Pursuing a liberal arts degree isn’t always a quick path to financial success. Looking at first-job salaries, people with liberal arts degrees tend to earn lowerthan people in fields like nursing, computer science, or accounting. Studies have shown that in the first five years after graduating, someone with a science degree will make about $15,000 more than someone with a degree in the humanities. The gap grows even more at the ten-year mark, with the science grad making $38,000 more. Because of the seemingly bad reputation of humanities degrees in the workforce, some people are mocked and ridiculed for choosing a liberal arts degree over a higher-paying STEM degree.
However, over time, we seethe salaries of liberal arts degree holders start to catch up with the other students. After more than ten years in the field, liberal arts graduates make $15,000 more than the science grads. Data sourced from Harvard’s Opportunity Insights found that poorer students who graduate with a liberal arts degree are just as likely to succeed as students who choose a more practical degree.
One study found that history majors often choose to go to law school or become judges after they graduate from undergraduate programs. Philosophy majors might put their argumentative and analytical skills to practice on the New York Stock Exchange. Someone who graduated with an international relations degree might excel while working for a global corporation.
The evidence seems to show that graduating with a liberal arts major doesn’t mean the path to financial success is impossible. Instead, someCEOs have pointed out that they think having a liberal arts degree gives their workers the ability to think critically.
Another analysis by LinkedIn economist Guy Bergerrevealed that liberal arts degree holders can adapt to the changing job market more efficiently than students who graduated with a pre-professional degree.
And, one thing that cannot be overlooked is the impact that artificial intelligence (AI) will have on the job market. Luckily, the critical thinking and problem-solving skills you learn as a liberal arts major can’t be replaced by a robot.
Choosing a liberal arts major might be the right choice for you because if you are drawn to the humanities, it is unlikely that you would thrive in a tech-oriented job. Ultimately, it comes down to the individual student and their interests and talents. However, if you are worried that a liberal arts degree will reduce your chances financially in the future, that is not true. By choosing a field you are passionate about, you are more likely to excel and achieve financial success.
Original source:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/12/11/how-can-a-liberal-arts-degree-lead-to-financial-success/#4faa259d698c
