Top Twenty Useless College Degrees: Why are we paying so much for college?
Here’s a great little article; the top twenty useless college degrees. Click on the link for the source article. http://www.thedailybeast.com/galleries/2011/04/27/20-most-useless-degrees.html
I’ve put them all here for your convenience. Special note, look how many graduates each year graduated with these degrees, each spending 50K to 100K for their educations only to find out there aren’t jobs in those fields of any value.
Just think about the number on the chart, over a million kids entering these fields that are virtually useless degrees. There are either an over-abundance of jobs in these fields, or the jobs don’t pay enough to justify the cost of the education. In same cases it’s both issues.
1, Journalism
AP Photo
Median starting salary: $35,800
Median mid-career salary: $66,600
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: -4,400
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: -6.32
Undergraduate field of study: Communications
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009:: 78,009
2, Horticulture
Getty Images
Median starting salary: $35,000
Median mid-career salary: $50,800
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: -15,200
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: -1.74
Undergraduate field of study: Agriculture and natural resources
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009:: 24,988
3, Agriculture
Getty Images
Median starting salary: $42,300
Median mid-career salary: $59,700
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: -9,100
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: -0.88
Undergraduate field of study: Agriculture and natural resources
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009:: 24,988
4, Advertising
AP Photo
Median starting salary: $37,800
Median mid-career salary: $73,200
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: -800
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: -1.71
Undergraduate field of study: Communications
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009:: 78,009
5, Fashion Design
AP Photo
Median starting salary: $37,700
Median mid-career salary: $72,200
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +200
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +0.81
Undergraduate field of study: Visual and performing arts
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009:: 89,140
6, Child and Family Studies
Getty Images
Median starting salary: $29,500
Median mid-career salary: $38,400
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +36,100
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +12.33
Undergraduate field of study: Family and consumer sciences
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009:: 21,905
7, Music
Getty Images
Median starting salary: $36,700
Median mid-career salary: $57,000
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +19,600
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +8.16
Undergraduate field of study: Visual and performing arts
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009:: 89,140
8, Mechanical Engineering Technology
AP Photo
Median starting salary: $53,300
Median mid-career salary: $84,300
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: -700
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: -1.45
Undergraduate field of study: Engineering technologies
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009:: 15,112
9, Chemistry
Getty Images
Median starting salary: $42,400
Median mid-career salary: $83,700
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +2,100
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +2.48
Undergraduate field of study: Physical sciences
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009:: 22,466
10, Nutrition
Getty Images
Median starting salary: $42,200
Median mid-career salary: $56,700
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +5,600
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +9.24
Undergraduate field of study: Biological and biomedical sciences
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009:: 80,756
11, Human Resources
AP Photo
Median starting salary: $38,100
Median mid-career salary: $61,900
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +12,900
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +9.61
Undergraduate field of study: Public administration
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009:: 23,851
12, Theater
AP Photo
Median starting salary: $35,300
Median mid-career salary: $59,600
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +16,900
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +10.88
Undergraduate field of study: Visual and performing arts
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009:: 89,140
13, Art History
AP Photo
Median starting salary: $39,400
Median mid-career salary: $57,100
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +500
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +11.46
Undergraduate field of study: Liberal arts and humanities
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009:: 47,096
14, Photography
AP Photo
Median starting salary: $35,100
Median mid-career salary: $61,200
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +17,500
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +11.54
Undergraduate field of study: Visual and performing arts
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009:: 89,140
15, Literature
AP Photo
Median starting salary: $37,500
Median mid-career salary: $65,700
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +30,900
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +9.37
Undergraduate field of study: English language and literature
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009:: 55,462
16, Art
AP Photo
Median starting salary: $33,500
Median mid-career salary: $54,800
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +88,100
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +10.57
Undergraduate field of study: Visual and performing arts
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009:: 89,140
17, Fine Arts
AP Photo
Median starting salary: $35,400
Median mid-career salary: $60,300
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +25,800
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +11.62
Undergraduate field of study: Visual and performing arts
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009:: 89,140
18, Psychology
AP Photo
Median starting salary: $35,300
Median mid-career salary: $62,500
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +19,700
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +11.59
Undergraduate field of study: Psychology
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009:: 94,271
19, English
AP Photo
Median starting salary: $37,800
Median mid-career salary: $67,500
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +30,900
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +9.37
Undergraduate field of study: English language and literature/letters
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009:: 55,462
20, Animal Science
AP Photo
Median starting salary: $34,600
Median mid-career salary: $62,100
Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +500
Percentage Change in number of jobs, 2008-2018: +13.15
Undergraduate field of study: Biological and biomedical sciences
Number of students awarded degrees 2008-2009:: 80,756
Rich Hoffman
http://overmanwarrior.wordpress.com/2010/12/04/ten-rules-to-live-by/
http://twitter.com/#!/overmanwarrior
www.overmanwarrior.com
[...] Here’s the problem…….taxes are already too high. They always have been, but now that the money… [...]
