10 Reasons An IT Degree Is Useless In 2025 & 10 Tech Degrees To Get Instead
Stay Ahead Of The Curve
Technology is an extremely innovative and rapidly changing field, so much so that universities have trouble keeping up. That's why a traditional IT degree no longer carries the weight it once did, and more employers would prefer to see real-world skills, adaptability, and greater specialization. That's not to say all tech degrees are useless, though. Here are 10 reasons not to study IT and 10 tech degrees to go for instead.
1. You Can Learn IT Skills From YouTube
IT skills like coding aren't super sought after anymore because anyone can learn them from YouTube or bootcamps. Being able to prove you have these skills is much more valuable to employers than where you acquired them.
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2. University IT Programs Have Outdated Curricula
Educational institutions aren't at the forefront of tech. It isn't unreasonable to assume that by the time you graduate, a huge chunk of what you learned will already be obsolete.
3. AI Is Already Replacing Entry-Level IT Jobs
AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini know how to code. Entry-level web development jobs are some of the first to be replaced by artificial intelligence, meaning you'll have to find a way to jump to intermediate jobs or fight for the very few entry-level positions available.
4. It's Not Worth The Tuition Cost
While many IT skills are still useful, they're just not worth the tuition costs when you can learn them yourself or in a condensed, much less expensive boot camp-style course. The degree isn't nearly as meaningful as it used to be.
5. It's Too Broad
Nowadays, IT is just too broad to be considered impressive. A tech-related certificate in something highly relevant, like machine learning, may prove more useful.
6. It's Unnecessary
Tech companies and start-ups don't necessarily require tech degrees for you to be considered for roles. All they care about is that you have the skills and are an innovative thinker, so why waste your money on tuition?
7. It Doesn't Set You Apart
One of the main problems with IT degrees is that they don't set you apart enough. A slip of paper saying you made it through a general four-year university program won't get you hired anywhere; you'll have to find other ways to stand out, just as you would if you didn't have any degree.
8. It Emphasizes Theory Over Practice
Employers these days even prefer some bootcamp programs over a university IT degree because they're more hands-on. Just as it is the case with many college programs, IT degrees are also theory-based.
9. Almost Everyone Already Has Basic IT Skills
Gen Zers were basically born with computers in their hands. Most young people are incredibly tech savvy, so especially if your IT program is based on repairs and maintenance, you'll find it's completely unnecessary.
10. Real-World Experience Is More Valuable
The tech world is all about innovation, and no field changes more rapidly. Tech companies nowadays would prefer to see real-world experience and self learning initiative over a university degree, in which you probably learned outdated information anyway.
Now that we've covered why IT degrees are considered useless in 2025, let's talk about tech degrees you should focus on instead.
1. AI & Machine Learning
If you've been on the internet at any moment in the last few years, you know how hyped AI and machine learning are. A career in this field is in extremely high demand and can be challenging, rich, and rewarding.
2. Cybersecurity
With the rise of AI and more advanced systems comes more sophisticated cybersecurity threats. This is a field that's super in demand but often overlooked as a specialization, meaning you can charge more for your services if you become an expert in it.
3. Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is the reason most companies no longer have server rooms. With essentially all of our data now being stored in the cloud, experts in cloud computing are very in demand for helping companies maintain, optimize, and develop systems in the cloud.
4. Data Science
Data is a hot commodity these days, but it's worthless without people who know how to read and analyze it. Data scientists are extremely coveted by companies that create marketing strategies based on their predictions and insights.
5. Computer Engineering
With everything being digital, computer engineering is a sought-after profession. These are the people who make and test hardware like computers and circuit boards, as well as all the things that run on the hardware, like applications and operating systems.
6. Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics is where computing and biology meet. It brings together various disciplines to make groundbreaking scientific discoveries and design new drugs and medical technology.
7. UX Design
User experience (UX) design entails creating digital products, like apps and websites, that are pleasant, intuitive, and accessible to the user. This is a highly sought-after profession as companies vie for consumer attention in an increasingly digital world.
8. Software Engineering
Software engineers are in charge of developing software systems and applications. They collaborate with designers to develop functional digital products. With nearly every company having its own app these days and every device requiring software to run, this is, needless to say, highly in demand.
9. Robotics
With AI chatbots becoming more sophisticated, so is the field of robotics. While we don't yet all have house robots assisting us with daily chores, robots are being used extensively in fields like medicine and manufacturing.
10. Quantum Computing
Quantum computing has become somewhat of a buzzword in recent years. With applications in things like financial modeling, climate modeling, and machine learning, it's massively in demand. Although it's an abstract field still in its infancy, there's no doubt about a future for experts in quantum computing.
