Top International Degrees Losing Market Value By Harvard Study 2025

Introduction

Harvard University recently released a study identifying 10 college degrees losing their market value in 2025,  from general business to liberal arts. For Indian students preparing to study abroad, this is a crucial alert: how do you ensure your degree gives you real career returns?

In this blog, we explain why certain degrees are losing demand, how to future-proof your education with the right upskilling, and how Lorien Finance helps you fund courses with the perfect study abroad loan that promise better ROI and job stability.

Why Some Degrees Are Losing Market Value

Global job markets are changing fast due to AI, automation, and digital transformation. Traditional degrees that once ensured employment are now facing skill mismatches and shrinking salaries.

Key reasons include:

• Automation impact: Routine and clerical roles are being replaced by AI.  
• Skill shift: Employers now value data, coding, design, and analytics skills.  
• Degree oversupply: Thousands graduate with the same qualifications every year.  
• Economic shifts: Non-STEM sectors such as hospitality and print media are struggling to grow.

For Indian students investing a huge amount of money in an international education, this makes strategic course selection and upskilling non-negotiable.

The 10 Degrees Flagged by Harvard in 2025: Explained for Study Abroad Students

Harvard’s 2025 research identified several degrees that are losing market value. But this doesn’t mean they’re worthless, it means students need to pivot, specialize, and adapt to make the most out of their courses. Here’s how to make each subject relevant and future-proof:

1. General Business Studies

Why losing value: Studying BBA or general business programs are becoming less attractive because employers now prefer candidates with specialized skill sets. Many graduates end up with generic management knowledge but no technical edge to handle analytics, operations software, or automation tools.

How to make it relevant: Choose programs that combine business with data and technology such as Business Analytics, Fintech Management, or Global Supply Chain. Learning tools like Power BI, Python, SQL, and financial modeling can help you move into roles like Business Analyst, Data Analyst, Financial Analyst, or Operations Analyst, especially in markets such as the USA, Canada, and Singapore.

2. Liberal Arts and Humanities

Why losing value: Pure liberal arts degrees often lack direct job outcomes unless linked with applied subjects. Recruiters now prioritize graduates who combine analytical, communication, and digital literacy skills.

How to make it relevant: Pursue interdisciplinary courses like Behavioral Economics, Global Studies, or Digital Humanities that add quantitative and research skills. Graduates can build careers as Policy Researchers, Market Analysts, Market Researcher, User Experience Researchers, or Corporate Communication Specialists, with strong employability in the UK, USA, and Netherlands.

3. Fine Arts

Why losing value: Traditional fine arts degrees focused on painting, sculpture, or manual design have limited demand today due to automation and digital tools dominating creative industries.

How to make it relevant: Choose tech-integrated creative courses like Digital Media Arts, UX/UI Design, or Creative Technology. These programs lead to roles such as Graphic Designer, UX Designer, Game Designer, Motion Graphics Artist, or 3D Visualizer, all of which are growing in Canada, Australia, and the USA.

4. Communication and Journalism

Why losing value: Traditional journalism degrees are losing traction as newsrooms and media outlets prioritize digital skills, analytics, and automation tools.

How to make it relevant: Study Digital Communication, Brand Strategy, or Media Analytics. Learning SEO, social media analytics, and AI content tools can open roles like Digital Content Strategist, Media Planner, Social Media Analyst, or Marketing Communications Manager across the USA, UK, and Singapore.

5. Education and Teaching

Why losing value: Conventional teaching degrees are declining in demand due to the rise of online learning platforms and EdTech companies that prefer educators with technological expertise.

How to make it relevant: Pursue Learning Design, Educational Technology, or Education Data Science programs. These prepare students for careers as Instructional Designers, Learning Experience (LX) Specialists, Curriculum Developers, or Corporate Training Consultants in the USA, Canada, and Finland, where digital learning is booming.

6. Sociology

Why losing value: General sociology degrees without applied research or data-analysis components offer limited employability.

How to make it relevant: Combine sociology with Public Policy, Sustainability Studies, or Data Science. Graduates can pursue roles such as Policy Analyst, CSR Specialist, Social Researcher, or ESG Consultant with global think tanks, NGOs, and development organizations across the UK, Netherlands, and Canada.

7. Philosophy

Why losing value: Standalone philosophy programs are highly theoretical and often disconnected from practical job outcomes. Employers now seek critical thinkers who can apply reasoning and ethics to modern technology and policy.

How to make it relevant: Opt for specialized programs such as Philosophy, Politics & Economics (PPE), Ethics in AI, or Language and Logic for LLM Models (training AI systems in linguistics). These lead to roles like Ethics Consultant, Policy Advisor, AI Ethics Researcher, or Academic Instructor are emerging fields in Europe, Canada, and the USA.

