Harvard Just Flagged 10 Degrees Losing Market Value
The safest paths are no longer safe. A new Harvard study reveals which degrees are declining.
Relevant for: [College & Career 💼]
The story we all grew up believing is starting to change.
For decades, the formula seemed simple:
Get into a good school, earn a respected degree, and build a stable career.
But according to new research from Harvard economists David J. Deming and Kadeem Noray, even once “safe” degrees—like computer science, business, and engineering—are losing their long-term value faster than ever.
The reason? The world is evolving faster than universities can keep up.
The Rise of “Degree Fatigue”
Harvard researchers call it degree fatigue, the steady decline in the market value of once-dependable degrees.
In fields like computer science and business, the half-life of knowledge is shrinking. A skill that was in demand five years ago might already be outdated today.
Even graduates of elite MBA programs and Ivy League computer science departments are finding it harder to land the kind of high-status jobs these degrees once guaranteed. Employers are looking for something new:
Not just credentials, but capability.
The 10 Degrees Losing Market Value
Harvard’s economists identified ten college degrees where long-term career and wage outcomes have notably declined either due to automation, oversaturation, or changing employer priorities:
| 📉 Degree | ⚠️ Reason for Decline |
|---|---|
| 1. General Business Administration (incl. MBA) | Oversaturation and shifting hiring preferences |
| 2. Computer Science | Rapid skill decay without ongoing upskilling |
| 3. Mechanical Engineering | Automation and offshore production risks |
| 4. Accounting | Reduced demand due to AI and automation |
| 5. Biochemistry | Limited job paths outside academia |
| 6. Psychology (Undergraduate) | Few direct career pathways without further study |
| 7. English & Humanities | Declining enrollment and uncertain market alignment |
| 8. Sociology & Social Sciences | Weak correlation with targeted job markets |
| 9. History | Lower mid-career wage growth |
| 10. Philosophy | Valuable thinking skills, weak direct marketability |
Even degrees from top-tier schools no longer guarantee economic stability. What’s changing isn’t the quality of these programs; it’s how quickly the job market moves beyond them.
What This Means for the Next Generation
For parents raising curious, high-achieving children, these findings are a wake-up call.
The next generation won’t be rewarded for what they know, but for how fast they can learn.
Success will belong to those who can:
- Adapt to change instead of resisting it
- Combine disciplines instead of staying in one lane
- Keep learning long after graduation
Giftedness in the 21st century is not just intelligence—it’s learning agility, creativity, and the courage to reinvent.
From Credentials to Capabilities
Harvard’s conclusion is clear:
The future belongs to lifelong learners.
Degrees still matter, but they’re no longer a finish line. Real security will come from skills that can’t be automated or outsourced—creativity, empathy, communication, collaboration, and adaptability.
For families, that means shifting focus from chasing credentials to cultivating capability.
A summer research mentorship, a capstone project, or an entrepreneurship program may offer more long-term value than another standardized class.
The Parent Takeaway
The world no longer rewards what your child has learned—it rewards how well they keep learning.
So instead of asking, “What degree will help my child succeed?”
Ask, “What kind of learner will help my child thrive?”
The college degree may still open doors. But only curiosity, courage, and character will keep them open.
💌 From all of us at GiftedTalented.com
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