs in PR or media don’t require a degree, and competition is fierce. Unemployment ~5–6%, underemployment ~50%+ .
6. Creative Writing / English Language / Literature
Despite strong writing skills, many grads struggle to secure meaningful work. Publishing roles are scarce, digital skillsets often missing. Underemployment rates near 48–50% (Tipsaholic).
7. History / Liberal Arts / General Studies
Very broad and lacking specialization. Most students end up under‑employed or in unrelated roles. History grads face ~7.5% unemployment and ~53% underemployment; liberal arts similarly poor (unislumber.com).
8. Foreign Language / Ethnic Studies / Religious Studies
These teach valuable cultural insight—but few secure jobs without specialization. Foreign language and ethnic studies have high underemployment (~50–53%) (Reddit).
9. Hospitality / Tourism / Culinary Arts / Cosmetology
While appealing, service‑industry degrees often prioritize hands‑on experience over academic credentials. Pay is low, job security limited. Culinary grads average $33K/year; hospitality also ranks low (UMA Technology).
10. Social Work / Social Services / Human Development / Family Sciences
These degrees lead to meaningful careers, but many require advanced credentials, and salary growth is limited. Average early career wages around $31–$33K and high underemployment rates (iepmommy, CNBC).
11. Psychology / Clinical Psychology
Only bachelor’s often is insufficient to land clinical or counseling roles. Many students need a master’s or doctorate. Unemployment ~4.7–4.8%, under‑employment ~47–50% .
12. Animal & Plant Sciences / Biology / Agricultural Science
While important fields, many graduates find work only in research, farms or entry‑level labs. Wages early career around $42K, with underemployment rates near 52% (military.com, tdn.com).
13. Commercial Art & Graphic Design
Highly saturated field. Employers increasingly expect UX, coding, marketing skills not always covered in art degrees. Unemployment ~6%, underemployment ~33% (unislumber.com).
14. Physics
Requires strong math/science but bachelor’s alone rarely lands research or technical roles. Many go on to grad school. Early unemployment ~6%, underemployment ~31% .
15. Business Management / General Business
Though popular, general business majors often lack specialization, so underemployment rates can reach ~55% and unemployment ~5% .
Why These Degrees Often Struggle
1. Weak Career Alignment
Degrees like liberal arts and general studies don’t prepare you for any single, in‑demand job path, making graduates less appealing to employers who want specific skillsets.
2. Oversupply of Graduates
Fields like communications or psychology often produce more grads than available roles, driving underemployment upward.
3. Graduate School Requirements
Majors such as philosophy, anthropology or psychology often need a master’s or doctoral degree to be competitive, increasing debt and career delay.
4. Credential Inflation & AI Trends
Employers increasingly prefer skills-based hiring and certifications over general degrees. AI and automation reduce reliance on college credentials alone (UMA Technology, Forbes).
But—These Degrees Aren’t Always “Worthless”
Context matters. With smart planning, any degree may still be helpful:
- Double‑major, minor, certifications: e.g. art history + coding, philosophy + law prerequisites.
- Internships and real-world experience: Employers value tangible skills and accomplishments.
- Graduate education with focus: A master’s in counseling or library science can unlock jobs hidden at bachelor level.
Also many people thrive in niche, creative, or academic fields—just not with a pure, standalone bachelor’s in these majors.
Keyword Highlights
Throughout this post we’ve used key phrases like:
- “College degrees with low job prospects”,
- “Least employable college majors”,
- “Useless college degrees”—helpful for search engines and clarity.
Final Advice: How To Choose Wisely
- Research data on job outcomes: Use labor statistics, Fed studies, or credible university reports to compare employment rates.
- Match your interests with high-demand skills: Consider degrees aligned with healthcare, tech, engineering, or trade skills (e.g. nursing, computer science, industrial engineering—fields with underemployment often under 20%) (Wikipedia, UMA Technology, Moneywise, military.com, unislumber.com).
- Add practical skills: Data analysis, programming, design software, internships—things employers value more than just a degree.
- Consider trade schools or certificates: In many cases, shorter pathways can lead to faster, more stable income without piling on debt.
- Be realistic but flexible: If you’re passionate about a subject, pair it with something practical—creative writing + digital marketing, anthropology + UX research, etc.
Wrapping Up
A bachelor’s degree doesn’t guarantee a job. Degrees like fine arts, liberal arts, philosophy, anthropology, and communications often come with high underemployment and modest pay. But success isn’t impossible—smart planning, real experience, and skill-building can change outcomes.
Want help mapping your degree to a job-ready plan—or exploring alternate paths that match your interests and pay better? I’d be happy to guide you.
Let me know if you’d like a tailored consultant-style roadmap based on your interests or a specific major!
Sources and further reading:
- CNBC on least valuable degrees (CNBC)
- Societemag list of dead‑end degrees (SOCIETEMAG.com)
- Data on underemployment rates by major
- Forbes report on which degrees avoid underemployment (Forbes)
- Unislumber & other rankings (unislumber.com)