8. Religious Studies

Why losing value: This field primarily leads to careers in academia or ministry, with fewer corporate or applied opportunities.

How to make it relevant: Combine it with Conflict Resolution, Cultural Diplomacy, or Peace Studies. These programs prepare graduates for roles such as NGO Program Manager, Cultural Affairs Specialist, Humanitarian Coordinator, or International Relations Officer, especially in Germany, the USA, and Switzerland, where intercultural expertise is highly valued.

9. History

Why losing value: Traditional history degrees provide limited employability outside teaching or research. As industries digitize, the lack of technical alignment makes the subject less market-relevant.

How to make it relevant: Choose Heritage Management, Museum Studies, or Archival Informatics, which blend history with business and technology. Graduates can pursue roles such as Museum Curator, Heritage Project Manager, Digital Archivist, or Cultural Tourism Consultant, especially in the UK, France, and Italy.

10. Hospitality Management

Why losing value: Post-pandemic automation, changing travel behavior, and digital platforms have reduced hiring in traditional hotel operations.

How to make it relevant: Focus on Sustainable Tourism, Event Tech Management, or Hospitality Analytics. These programs prepare you for jobs such as Revenue Manager, Event Operations Executive, Hospitality Tech Consultant, or Sustainability Manager in Singapore, the UAE, and Australia, which lead the tech-driven hospitality shift.

Summary Table: Degrees, Challenges, and Career-Aligned Alternatives (2025)

A degree still matters but only if it is paired with future-oriented skills. It is imperative to choose courses that mix creativity with technology and data.

What This Means for Indian Students Abroad

If you’re taking an abroad education loan for your global studies, the return on that investment becomes crucial. A course with lower employability can make loan repayment harder.

Hence, before applying, analyze:

• Average salary outcomes of graduates
• Employment rate within six months of graduation
• Visa-linked post-study work options
• Internship opportunities

Smart Substitutions

• General MBA → MBA in Analytics or Sustainability
• Mass Communication → Digital Marketing or Brand Analytics
• Hospitality → Sustainable Tourism or Hotel Tech

Choosing high-ROI courses ensures your study abroad loan remains a stepping stone, not a burden.

How to Stay Ahead with Upskilling and Smart Choices

• Add Tech to Everything: Even if your course is non-technical, digital literacy is essential. Learn Excel, Tableau, or Python to stand out in any role.  
• Earn Short-Term Certifications: Use Coursera, edX, or LinkedIn Learning for quick courses in trending domains like AI, blockchain, or UX.  
• Network Globally: Leverage alumni networks and career offices at your university. Many job offers come from referrals.  
• Follow Industry Data: Regularly check the World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report to understand what skills will dominate by 2030.  
• Mix Your Degree with Internships:  Hands-on exposure increases your employability far more than grades alone. Opt for co-op programs in Canada or sandwich courses in the UK that include work placements.

How Lorien Finance Supports You Fund

Choosing the right degree is the first step. Funding it smartly is the next.
That’s where Lorien Finance helps give Indian students access to 17+ lenders across India and abroad.

Why Students Choose Lorien Finance

• Compare 17+ lenders (banks & NBFCs) with one application
• Interest rates starting at 3.39% (USD) / 8.25% (INR).
• Quick study abroad loan sanction and disbursal, provided with complete verified documentation.
• No-collateral and no-cosigner options available.
• Support for Forex, Insurance, Accommodation and more.

With Lorien Finance, you can focus on selecting a high-ROI degree while we handle your funding smoothly from sanction to disbursal. Check Your Education Loan Eligibility Now.

Conclusion

Harvard’s 2025 report is a wake-up call for global learners as well as aspiring study abroad students. Some degrees are losing their edge, but that doesn’t mean your dream is over, it means you need to evolve and adapt to make your career choices relevant for your global future. Choose adaptive programs, upskill regularly, and secure your education loan through Lorien Finance to make your study abroad investment future-ready.

FAQs

Should I avoid the degrees Harvard flagged?
Not necessarily. You can still pursue them if you pair them with practical skills like data analytics, digital tools, or cross-disciplinary learning.

How do I identify a high-ROI study abroad course?
Check global employability rankings, average post-study salary, and job placement data on university websites.

Can Lorien Finance help me compare education loans for different countries?
Yes, Lorien Finance allows you to compare loan offers for destinations like the USA, UK, Canada, Germany, and Australia in one place.

Do I need collateral for all study abroad loans?
No, Lorien Finance offers no-collateral and no-cosigner abroad education loans through multiple lenders depending on your profile.

How fast can I get my loan sanctioned?
With complete verified documentation, study abroad loan sanction and disbursal are quick, ensuring your university fees are paid on time.