Harvard Study Reveals 10 Degrees Losing Long-Term Market Value

(BOSTON, MA) Harvard University researchers are warning that a growing wave of “degree fatigue” is reshaping how certain majors pay off over time, with early-career gains fading unless graduates keep learning new skills and shift with the market. The new research, led by labor economist David J. Deming and Kadeem Noray, identifies 10 degrees whose long-term market value appears to be slipping as automation, AI, and changing hiring practices push employers to look for proven skills over broad credentials. Career services reports from Ivy League campuses say that in 2025, even some elite MBA graduates are facing tougher hiring cycles, a sign that prestige alone may not secure top roles or premium pay.

At the heart of the findings is a simple pattern: many degrees still deliver strong first jobs, but those gains don’t always last. Without efforts to upskill, add new tools, or pivot into fresh roles, mid-career earnings can stall. Harvard’s view echoes what many students and employers are seeing on the ground—fast-moving technology, new business models, and tighter budgets are driving real workforce shifts. In this climate, the safest plan is often to build flexible skills and proof of real results, not to lean only on a diploma.

Applied degrees under pressure as hiring focus moves to skills

Deming and Noray point to applied degrees—once seen as safe bets—as increasingly exposed to industry change. The squeeze shows up in crowded job markets, rising automation, and a sharper focus by employers on capacity to deliver outcomes. That means portfolios, project work, and hands-on experience can weigh as much as traditional academic signals, especially a few years after graduation.

Harvard’s analysis and current market data highlight 10 programs where long-term returns are softening. these fields are not “worthless.” They still open doors. The warning is about margins: without steady adaptation, the extra payoff tied to the degree label can narrow.

1. General Business Administration (including many MBAs): Overcrowding and shifting hiring practices are cutting into returns, even at top schools.
2. Computer Science: High starting pay holds, but rapid skill turnover hurts those who don’t keep learning.
3. Mechanical Engineering: Automation and global manufacturing changes reduce mid-career demand.
4. Accounting: Automation and AI now handle tasks that once needed junior staff, shrinking some roles.
5. Biochemistry: Pathways to strong pay are narrow without advanced study or specialization.
6. Psychology (Undergraduate): Limited direct roles without graduate-level training.
7. English and Humanities: Enrollment is falling as students chase what they see as career-aligned options.
8. Sociology / Social Sciences: A gap between theory and job needs weakens market power.
9. History: The mid-career wage premium is shrinking, with fewer direct links to industry roles.
10. Philosophy: Employers value critical thinking, but the degree is less directly marketable without added training.

Why returns are softening

Harvard’s researchers outline four drivers behind the trend:

• Rapid industry transformation: From AI to data platforms, the skills employers need keep changing.
• Shift from degrees to skills: Companies increasingly ask for proof of coding, data work, or domain knowledge rather than just a credential.
• Career lifecycle effects: The early bump from a degree can fade if workers don’t reskill.
• Saturation: Popular majors create more competition and slow wage growth.

For a new graduate in any of these fields, that doesn’t mean giving up on the major. It means planning for growth: keep adding skills, build samples employers can see, and look for cross-training that opens more doors. In simple terms: prove what you can do, not only what you studied.

What the shift means for students, families, and employers

Harvard’s work lands at a time when many families worry about rising tuition and debt. It also raises questions for international students who pick majors with an eye on long-term careers.

While immigration rules are outside the scope of the research, the student community often pays close attention to how degree choice interacts with job demand and the path from school to work. The findings suggest a practical focus on skill-building, hands-on experience, and flexible planning can help, no matter where a graduate comes from.

For students:
– Think beyond the first job. A strong start is good, but the curve matters—plan for mid-career steps early.
– Blend disciplines. Mixing fields (e.g., computer science + ethics, data + design) increases agility and reduces degree fatigue risk.
– Upskill regularly. Use short courses, certifications, and real projects to keep tools fresh.
– Show proof. Portfolios, internships, and measurable results speak louder than course lists.

