10 Worst College Degrees to Earn in 2015

By Holly Johnson Last updated May 21, 2015

http://www.thesimpledollar.com/10-worst-college-degrees-to-earn-in-2015/
If you want to be an actor, just start acting you dont need to spend tens of thousands of
dollars on college. Photo: Nic McPhee
Before you decide to go to college or, more specifically, before you agree to take on a
mountain of debt to pay for it you might want to make sure youre getting your moneys
worth from the experience.
Most people go to college to learn, better themselves, and prepare for a career, and many
students accomplish that goal. Some use their college years to become wiser and more wellrounded citizens, either through exposure to other students and their cultures or as a byproduct of
their extensive studies. Other students go to college for the sole purpose of following their
passion, and theres certainly nothing wrong with that. To be honest, its hard to fault
someone who has any of these goals in mind, especially since college can represent such a huge
investment.
And what an investment indeed. According to College Board estimates, the national average for
in-state tuition and fees at public, four-year universities came in at $8,893 during the 2013-14
school year. The total at private, four-year schools was $30,094. And no matter who you are,
thats a lot.
Still, its not all youll give up. Those four years spent in college also represent a time where you
wont earn much at all and anything you do earn will likely be used to pay for books, living
expenses, or student loans.

When College Doesnt Pay Off

Regardless of whether you attend a traditional or online college, most experts agree that a
bachelors degree is still a good investment overall. The tragic irony, however, is that many
students will actually graduate worse off than they were before they started. There are plenty of
reasons why this happens, of course, and each case is different but the main theme Ive
noticed is that, in many cases, failure can be directly attributed to their choice of college major.
Like it or not, some college majors continually produce inferior results for the students who
pursue them. And unfortunately, those results can lead both to trouble finding jobs and to
inadequate wages. That kind of double whammy is indeed unfortunate for these graduates, but
its not hard to predict at all. Why? Because the government offers up all kinds of help for those
who look.

10 Bachelors Degrees to Avoid in 2015

As with most things, a little knowledge can go a long way. In fact, simply learning more about
college degrees and their respective outcomes could be enough to deter anyone from wasting
their time and money on a path that is not worthwhile. Thats why it is important to educate
yourself on what might happen if you pursue a degree without thoroughly researching what your
future might look like. After all, how duped would you feel to find out the college degree you
earned was practically worthless?
Fortunately, were here to help. Using employment projections and wage data from the Bureau of
Labor Statistics and United States Department of Labor, weve compiled this list of college
majors you should seriously consider avoiding in 2015:

1. Communications
A bachelors degree in communications could lead to nearly any career in the realm of media,
visual arts, or broadcasting. Unfortunately, many of those careers, especially those in print
media, have ventured into dinosaur territory when it comes to their future potential.
For example, the U.S. Department of Labor predicts that employment for reporters and
correspondents will actually decrease 14% in the decade leading up to 2022. Meanwhile,
positions for editors are expected to decrease 2% during that decade, and employment for
proofreaders and copymarkers will drop 1%.
Whats worse, none of those jobs is particularly lucrative anyway. According to the BLS, their
median annual wages for 2013 were as follows: proofreaders and copymarkers ($33,130),
reporters and correspondents ($35,600), and editors ($54,150).

2. Psychology
A bachelors degree in psychology will teach you how the human brain works and why humans
act the way they do. Unfortunately, it wont prepare you to be a psychologist; youll need a
doctoral degree for that.
So, what do you do with a bachelors degree in psychology? The following careers and their
corresponding annual median wages will give you an idea: Substance abuse and behavioral
disorder counselor ($38,620) and psychiatric technician ($29,880). The latter is probably your
worst option for this degree; Projections Central predicts that employment for psychiatric
technicians will only increase 3.9% from 2012 to 2022. Simply put, graduating with a BS
in psychology might actually cause you to struggle with your own mental health.

