The "Useless Degree" moniker includes performers as well as Designers, Technicians, Crafts people, Historians, Script/
screen writers, Producers, et. al. In fact, many of those "useful degree" surveys don't even include the vast
array of people that make the performing arts viable. For a straight drama/comedy it takes an average of 27 people for each performer to get the show on
stage. For musicals it's 42. If you really want to see a number, start hanging around after a movie and count the number of names in the credits.
It should be obvious that even if you want a technical job in 99% of academia, you need a degree. Very large schools may have staff positions that are non degree required, but the vast majority, as a TD or asst TD, Lighting or Scenic or Costume designer you need the degree.
If you want to work in automation, animatronics, computer motion control,
etc. you usually need a degree in some related field to get the knowledge and experience necessary. If your goal is to be a roadie or local
box pusher, even a long time I.A.
stage hand or to
build in scenic studio, then the degree is less likely to do you a lot of good.
Yes there's a lot of things you can learn "on the job" but unless you have a father, uncle or other relative to help you get in the door and by pass the early hurdles, it is likely to be a slow ride and you'll be "parking cars and pumping gas" along with the out of work actors.
Of course there's always the people who start their own company out of a garage (Steve Jobs comes to mind) and without a degree prove a great success. They're as few and far between as the big name stars that come out of the local drama club.
I've been in this industry for over 50 years and wouldn't be where I am with out those degrees. Of course I've learned more since graduating than I did in all the three degrees I have, but, they opened doors, introduced me to people in the business, taught me HOW to learn and how to apply that learning. Even now after all these years, I consider it a good day when I learn something new.
The real bottom
line is not whether the degree is worth anything, but whether it is the right path for you. None of us here can answer that, you'll have to come up with that one for yourself.