With college enrollment continuing a steady decline, many schools are now getting rid of some degree programs altogether. One university recently ended its English literature degree after it was deemed "no longer viable." Texas A&M also made headlines for getting rid of several programs, including a controversial minor in "LGBTQ Studies" that had more staff than students.
The phrase "no longer viable" could apply to many college majors and degrees, which is something Jean Burk with College Prep Genius has been stressing for years. She tells KTRH the cost of college alone is enough to make sure you choose the right field of study. "It takes the average student 20 years to pay off college debt," she says. "That makes higher education a lousy investment, if you're going to spend two decades of your life paying for something you did in four years."
Those who do choose college can make it a much better investment by avoiding majors like English lit, fine arts, or gender studies. "According to the U.S. labor department, one-third of all earnings now days are from a non-traditional job," says Burk. "So it is incumbent upon young people to do their research."
There are always traditional fields like medicine, law and business, but the highest earning potential now is also in so-called STEM degrees. "We are in the fourth Industrial Revolution," says Burk. "So I think one of the things to think about when it comes to future-proofing your career is jobs that are hard to automate...because that's the trajectory a lot of fields are going into."
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