3. Theatre Arts

A theatre arts degree is the perfect primer for a career as a waiter in one of the finest
restaurants in town. Why? Because you dont need a bachelors degree in theatre arts to act, and
you definitely dont need one to get hired for what is often a low-paying job.
The median hourly wage for actors was $22.15 in 2013, according to the BLS, and an annual
median wage isnt even available. Projections Central notes that the demand for actors will only
lead to a 4% increase in employment from 2012 to 2022.
If you want to be an actor, most experts suggest jumping in and just being an actor. Audition for
parts in local dramas and musicals, or volunteer to work behind the scenes if youre more
interested in stage production. Make sure to mentally prepare yourself for a lifetime of ups and
downs probably mostly downs and check your resume at the door because, chances are, no
one will ask for it anyway.

4. Fashion Design
True, most professional fashion designers hold a bachelors degree in fashion design or fashion
merchandising, according to the BLS. However, many people enter the career without a degree at
all.
In fact, the most important qualities for a career in fashion design are the inherent skill it takes to
design clothing and accessories and an innate artistic ability. If you dont have those two things
already, the best college in the world may not be able to teach them to you.
But the news gets even worse, since securing a job in this field degree or not might not be
that easy. Projections Central predicts that employment for fashion designers will decrease 3%
in the decade leading up to 2022. Of course, pay isnt bad for fashion designers who are lucky
enough to make it: Median wages for 2013 were $63,760. But it wont matter if you dont land a
job to begin with.

5. Sociology
Sociology is the study of how societies function interesting, sure, but that doesnt make it a
good investment. Most people who earn a bachelors degree in sociology parlay that degree into
a career as a social worker, correctional officer, probation officer, or correctional treatment
specialist. Unfortunately, the employment prospects dont look good in these fields. Projections
Central predicts that job openings for correctional treatment specialists and probation officers
will increase just 1% from 2012 to 2022, and 4.9% for correctional officers and jailers. Demand
for social workers is expected to see a 9.5% increase, though.
Wages for sociology graduates arent all that exciting either. The BLS reports that the median
annual wage for probation officers and correctional treatment specialists was $48,440 in 2013,
while correctional officers and jailers earned just $39,550.

6. Liberal Arts
A liberal arts degree is the laughing stock of college degree programs for a reason: its not
specialized enough to prepare you for a specific career. Thats why most liberal arts majors end
up working in an entirely different field, such as real estate, business, finance, or sales.
A 2014 BLS report even listed liberal arts majors as a group that fared poorly when it came to
overall unemployment. What this goes to prove is that a bachelors degree in liberal arts might
make you a well-rounded person, but it wont necessarily help you get a decent job.

7. Microelectronic Engineering
Microelectronics is the study and manufacture of tiny electronic devices and instruments.
Students who earn this degree often find work as semiconductor processors or even as material
engineers. The bad news is, technology and robots have replaced many of the jobs that would
normally be open in this field. In fact, Projections Central predicts that employment for
semiconductor processors will tank 27% from 2012 to 2022. Meanwhile, job openings for
material engineers will slip 1% during that time.
And while median annual wages for material engineers came in at more than $80,000 in 2013,
semiconductor processors only earned a median annual wage of $33,950. Studying technology is
usually a great way to go, but microelectronic engineering might just be too specialized to pay
off.

8. Fine Arts
A bachelors degree in fine arts could lead to a career in nearly any artistic field, including music,
sculpture, animation, photography, or performance arts. The thing is, practicing in your parents
basement or taking a few studio classes could take you down the very same path.
Either way, the outlook isnt all that bright to begin with. Projections Central estimates
that employment for artists could decrease by as much as 1.5% from 2012 to 2022. Meanwhile,
film and video experts are only expected to see a 0.6% increase, and photographers only a bump
of 4.3%.
BLS numbers also show dismal wages for these workers. Photographers, for example, only
earned an annual median wage of $29,280 in 2013. Fine artists, $42,610. These numbers just go
to show that unless you are truly gifted and driven, art might be something you want to do in
your spare time while you pursue a degree in a field that makes more financial sense.

