As the number of humanities majors continues to shrink, is there a case to be made for the value of a college degree in, say, English or history? In the 2019-20 academic year, the proportion of bachelor’s degrees awarded in just engineering and computer science (12%) surpassed that of ALL humanities majors (11.7%) for the first time, and the gap only continues to widen. And yet, a 2019 Gallup poll cited in a report by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences found that 90 percent of humanities graduates are happy with their lives, about the same as graduates of other fields. When considering the value of a humanities degree, factors like job prospects, career earnings, and quality of life should all be part of the conversation.
The study of the humanities—subjects like art history, philosophy, religion, foreign languages, history, and English—can be traced back to Ancient Greece and Rome, where the concept of the liberal arts originated. Studying rhetoric, grammar and logic were considered the bedrock of citizenship. In medieval universities, this short list was expanded to seven subjects: grammar, logic, rhetoric, arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy. The notion that a well-rounded education was the basis of a productive life provided the blueprint for the higher education system we’ve experienced in the United States until recently, when political, cultural and economic pressures have brought the practicality of this breadth of study under a microscope—and sometimes onto the chopping block, as schools like West Virginia University cut 28 majors in September 2023, including art history and five language programs, to balance their budget.
HUMANITIES MAJORS: “BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH THAT?”
One knock against philosophy or Russian majors is that such degrees do not prepare students for jobs—unless it’s teaching philosophy or Russian. Consult any professor of a humanities subject, and you’ll likely get an eyeroll in response to the “what can you do with that?” question, as they have seen graduates go on to pursue a myriad of different jobs and careers. (See the lists of famous English, history, and philosophy majors for some examples.) A college major can benefit students beyond job training. “Humanities education encourages students to think creatively and critically, to reason, and ask questions,” according to the National Humanities Center. “Put simply, the humanities help us understand and interpret the human experience, as individuals and societies.” Many industries seek employees who can problem solve, collaborate effectively, break down projects into component parts, and communicate effectively through writing and oral presentations.
Data from the Association of American Medical Colleges on applicants and matriculants to US MD-Granting Medical Schools (2022-23) even shows that humanities majors had higher mean MCAT scores and higher admission rates to medical school than biology or health science majors. So, what can you do with a humanities degree? Whatever you prepare to do. Majoring in English and applying to med school on a whim will not lead to success. But following a pre-med track in college, taking all the prerequisite classes, doing all the expected volunteer work and research, and studying for the MCATs will enable an English major to become a doctor. The key is to prepare for a future job and career alongside your college studies, no matter what you major in. Gaining job experience, exploring various industries or job sectors, networking, job shadowing, working with a career advisor—these are all important aspects of today’s college education.
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HUMANITIES MAJORS: HOW WILL YOU SUPPORT YOURSELF?
A working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research in 2018 found that, although STEM majors outearn their peers in the humanities at the beginning of their careers, that edge declines in their first decade in the workforce. This initial income boost compels many students to pursue STEM majors, particularly those from low-income backgrounds who are primarily concerned with financial stability. However, this economic head start can be impacted by the rapidly changing needs for certain STEM skills. “Computer Science Students Face a Shrinking Big Tech Job Market,” reported The New York Times on Dec. 6, 2022. In the previous month, Meta laid off more than 11,000 employees, and in Feb. 2024, Snap laid off 10% of its workforce. Choosing a college major based on the current employment picture can be risky. That said, data does show that those with bachelor’s degrees in the humanities are not the highest earners (surprise!). The annual median earnings of those with a terminal bachelor’s degree in the humanities (i.e., those who did not pursue a higher degree) is $64K, lower than that of all workers with a terminal bachelor’s degree in STEM ($72K). Humanities degree-holders do earn higher annual median incomes on average than those in the arts, life sciences, and education. As the chart below indicates, however, gender pay gaps play an interesting role in median income, such that males with humanities degrees outearn ALL women except those with engineering degrees.
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HUMANITIES MAJORS: QUALITY OF LIFE
In addition to considering future earnings potential and the range of jobs a college major makes possible, considering your life’s meaning and purpose should be part of the decision-making process when declaring a major. “Studies repeatedly find that individuals with a sense of purpose in life tend to report that they’re happier, or they’re more hopeful and more satisfied, than individuals without,” says Kendall Cotton Bronk, educational psychologist and professor of psychology at Claremont Graduate University. The average person spends one-third of their life working, so job satisfaction is not insignificant. Passion for a subject is not the only important factor in choosing a major, but curiosity and strong interest in a discipline form the basis for a successful college experience.
ADMISSIONS BOOST?
The moral of the story? Whether you’re humanities-focused or STEM-focused, be true to yourself, your interests and your passions, even if these include humanities subjects. With almost 80% of college applicants presenting with STEM interests in the college admissions process, the pool of humanities applicants is much smaller, providing a slight boost to your odds (as long as you’re in range of that school’s academic data points). As you can see from our list of famous English, history and philosophy majors, anything is possible!
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