If You Want to Be a Creative, Don’t Go to College 

Is college worth it for those who want to pursue creative careers? Not exactly.

With rising tuition costs, the argument for such an investment is at best weak. Creative paths do not necessarily require institution-backed credentials or certifications. Those wanting to pursue creative careers might think of getting a degree in Art or Dance, for example. But these degrees cost the same average yearly tuition—$27,000—as a degree with a higher return on investment (ROI), such as degrees in STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology, and Math).

Those concerned with college’s ROI—which, unfortunately, has become the primary focus for many Americans due to the commercialization of educational institutions—might think that a degree in the arts would at least offer valuable networking opportunities, a structured learning environment, and a measure of prestige that alone would lead to good financial returns. But these benefits generally apply only to students pursuing careers that require academic credentials or licensing to enter the field. Going to college is necessary, for example, to connect with accomplished lawyers, doctors, or—if you’re aiming for a life in academia—to build relationships with PhDs and field experts who can offer mentorship, guidance, and job opportunities.

Creative fields, however, are inherently more social, more entrepreneurial, and often come with entirely different barriers to entry—ones that rarely include a college degree. The chances of becoming a social media manager, for example, are far more likely if you build relationships independently and can show a body of work—a portfolio of successful accounts or projects. Jared Gould, the managing editor of Minding the Campus, says that when it comes to jobs like this, “a diploma is superfluous at best—a YouTube tutorial and a free afternoon would do the trick.” Sure, some employers are still going to ask for degrees, but there’s a clear trend in the other direction—especially as employers are realizing that a college degree no longer signals a history of structured learning or prestige. Grade inflation and political indoctrination taking place across college and university campuses have made sure of that.

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From an economic standpoint, pursuing a creative degree—like Fine Arts, Graphic Design, or Film Production—is typically a costly investment unlikely to outweigh the debt it requires. The average bachelor’s degree now, according to Education Data Initiative, has a negative ROI in the first decade, meaning it takes more than 10 years in the workforce to start achieving any financial sustainability. (The degrees with the highest ROI are concentrated in math, business, technology, and engineering. Interestingly, a bachelor’s in finance currently tops the list. However, even these high-performing fields may see declining ROIs as artificial intelligence begins to reshape their job markets.) Meanwhile, the average ROI for a bachelor’s in Liberal Arts or Humanities is –42.78 percent.

This likely occurs because there isn’t a strong job market for niche degrees like Puppet Arts—offered by the University of Connecticut—or Floral Management—offered by Mississippi State University. Even more tailored degrees, like Political Science, often fall short in the job market. A bachelor’s alone usually isn’t enough to make a living—most grads have to tack on a master’s or J.D. just to land a decently paying job. For many similar degrees, a bachelor’s alone isn’t enough to achieve financial success or stability.

In this light, those pursuing creative paths would be better served by creating portfolios, doing their own networking, and refining their skills to enhance their employability and/or secure contracts. For example, aspiring dancers could pursue a trainee program at a local dance company, visual artists might build an online portfolio and join open-call exhibitions or creative collectives, and filmmakers could volunteer on independent sets or create short films for social media. These alternatives can not only help build experience but can also lead to valuable job opportunities—all without the hefty price tag of a degree.

Getting a college degree does not guarantee success. And especially for those pursuing creative careers, a college degree may put you further behind than forward. The bottom line is this: if you’re seriously thinking about spending or borrowing money to pursue a creative degree—say, in Puppet Arts—I strongly urge you to reconsider.

Cover by Jared Gould using image by Vasyl on Adobe Stock; Asset ID#: 166338789 and an element by Sumran on  Adobe Stock; Asset ID#: 557755308