9. Criminal Justice
Earning a bachelors degree in criminal justice might make sense in certain situations but
using it to launch your career as a police officer or detective isnt one of them.

Thats because, according to the BLS, police officers and detectives are not always required to
earn a degree beyond their high school diploma. Instead, people entering these
professions typically complete a training academy sponsored by their agency, and perform a set
number of hours of on-the-job training.
And even if either of those careers did require a bachelors degree in criminal justice, the jobs
may not be plentiful when you graduate. According to Projections Central, employment for
police patrol officers is only expected to increase 5.9% from 2012 to 2022, and jobs for
detectives and criminal investigators only 2%.

10. Hospitality and Tourism

The good news for lodging and tourism majors is that employment projections for this industry
are mostly favorable. The bad news is, the pay you can expect to earn with this degree can
range from okay to downright horrible.
Lets start with hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks: Employment in these fields is expected to
increase by as much as 13% from 2012 to 2022, but the median annual wage was only $20,400.
Meanwhile, jobs for lodging managers are only supposed to rise 1.4% during the decade, and the
median annual wage for this profession is a mere $46,830. Travel agents are expected to see a
12.1% drop in employment during the same decade, and open jobs for travel guides are only
expected to increase 3.6%.

Following Your Dreams Without the Degree

It might be disappointing to learn that your passion might not actually be profitable, but that
doesnt mean you cant follow your dreams. If you love art, for example, nothing is stopping you
from taking art classes on the evenings or weekends. Likewise, those who love theatre can
become active participants in their neighborhood or county theatre group, or pursue a real career
as an actor by auditioning for parts like everyone else.
You can even take your chances and pursue one of these degrees against all odds if you want,
although many would advise against it. But you may be happier and ultimately more successful
pursuing a career youre passionate about, even if its not in a promising field, than picking a
lucrative major and phoning it in.
The most important thing is to understand how much youre borrowing for college and how that
figure relates to what youll earn in the real world. In order to get some idea, calculate how much
it will cost you to earn any one of these degrees, and then compare that to the average salary after
college. If the numbers dont add up, think long and hard before signing on the dotted line.
In traditionally low-paying careers such as theater and the arts, a looming debt burden
might make it even harder than usual to get by. And since student loans arent usually
dischargeable in bankruptcy, your decision is one youll have to live with for a lifetime whether
you want to or not.

Theres nothing wrong with following your dreams, but the wrong college degree might actually
turn out to be a nightmare.

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Factbrowser a year ago

Every time I read one of these tired admonishments not to study the liberal arts, a little
piece of me dies.
My wife and I are both English majors. She also has a Masters in Communication and
teaches as an adjunct professor.
I run strategy and she runs product marketing for different venture-backed tech start-ups.
We are squarely in the "2%" based on our incomes. We save 50% plus of dual six-figure
salaries.
Our critical thinking skills and ability to translate between different groups of specialists
has led to very steady career growth for both of us.
I won't argue that data suggests that the majors listed here don't directly lead you to a
lucrative career the way that, say, an accounting degree would.
But, as an executive and employer, I can tell you that I would gladly hire anyone with the
above degrees that:
-Went to a good school and has a strong academic record, regardless of major
-Demonstrates intellectual curiosity, not only about business but about life and the world
-Is self-motivated and disciplined
-Has done their homework and has a clear idea of what we do and why their skills and
experience are a fit.

It's true that degrees like ours are "the laughing stock of college degree programs" among
some people. But we are living proof that your willingness to learn and work hard after
school are equally (and often much, much more) important than your undergraduate
major.
A more practical piece of advice might be to consider your choice of *career* carefully.
But don't be misled into believing that your choice of undergrad major entirely
predetermines the career paths open to you.
So if curiosity or creativity lead you to one of the degrees listed here, my wife and I won't
laugh at you. Whether you end up as wealthy as us or not, we admire people with
conviction and a broader view of the world. But if you do make it like we have, we hope
that, like us, you'll respect the different choices people make instead of trying to drag
others down.
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notyourbusiness notyourbusines Factbrowser 7 months ago

