My B.S. degree is kinesiology.
I became a personal trainer at a hospital for a time out of college, I didn't need a degree for that.
Shortly after, I promoted to Fitness Specialist (worked with medically complex clients referred by Drs) and ran 2 locations and departments. Even though I spent hours a day watching videos from industry leaders and reading, I likely would not have gotten that promotion without a degree. I also would not have had the knowledge because I wouldn't have had the curriculum requiring me to learn things that didn't interest me.
Don't know that I wasted money, but certainly wasted time and didn't make money, connection, strong habits when I could have been working far harder than I was.