In today’s competitive job market, not all college degrees offer the same value. Some academic fields struggle to provide graduates with viable job opportunities and competitive salaries. This article explores twenty majors that are currently viewed as less desirable by employers, shedding light on why these degrees might not be the best investment for those looking to secure a stable and prosperous career.
Gender Studies
Gender Studies focuses on examining gender identity, roles, and relations. This field encourages critical thinking and analysis of societal structures. However, unlike more vocational fields, it typically has fewer direct career paths and generally lower earnings because it doesn’t lead directly to specific job roles. Graduates often pursue roles in academia, non-profits, or government, which may offer limited and competitive opportunities.
Psychology (Bachelor’s level)
A Bachelor’s degree in psychology often leads to fewer direct career paths and lower earnings because it primarily provides foundational knowledge without the specialized training required for high-paying roles in psychology. Most advanced positions in this field, such as clinical or counseling psychologists, require graduate-level degrees, limiting immediate job opportunities and higher income for bachelor’s graduates.
Philosophy
Due to their studies’ abstract and theoretical nature, philosophy majors often face challenges in finding direct career paths. While the major enhances critical thinking and analytical skills, these qualities are not always directly linked to specific job roles, leading to lower average earnings and fewer clear job opportunities compared to more vocational or technically focused disciplines.
Fine Arts
Due to its highly competitive field and the subjective nature of success in the arts, the fine arts major typically leads to fewer direct career paths and lower earnings. Graduates often pursue a range of nontraditional, freelance, or artistic careers, which may not guarantee a steady income. The industry’s reliance on networking and personal exposure further complicates consistent job opportunities.
Anthropology
Anthropology majors often face fewer direct career paths and lower earnings because the field is highly academic and specialized, focusing on human cultures and societies. This major typically requires advanced degrees for specialized roles, limiting immediate job opportunities. Additionally, many positions available to graduates are in academia, research, or non-profits, sectors known for offering modest salaries compared to corporate roles.
Music
The music major often leads to fewer direct career paths and lower average earnings because the field is highly competitive with limited job openings. Many music roles, such as performing or teaching, may not offer steady income or require additional gigs to make a sustainable living. Success in music frequently depends on networking, talent, and sometimes luck rather than just degree-based qualifications.
History
History majors are often seen as having fewer direct career paths and lower earnings because, unlike technical or professional degrees, they do not directly lead to specific job roles. Graduates typically need additional qualifications or experience to find specialized work. While it develops critical thinking and research skills, the direct application to high-paying jobs is less obvious, affecting its immediate economic value.
English Literature
English Literature majors often face limited direct career options and lower earnings because the field primarily focuses on academic skills like critical analysis and writing rather than specific vocational training. Graduates typically need additional qualifications or experience to secure well-paying jobs, making careers outside of education, publishing, or writing less straightforward compared to more directly applicable majors.
Sociology
Sociology is often linked with fewer direct career paths and lower earnings because it’s a broad field focused on studying society and human behavior, rather than teaching specific job skills. Graduates may need additional qualifications or experience to enter higher-paying roles, making initial job placement and salary growth challenging compared to more technical or professionally aligned majors.
Drama and Theater Arts
Drama and Theater Arts majors often face fewer direct career paths because the field is highly competitive with limited roles and opportunities. This major typically leads to lower average earnings as well, since many positions in theater, such as acting or stage management, offer irregular work and depend heavily on temporary projects with varying pay, rather than steady, salaried positions.
Liberal Arts
The Liberal Arts major typically leads to fewer direct career paths and lower average earnings because it broadly explores humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences without specializing in a specific professional field. This generalist approach provides diverse knowledge and critical thinking skills but may not offer the specialized skills often required for higher-paying, specific career opportunities directly after graduation.
Religious Studies
Religious Studies focuses on diverse beliefs, practices, and cultural contexts, fostering strong analytical and critical thinking skills. However, it often leads to fewer direct career paths as it is not typically aligned with specific vocational fields. Consequently, graduates might find lower average earnings and broader, rather than specialized, job opportunities compared to majors directly linked to industries with defined career trajectories.
Foreign Languages
Foreign Languages majors often face fewer direct career paths and generally lower earnings because specialized language skills alone may not meet the broader demands of many high-paying industries. While opportunities exist in teaching, translation, and diplomacy, these roles can be limited and highly competitive, often requiring additional qualifications or extensive experience to advance and secure higher-paying positions.
Art History
Art History majors often face limited direct career options as specialized roles like museum curators or archivists are scarce and highly competitive. Additionally, these positions often require advanced degrees, which can mean more time and expense. The field also typically offers lower earnings than sectors like technology or business, reflecting the broader undervaluation of arts and humanities in the job market.
Creative Writing
Creative Writing majors often face challenges finding direct career paths and higher earnings due to the competitive nature of writing-related fields. Many positions are freelance-based, which can lead to inconsistent income. While the major develops strong writing and communication skills, the market for lucrative writing positions is limited, often requiring further experience or credentials to advance in related careers.
Archaeology
Archaeology involves studying ancient cultures through their artifacts, but it typically offers limited direct career opportunities mainly within academia, museums, and cultural preservation. Jobs often require advanced degrees, and positions outside these areas are rare. Additionally, the field is not known for high salaries, with many positions being project-based or part-time, leading to lower average earnings compared to other professions.
Film and Photography
The Film and Photography major often leads to fewer direct career paths and lower earnings than other fields due to high competition and limited job opportunities. Many roles are freelance or project-based, leading to less financial stability. Additionally, the high equipment cost and the need for continuous skill updates can also impact earnings, making it a challenging field for consistent income.
Education (especially in the humanities)
The Education major, particularly in the humanities, tends to have fewer direct career paths and generally lower earnings because it primarily leads to teaching roles, which are often underpaid. Additionally, positions outside of teaching that utilize this background are limited, making the job market competitive and the financial prospects less lucrative compared to more specialized or technical fields.
Geography
Geography majors often face limited direct career paths and lower earnings because the field is too broad and less specialized compared to fields like engineering or business. While it offers diverse knowledge, this can translate to fewer specific job opportunities and roles that are less directly tied to high-paying industries, making it challenging for graduates to find relevant and lucrative positions.
Studio Arts
Studio Arts majors often face limited direct career paths and lower average earnings because the field is highly competitive with fewer structured job opportunities. Many roles require self-employment or freelance work, which can vary widely in income and stability. Additionally, the arts sector often has less funding and lower salaries than tech-heavy or business-oriented fields.