Senator Bill Coley Protects S.B.5: Ben Dribble of the Lakota School Board sticks his foot in his mouth « Overmanwarrior's Wisdom
July 2, 2011 at 12:02 am
[...] A child does not want to hear from his parent that they are incompetent fools who are scared of some… [...]
Being a Hero: The greatest gift you can give to a child « Overmanwarrior's Wisdom
July 4, 2011 at 12:02 am
[...] College is one of those topics that most Americans have bought into, and they have done so looking f… [...]
College is the Root of an Evil: Call it what it is, an excuse to expand government. « Overmanwarrior's Wisdom
July 6, 2011 at 12:03 am
Why don’t you tell that to the person with the graphic design degree that made this fucking website possible and is allowing you to communicate this shit?
You’re welcome
gisellews
July 7, 2011 at 6:11 am
Awww, that’s cute. How do you know the person who designed this site has a graphic design degree? In most cases kids can code this kind of thing before they are out of high school. Keep drinking the Kool-aid dude.
overmanwarrior
July 7, 2011 at 8:11 pm
[...] What the unions are doing, and Obama is perpetuating in his refusal to deal with the Republicans dem… [...]
Obama, Keynesian Economics, and Public Labor Unions: Lakota Schools try for another levy « Overmanwarrior's Wisdom
July 12, 2011 at 12:02 am
The University of Maryland sold me a degree – paid nearly 80,000 between undergrad and Grad – both degrees have got me nothing but calls from bill collectors”””’ and a shit load of interest I can’t pay – U of Maryland are a bunch of crooks
Joe Grant
Nebraska
Joe Grant
July 15, 2011 at 12:18 am
[...] There are a lot of ways that people arrive at the pain of adulthood, where at some point they drink … [...]
Blood Drunk Apoligists: The Lost Fools of Modernism « Overmanwarrior's Wisdom
August 12, 2011 at 12:02 am
[...] The trouble with America’s colleges as they are now is that they attack the kind of person who tra… [...]
Money, Prostitutes, and Libertarian Islands: The history of fleeing tyranny « Overmanwarrior's Wisdom
August 21, 2011 at 12:02 am
[...] within a government, it requires the people of that government to think, and ask questions. But just as thousands and thousands of students graduate from journalism in college each year, there…Many of these union members in these public unions who are double-dipping, and abusing the [...]
The Money Hole: Facts and Facts and more Facts about why Issue 2 is needed in Ohio « Overmanwarrior's Wisdom
September 27, 2011 at 12:02 am
[...] 20 years ago when I made the decision to stick with manufacturing, many people chastised my decision… None of those jobs produce anything. They are simply a service oriented occupation that falls in the same category as a grill cook at McDonalds, “service.” What is needed is manufacturing jobs, things that America actually makes, loads on a truck and is delivered to some paying customer. [...]
The Harsh Reality of the World Economy: Learn about money and why you may be a looter « Overmanwarrior's Wisdom
October 5, 2011 at 12:00 am
[...] Those made up a majority of the people who were eating ice-cream with my wife and me at present. Many young people, (the ice cream eater’s children) are discovering that the system they were sold…. In America, the Occupiers are showing their anger in the way that their friends from Europe have [...]
Freedomworks is Attacked: Why the media is failing, blame the Beatles « Overmanwarrior's Wisdom
November 16, 2011 at 12:01 am
[...] http://overmanwarrior.wordpress.com/2011/06/29/top-tenty-useless-college-degrees-why-are-we-paying-s… [...]
Successful People Who Didn’t go to College « Overmanwarrior's Wisdom
November 18, 2011 at 1:22 am
You are measuring the usefulness of a degree by the amount of money one makes?
The journal you gave us is so vague, I don’t even know what was accounted for and what wasn’t?
For example – what kind of changes did these people make? For what reasons? Is it because the degree didn’t get them what they wanted, or is it because they want something in another field?
In the scientific community, this would not be a valid article. It doesn’t tell us the whole story…and that’s enough to not make any conclusions about those degrees listed.
Also the response you leave to person who commented on your article indicated your lack of professionalism, and perhaps your inability to remain unbiased.
I know enough about statistics (through college) to know that one data point doesn’t mean anything, but I will say this: I would not be able to work as a counselor if I didn’t have at least a masters in psychology. I might not be making big bucks, but that’s not an objective measurement of worthiness/success. Saying that they aren’t the most financially rewarding degrees might (I emphasize might) be true, but to call them useless is typical media sensationalism….no different from all the “studies” that they broadcast. “Studies reveal coffee makes you gay” “Studies reveal these degrees are useless” ….sounds the same to me.
Just Me
February 7, 2012 at 8:24 am
Professionalism is like statistics by your meaning. Even a prostitute is considered a professional if they work for an established service.
overmanwarrior
February 7, 2012 at 12:21 pm
college degrees are really necessary so that you can land a great job in the future.-
Please do stop by our very own web-site
<img src="http://www.healthmedicinelab.com/depo-shot-side-effects/ “>
Blondell Lasher
January 11, 2013 at 8:29 am