Factbrowser, I hear what you are saying. But the argument being made by these
types of articles isn't about what's possible, it's about that is PROBABLE. In
every single field, there will be people who are earning high salaries. But the main
question is what percentage of people in a certain field enjoy good salaries? A lot
of people listed in the majors above do poorly financially. As a person who
graduated with a BS in psycholoogy, I can say from first hand experience that
finding a job has been an absolute nightmare. I worked at a mental institute for a
few months and it was an absolute nightmare job. There is a glut of people with
undergrad psychology degrees and the market simply can't absorb all of them. The
same could very well be true for a lot of other majors on the list here.

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John Wesley Baker notyourbusiness notyourbusines 2 days ago

yes. The problem is people need to think outside of the box. Jon Stewart
has a Psychology degree :). There are a fair number of people in
marketing. You have to be smart and learn how to sell yourself. You would
be surprised the level of incompetence that exists out there.
The biggest secret is how to get past HR. I love HR but seriously they
have no idea what a good candidate looks like. Say what you need to to sit
down with the executives or even owners. Then figure out what they want.
I mean what they really want. What would Maslow and Skinner and Freud
say about them. What do they want to hear? Read their body language.
If you actually learned something during your degree. A Psych major can
do a great deal. We know people and every company wants to understand
people better.

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Rick S Factbrowser 3 months ago

You were extremely lucky, and probably had wealthy family members to help you
out with your careers .

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Holly Johnson Factbrowser a year ago

"But we are living proof that your willingness to learn and work hard after school
are equally (and often much, much more) important than your undergraduate
major."
I agree with you! A willingness to learn and work hard is what it takes, college
degree aside.

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John Wesley Baker Factbrowser 2 days ago

Counterpoint. :)
32% of billionaires do not have a college degree (famously, Bill Gates,Oprah
Winfrey, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg all dropped out of college prior to
completing a degree, and the dyslexic Richard Branson dropped out of high
school)
Yes get a degree but DO NOT go into debt to get it like I did. I do make good
money but it's doing a completely different job. Most tech startups do not have
many people who hold English Degrees on the board. Trust me I know. Actually
many do not have degrees. They have good ideas and went out and learned what
was needed to make it happen.
And if you want a better more learned society that has more to do with what is
showing on The Learning Channel (TLC) and the Nazi Channel umm I mean the
History Channel.

ALL I AM SAYING IS DO NOT GO INTO DEBT FOR A DEGREE. That is

going to limit you. You are going to have to take jobs that lead nowhere to pay on
those loans which will severely limit your options.
And go out and learn stuff. Learn how to weld. Learn other trade. Learn, learn,
learn. There is so much cool stuff to learn.

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Steven C Scott Factbrowser 8 months ago

Bravo - I agree with you 100%. Side note: I am the complete opposite in that I
majored in Accounting and MIS and now work in IT implementing accounting
systems. I only say that to say, that not even I would recommend someone do
those degrees just with a paycheck in mind. well said.

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Jennifer a year ago

Considering you need a bachelor's degree to even be considered for a master's or doctoral
program, I fail to see how a bachelor's in a field where you need a higher level of
education is a waste of money. That's like saying getting a high school diploma is a waste
because you need a college degree for the job you want. As long as you understand that
you're done once you get your bachelor's (which most aspiring psychologists do know, as
do aspiring doctors and lawyers), it's not a waste at all.
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Holly Johnson Jennifer a year ago

I get your point. On the other hand, if a Bachelor's degree in psychology is the
end goal, it might not get your far.

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Chris a year ago

Communications is the #1 degree to avoid? Journalism majors were fairing quite well in
finding employment according to this 2012 article.http://www.poynter.org/latestnews/me... I've never had a job in my major but my journalism/mass communication
degree has served me extremely well over the years. Opportunities are what you make of
them.
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Holly Johnson Chris a year ago

I agree with you that opportunities are what you make of them. It also depends on
the individual and their work ethic. There are always exceptions to the rule.

