College Degrees Are Now Useless is a sentiment gaining traction as more employers ditch traditional degree requirements and prioritize real-world skills and experience. With the rise of self-made millionaires on platforms like TikTok and the growing capabilities of AI tools, it’s fair to question if a four-year degree is still worth the cost and time. The truth is, some degrees are more valuable than ever, while others fail to deliver a worthwhile return on investment.
The key is relevance. If you invest four (or more) years of your life and tens of thousands of dollars, you must ensure you’re walking away with something more than just a piece of paper and a student loan the size of a mortgage.
The value of a four-year degree is increasingly being questioned. A 2024 Pew Research Center survey found that nearly half of Americans (49%) believe it’s less important for securing a well-paying job than it was two decades ago. Major companies like Apple, IBM, and Hilton have eliminated degree requirements for many roles, instead opting to evaluate candidates based on their experience and practical skills. A 2022 study by the Burning Glass Institute revealed that millions of job postings have dropped bachelor’s degree requirements, and a 2020 analysis found a similar trend for positions like production supervisors. These shifts signal a growing recognition that a general college education often fails to deliver the specific competencies employers need today.
Pew’s survey also found that more than half of college graduates (52%) are underemployed, working in roles that neither require a degree nor utilize the knowledge they paid to acquire. Even a decade after graduation, 45% remain in such positions.
Experts predict this trend will continue, with alternative credentials, certifications, and hands-on training gaining more relevance. By 2031, while most jobs will demand some form of postsecondary education, that doesn’t necessarily mean a bachelor’s degree, and for many careers, it may no longer be the smartest path.
5 Degrees That Make College Degrees Are Now Useless Seem True
With over a decade of experience in higher education as a professor and staff member, I’ve noticed that some degrees often fell short of providing job-ready value unless supplemented with practical, hands-on skills. So, which degrees are losing relevance fast?
- General Liberal Arts (With No Clear Direction): Philosophy, history, and English sound noble, but unless you pair them with a strong second major or a clear plan like teaching, they often leave graduates directionless. The biggest gaps are digital fluency and job-specific training. Most liberal arts programs don’t cover the tools modern workplaces run on, like Excel, SQL, project management platforms, or basic marketing and analytics software.
- Visual And Performing Arts: Unless you’re at Juilliard or already breaking through on your own, degrees in acting, dance, or fine art often end in debt and disappointment. The industry rewards talent, not diplomas. Graduates are rarely taught how to navigate the business side of the arts: branding, networking, freelancing, or managing contracts and finances.
- Communications: Once considered a solid fallback, a broad communications degree has lost its edge. Unless integrated with a specialization like digital marketing, media production, or public relations, it often lacks the technical execution and measurable outcomes employers demand. Knowing how to write or speak well is a start. Still, you must show that you can run ad campaigns on platforms like Google Ads, analyze engagement using tools like HubSpot, and create content tailored to SEO or social media algorithms.
- Gender Studies, Ethnic Studies, And Similar Fields: Important conversations? Absolutely. Marketable degrees? Not often. These majors lack a clearly defined job market outside of academia, and even that path is oversaturated. While exploring critical social issues, they rarely provide practical training for policy, community organizing, or nonprofit leadership roles.
- General Psychology Or Sociology (Undergrad Only): Psychology and sociology are fascinating, but a bachelor’s alone won’t get you far. Most roles in these fields are off-limits without a doctorate, leaving many graduates underemployed. What’s missing? Applied experience and specialized credentials. To make these degrees more marketable, students should consider pursuing credentials such as a social work certification or behavioral health technician training.
From coding to skilled trades, today’s job market rewards what you can do—not just what you studied.
Here’s What’s Working Now
“In today’s competitive landscape, college students must be more strategic about their education,” states Dr. Walter L. Tarver, III, founder of T3 Group, an educational consulting company. “When deciding between a liberal arts degree or a specialized degree, one must objectively weigh the return on investment.”
- Computer Science And IT: This field is booming, from AI to app development. It’s versatile, high-paying, and cuts across nearly every industry. The average salary for software developers is around $120,000 per year, with higher pay for specialized roles in AI and cybersecurity, depending on location. To level up, learn languages like JavaScript and SQL. Get certified in AWS, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure.
- Nursing: Nursing and allied health roles are in constant demand and hard to automate. Registered nurses average $82,000 annually, with higher pay for specialties and advanced practice roles. Get licensed via NCLEX-RN, then pursue advanced certifications like FNP, CEN, or CCRN. Allied health paths like radiologic technology or respiratory therapy offer strong starting salaries and job stability.
- Engineering: Mechanical, civil, electrical, or aerospace engineering careers are stable and essential. The average salary across disciplines is around $95,000 yearly, with top earners well into six figures. Internships are critical. Tools like AutoCAD, SolidWorks, and Python are musts. Certifications like the Engineer in Training (EIT) and the Professional Engineer (PE) license are keys to long-term growth.
- Skilled Trades And Technical Certifications: Skilled trades are booming, and they don’t come with $100,000 plus in student debt. Electricians, HVAC techs, welders, and plumbers average $80,000 a year, often with the potential to earn six figures through specialization or self-employment. Start with trade school or apprenticeships, then pursue certifications like EPA 608, NCCER, or state licenses.
- Business (But Make It Specialized): Specialized business degrees pay off. Finance, analytics, and supply chain roles are in high demand, with average salaries of $100,000 annually. CPAs and CFAs are sought-after in finance. Certifications like Google Data Analytics, Microsoft Power BI, and Tableau matter in analytics, and the APICS CPIM and CSCP are top-tier credentials for supply chains.
- Education (STEM And Special Ed): Teaching isn’t one-size-fits-all. STEM and special education teachers are in especially high demand. Average salaries for K–12 teachers vary by state but range from $50,000–$70,000 annually, with additional pay or bonuses for STEM and special ed certifications. Get licensed in your state, and consider credentials like CSET (STEM) or a Master’s in Special Education.
Not everyone needs—or wants—a four-year college degree unless you’re aiming for fields like medicine or law. In today’s market, it’s not the diploma that matters most; it’s what you can actually do.
Credit: Forbes.com
