20 Most Useless Degrees

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

AP Photo

galleries/2011/04/27/20-most-useless-degrees/useless-degrees---horticulture_opfpyo

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

Getty Images

galleries/2011/04/27/20-most-useless-degrees/useless-degrees---agriculture_fwqlpl

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

Getty Images

galleries/2011/04/27/20-most-useless-degrees/useless-degrees---advertising_cfnkgp

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

AP Photo

galleries/2011/04/27/20-most-useless-degrees/useless-degrees---fashion_izro9g

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

AP Photo

galleries/2011/04/27/20-most-useless-degrees/useless-degrees---child-studies_k5ey3k

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

Getty Images

galleries/2011/04/27/20-most-useless-degrees/useless-degrees---music_rqx8s2

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

Getty Images

galleries/2011/04/27/20-most-useless-degrees/useless-degrees---mechanical-engineering_djmiqn

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

AP Photo

galleries/2011/04/27/20-most-useless-degrees/useless-degrees---chemistry_tzaxun

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

Getty Images

galleries/2011/04/27/20-most-useless-degrees/useless-degrees---nutrition_ghtagq

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

Getty Images

galleries/2011/04/27/20-most-useless-degrees/useless-degrees---hr_f3fyeb

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

AP Photo

galleries/2011/04/27/20-most-useless-degrees/useless-degrees---theater_kyz60n

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

AP Photo

galleries/2011/04/27/20-most-useless-degrees/useless-degrees---art-history_tzzhza

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

AP Photo

galleries/2011/04/27/20-most-useless-degrees/useless-degrees---photography_rvcs0d

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

AP Photo

galleries/2011/04/27/20-most-useless-degrees/useless-degrees---literature_j89tpf

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

AP Photo

galleries/2011/04/27/20-most-useless-degrees/useless-degrees---art_rufv9k

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

AP Photo

galleries/2011/04/27/20-most-useless-degrees/useless-degrees---fine-arts_tsypvt

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

AP Photo

galleries/2011/04/27/20-most-useless-degrees/useless-degrees---psych_homwmt

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

AP Photo

galleries/2011/04/27/20-most-useless-degrees/useless-degrees---english_iphjoa

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

AP Photo

galleries/2011/04/27/20-most-useless-degrees/useless-degrees---animals_vd2bdv

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

AP Photo

20 Most Useless Degrees

As college seniors prepare to graduate, The Daily Beast crunches the numbers to determine which majors—from journalism to psychology—didn't pay.

Trending Now

Trump Raged at Slain Soldier’s Funeral Bill: ‘$60K to Bury a F***ing Mexican’

Jon Stewart Is Taking Trump’s ‘Enemy Within’ Threats Very Seriously

Trump Roasted by McDonald’s Staff: ‘Where’s His Hairnet?’

Elon Musk’s $1 Million Lottery Went to Two Republicans Who’d Already Voted

Trump Sends New Demand to CBS Over Harris’ ‘60 Minutes’ Interview