Arts, Commerce, or Science – Which Stream Has the Most Useless Degrees?

Every year in India, millions of students face one of the biggest academic decisions of their lives: choosing between Arts, Commerce, or Science after school. This choice often shapes not only their education but also their long-term career trajectory.

A common question students and parents quietly worry about is:
“Which stream has the most useless degrees?”

The honest answer is uncomfortable but important:
No stream is useless by default — but every stream has degrees that offer very poor career outcomes if chosen blindly.

This article breaks down the reality of each stream, identifies where “uselessness” actually comes from, and clearly answers which stream statistically carries the highest risk of low employability.

First, What Does “Useless Degree” Really Mean?

A degree becomes “useless” when it meets most of these conditions:

• Low demand in the job market
• Minimal practical skills taught
• Weak or nonexistent placement support
• Poor salary outcomes compared to time and money invested
• Requires additional degrees just to become employable

In short, a useless degree is one that fails to convert education into career value.

Arts Stream: Highest Number of Low-Employability Degrees

Reality Check

Arts as a stream offers the widest variety of degrees, but also the highest number of low-market-value courses when taken without specialization or planning.

Common Low-Value Arts Degrees

• General BA (no specialization)
• Philosophy
• History (without academic or research path)
• Political Science (without competitive exam preparation)
• Sociology (without higher studies)

Why Arts Suffers the Most

1. Theory-Heavy Curriculum
   Most arts degrees focus on abstract theory with little practical application.
2. No Direct Job Mapping
   There are very few jobs that explicitly require a BA in a specific subject.
3. Heavy Dependence on Government Exams
   Many arts students rely on UPSC, SSC, or state exams, where success rates are extremely low.
4. Oversupply of Graduates
   Arts colleges produce far more graduates than the market can absorb.

Verdict on Arts

Arts has the highest number of degrees that become useless without a clear plan.
However, arts can work very well when combined with:

• Competitive exam strategy
• Law, teaching, or research paths
• Skill-based careers like content, design, policy, or communication

Commerce Stream: Fewer Useless Degrees, But High Saturation Risk

Reality Check

Commerce sits in the middle. It has fewer useless degrees than Arts, but many students still struggle due to oversupply.

Common Low-ROI Commerce Degrees

• General B.Com (without CA/CMA/CFA)
• Traditional BBA with outdated curriculum
• Plain M.Com without specialization

Why Commerce Struggles

1. Mass Enrollment
   Commerce is often chosen as a “safe option,” leading to extreme competition.
2. Professional Course Dependency
   A plain commerce degree is rarely enough; professional certifications are almost mandatory.
3. Skill Gap
   Many programs do not teach modern tools like analytics, financial modeling, or business software.

Verdict on Commerce

Commerce degrees are not useless, but incomplete on their own.
Commerce becomes powerful only when paired with:

• Professional certifications
• Practical finance, accounting, or analytics skills
• Internships and real business exposure

Science Stream: Fewer Useless Degrees, But High Difficulty Trap

Reality Check

Science degrees generally have higher academic value, but they come with their own risk: high effort, delayed rewards, and limited fallback options.

Science Degrees That Often Struggle

• General B.Sc (without specialization)
• Pure physics, chemistry, or math without research intent
• Life sciences without lab or industry exposure

Why Science Degrees Can Fail

1. Long Academic Path Required
   Many science careers require MSc, PhD, or research credentials.
2. Limited Industry Absorption
   Private sector demand for pure science graduates is limited.
3. Not Skill-Oriented by Default
   Without applied or technical skills, science graduates often shift to unrelated roles.

Verdict on Science

Science has fewer useless degrees than Arts, but higher risk if a student quits midway or avoids specialization.
Science works best for students committed to:

• Research
• Technical specializations
• Applied science or technology crossover

Indian Degrees With High Fees but Low Placement – Worst ROI Courses in 2025

Final Comparison: Which Stream Has the Most Useless Degrees?

Clear Ranking (From Worst to Best)

1. Arts – Highest number of low-employability degrees
2. Commerce – Moderate risk, depends heavily on add-ons
3. Science – Lowest number of useless degrees, but highest effort required

Why Arts Ranks Worst

• Many degrees have no direct job alignment
• Heavy reliance on exams and higher studies
• Limited private-sector absorption

However, this does not mean arts students are doomed — it means planning is non-negotiable.

The Real Truth Students Should Understand

Degrees don’t fail people.
Poor planning fails people.

A so-called “useless” degree can outperform a “high-demand” degree if the student has:

• Skills
• Experience
• Clear career direction

At the same time, even a popular degree can become useless if chosen blindly.

How to Avoid Ending Up With a Useless Degree (Any Stream)

1. Choose a degree with a clear career path, not vague interest
2. Check real placement data, not marketing claims
3. Start skill development in the first year, not the final year
4. Build portfolios, internships, and projects early
5. Have a Plan B and Plan C