Fox News host Jesse Watters said on air that a college degree could hurt young women’s chances at finding romantic relationships, according to comments he made on The Five. Watters, 48, made the remarks during a panel discussion about “highly educated, downwardly mobile” women who reportedly support Democratic Socialist candidates.
The Daily Beast points out that Watters holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Trinity College. He questioned the value of certain degrees during the segment, saying, “If you’re going to take out a loan to get a degree in the humanities or the social sciences, what are you thinking?”
He went on to suggest that women with advanced degrees may struggle to find suitable jobs. “You’re going to be 28 years old, and you’re going to have no skills and no experience, and you’re not going to take an entry-level offer because you think you have this big, fancy degree – that you’re worth more,” Watters said.
Host claims education could lead to resentment and financial strain
Watters, whose Fox News job is based in Manhattan and reportedly pays him around $5 million a year, according to TV Insider, said women who pursue costly degrees may end up moving back in with their parents due to student debt. He said their starting salaries would likely make it difficult to afford living independently in a city like Manhattan.
“And that is going to kill your love life,” Watters said. He added that these women “are going to look around” and see peers who entered the workforce earlier “doing better” financially. Watters then claimed this situation could lead to negative emotional outcomes.
“So then you’re going to be resentful. And then you’re going to get bitter because you’re single. And if you’re a woman, men don’t care if you have a Ph.D. That is not high on our list of attributes,” he said. Watters is also the father of three daughters.
He also claimed that women who are not “in the market” for relationships will become “angry,” “ugly,” and develop “a bad attitude.” Watters suggested two possible solutions for women in this situation: working harder professionally or relocating. He also proposed a third option centered on relationships. “Or maybe, just maybe, you could get it together and find love,” he said. “And then you could build a life together because it’s a lot easier to do that with someone else with another income.”
The host’s personal history includes a divorce from his first wife, Noelle Inguagiato, in 2019 after ten years of marriage. According to the Daily Mail, Watters admitted to having an affair with Emma DiGiovine, who was his producer at the time, in 2017. He later married DiGiovine, who is reportedly 14 years younger than him.
This is not the first time Watters has shared personal opinions or made attention-grabbing remarks on air. In a separate segment, he was seen bringing up RFK Jr.’s raccoon story during an interview with the Health and Human Services Secretary. He has also previously outlined what he described as “rules for men,” which reportedly include avoiding eating soup in public, not crossing one’s legs, not drinking from a straw, and not telling other men “happy birthday.”
Fox News hosts have made headlines before for their on-air remarks, including one who drew Donald Trump’s ire over comments made during a broadcast. Watters continues to co-host The Five alongside other panelists on the network.
Published: Jul 24, 2026 10:35 am