For universities:
– Update curricula. Add modules addressing new tools, industry standards, and practical methods.
– Build industry ties. Regular employer input helps keep programs current.
– Offer modular learning. Let students add skill blocks over time, even after graduation.

For employers:
– Hire for capacity, not just credentials. Evaluate hands-on ability and measurable output.
– Support learning. Short training cycles can keep staff current without large delivery gaps.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the growing focus on proof of skill rather than brand-name degrees mirrors broader hiring trends across technology, finance, and professional services. Their reporting notes that teams often prize measurable output—clean code, strong client work, clear communication—more than a major’s title. That helps explain why graduates from less traditional paths can compete well with peers from elite programs, and why some top-degree holders face slower growth without ongoing learning.

Practical implications and examples

The researchers describe how the earnings premium for tech-heavy degrees can drop as tools change. In practice:

• A computer science graduate who learned one stack five years ago may lose ground if they skip updates.
• A mechanical engineer who learned a specific software may hit a ceiling if that tool fades.
• An accounting graduate who doesn’t learn new systems may see fewer paths to advance.

The consistent message: keep learning.

Students often ask what to study when the market is moving fast. Harvard’s guidance doesn’t say to abandon passion; it recommends backing passion with portable skills. Examples:

• A humanities major with strong data skills can work in media, research, or policy analysis.
• A psychology graduate with user research tools can land in product roles.
• A business graduate with real analytics projects can stand out in hiring rounds.

International students often weigh these choices with extra care because job outcomes can affect post-graduation plans. While the Harvard work does not address visas, it adds context to the questions many students ask about careers beyond campus. For official information on student status and employment in the United States 🇺🇸, see the U.S. government’s resource on students and exchange visitors at USCIS: Students and Employment. That page explains the categories and rules that apply to student workers. Students should also follow their school’s international office guidance.

Mid-career planning and remedies

The trend changes how people plan mid-career. Degree fatigue often shows up when old skills no longer match new tools. The fix is rarely to start over. Instead:

• Pick targeted ways to upskill: short programs, certifications, or project series.
• Focus on real, testable ability that hiring teams can validate.
• Build a portfolio of working code, clean analyses, client notes, or lab processes to signal current capability.

Harvard’s list may worry some families, but it also points a path forward. The degrees still teach thinking, analysis, and communication—skills employers want. The issue is whether graduates can show they can apply those strengths to current work. Portfolios and projects are key.

How education and hiring must adapt

The shift from degrees to skills will likely continue as AI and automation take on more tasks. That doesn’t erase the value of college; it changes how that value appears. A degree can open the door. What keeps it open is the habit of adding new tools and jumping into new problems.

Educators face hard choices: course schedules move slowly while markets move fast. Many schools are trying new models—stackable modules, more industry projects, and faster course updates. Harvard’s message supports those efforts: keep material current, build problem-solving skills, and help students create proof of work so they can move with the market.

Employers can improve matches by writing job posts that list clear tasks and tools—not only degree rules. When work changes, teams must change with it. The payoff is a workforce that adapts and learns—one that grows through workforce shifts rather than being left behind.

Takeaway for the class of 2025 and beyond

For the class of 2025 and beyond, the takeaway is practical:

1. Choose fields you care about, but plan for change.
2. Add skills that travel well across roles and industries.
3. Build a record of real outcomes—portfolios, projects, internships.
4. Keep one eye on today’s tools and another on what’s coming next.

That steady rhythm—learn, apply, show—can protect long-term pay even in fields where the old premium has thinned.

In the end, Harvard’s research doesn’t knock these degrees. It highlights where the market is moving and what students, schools, and employers can do about it. Degrees still matter. But as technology and hiring priorities shift, what matters even more is the ability to learn fast and prove it. That’s the safeguard against degree fatigue—and the engine for growth in a job market that keeps changing.