The 10 Most Useless University Degrees in 2025

Last updated on September 22nd, 2025 at 07:56 am

The selection of the appropriate degree has never been more significant in the modern competitive job market. Though higher education provides knowledge and skills, not every degree will provide a good career opportunity and remuneration. It is too late for many students to find out that the field of their choice presents few opportunities, and they are left with debt but not many job opportunities. In this article, the 10 most useless university degrees are identified not because they are not valuable in regard to knowledge, but because they are not usually accompanied by significant returns in regard to career development, income, or on the employability index.

The Reason Why Certain Degrees are Deemed Useless

Some degrees are on the list of useless due to the fact that they are not directly needed in the industry, there are low employment rates, or the career they result in has low income levels relative to the tuition fees. Although all the subjects possess their own cultural and intellectual significance, in the job market, there is the issue of practicality. The 10 most useless university degrees in 2025 are listed in alphabetical order below.

The 10 Most Useless University Degrees

1. Anthropology

Although anthropology is a very interesting field of study that offers intriguing information about the societies and cultures of humans, career choices are not so many. Without further education or academic appointments, the likelihood of securing a job is low among the graduates. Anthropology majors are seldom sought after by employers in the business, technology, and finance fields, so it is not a safe choice among students looking to get stable jobs.

2. Dance

Dance degree majors concentrate on performance, choreography, and the history of movement arts. It is unfortunate that a small percentage of graduates get full-time jobs within this niche. There is little demand outside teaching or special entertainments, and dance employment is usually freelance, poorly paid, and competitive.

3. Drama/Theater

Passionate performers come out in the drama and theater industry, yet their careers are not stable. Very few of the graduates make it to professional acting, with a small percentage being in other unrelated jobs. The surplus of actors to the prospects contributes to the fact that this degree is not a good career security choice.

4. Education

Even though teaching is a noble profession, education degrees are usually accused of being oversaturated. The availability of teachers in most areas is already exceeding the number of jobs, and wages are below the workload. The absence of specialization will restrain the level of education in other careers outside of classrooms.

5. Music

A music degree may be a costly endeavor that may take years of work and study, yet there are few financially beneficial employment opportunities. Talented musicians can become successful, but the majority of graduates have to work in schools and colleges or take up part-time jobs and hardly make a living to cover the huge cost of the degree.

6. Philosophy

Philosophy hones the critical thinking ability, yet the level seldom translates into high-paying employment. Graduates tend to change professions to non-related areas such as law or business, yet without further schooling, graduates lack career options. Most employers are not keen on abstract academic studies but special or technical degrees.

7. Photography

Photography is an artistic hobby, yet technology and smartphones have relegated the profession. Most photographers are finding it difficult as freelancers in a saturated market with a reduced number of traditional jobs available. This is one of the least viable degrees due to the absence of a stable income.

8. Psychology

Psychology is a very popular major; however, the career opportunities afforded by the major are scarce at the undergraduate stage. The majority of good jobs are those that demand higher education, e.g., a master’s or a doctoral degree. Psychology graduates are only left with low-paying positions as assistants or clerks without further education.

9. Studio and Fine Arts

Although the creative aspect is developed in fine arts, job opportunities are few. Artists are undercut by stiff competition and economic insecurity. Many of them are not able to earn a living unless graduates get their names known or get employment in teaching institutions. The degree hardly ensures long-lasting employment.

10. Travel and Tourism

Travel and tourism may be glamorous, but the jobs are seasonal and, in most cases, unpaid. Numerous jobs do not even demand having a degree, and so this is one of the professions in which job experience is more important than a university education. The industry is also unstable during global crises such as a pandemic or political unrest.

The Takeaway for Students

Although these degrees might be personally passionate and intellectually worthy, they do not provide good career results in many cases. Before students can commit themselves to a number of years of study and student debt, they must balance passion with reality. Students can get a more secure future by selecting the fields that have greater employability, including technology, healthcare, or engineering. Nevertheless, when one of those topics is an actual passion, it can still be done, hopefully, as a secondary subject or even a hobby with a more marketable degree.

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