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kristajomiller a year ago

The author clearly has no idea of what being successful in these fields requires. You
cannot become a world-class artist by taking a few classes or lessons from your local
teacher. You cannot make a career as an actor by just auditioning without any skill. And

certainly, don't major in sociology, because, Lord knows, we don't need more social
workers!
I agree that debt load is a major problem right now, but that is the conversation we need
to be having rather than steering students away from fields which are low-paying, but
ultimately important and enriching to the world.
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Holly Johnson kristajomiller a year ago

The fact that student loan debt is at an all-time high is part of the reason the
conversation about college degrees is an important one. Most students simply
cannot afford to go into debt for a degree that is unlikely to result in a job that
pays well.

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Ricky Wilson 3 months ago

No political science? Yeah, this list is like 75% bullshit at least. Me and every other
Psychology major I know understand completely that you need AT LEAST a Masters to
do anything....nobody is shooting for just a BS in Psych. You missed a ton of completely
useless majors in put in a few very promising ones.
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George 8 months ago

Nearly all of the advice in this article is incorrect. I'll leave it at that.
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TK George 5 months ago

Way to back your statement with facts of your own

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arlingtonwoman a year ago

By liberal arts degree, do you mean any course of study resulting in a bachelor of arts?

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Holly Johnson arlingtonwoman a year ago

Not necessarily. It is written to mean a degree in the humanities.

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John Wesley Baker 2 days ago

Also money's not everything. Do what you love!
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Anonymous a month ago

The Liberal Arts are useless degrees. Everyone I know I who graduated with STEM
degrees are far better off than their looney liberal arts counterparts.
LIBERAL ARTS MAJOR: I got a BA in Art & a MA in gender Studies?
ME: Great, can I have fries with that?"
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David Stein 3 months ago

Academe is an industry conferring credibility on the untalented. In the arts, it is an

outright racket.
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Amercan111 4 months ago

Hmmm, as a nursing student who was sold a bag of goods about "the nursing shortage"
I'd like to know where our jobs are? 50% of 2014 graduating class worked as CNAs thru
school and still don't have jobs. Hospitals work short staffed and don't want to invest time
and money to help new nurses. Every job requires 2-5 years detailed experience. At least
I'll be graduating with zero debt...
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Hosh Amercan111 3 months ago

Try the houston tx area. I know a few hospitals hiring and my co-workers wife
found a nursing job in about 1-2 months right out of college making 65k a year

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Daisy Lee 6 months ago

I have a degree in Liberal Arts and I agree with this article on it. I went into business
instead which is not Liberal Arts related. I did enjoy my learning in school but I do agree
that my major did not prepare me to do anything in the real world. I had no technical
skills after graduation and I was completely lost. It took quite a few mistakes to figure out
my life and to be honest one of my regrets in life was that I chose Liberal Arts major in
college. Just my opinion I'm sure everyone is different.
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Jillian a year ago

I'm not well versed on most of these degrees, but I do have some comments on the Fine
Arts degree. First, while it's true that you can have a career as an artist without the degree,
you will definitely learn things at a fine arts college that you cannot learn in your parents
basement. The most important reason for going to school for an arts degree is the critique
you'll receive from instructors and other classmates that will escalate your work to a level
it would be difficult to achieve otherwise.
Second, I question whether the numbers cited incorporate all of the possible fields open
to fine arts majors or just those who actually identify themselves as professional artists.
Do these numbers only include graduates who identify as being employed or does it also
include entrepreneurs and freelancers? Many photographers, for example, are self
employed. My point is that I think these numbers are a little generic and potentially
misleading. There is a lot more nuance to it than simple employment and salary numbers.
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Holly Johnson Jillian a year ago

BLS data is rather generic so I'll give you that. There are many factors to consider
that simply cannot be measured on a massive scale.

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Cgirlslife a year ago

I just gotta laugh, because Nic McPhee (the guy who took the cover photo) is a college
professor at a small liberal arts school with a strong Theatre department.
He was my husband's computer science professor, and is a really neat guy.