Are Arts & Humanities majors prepared to succeed in the workplace after graduation?
- “Liberal arts majors reach leadership positions more often than people with technical degrees, according to a study of 15,000 executives in 18 countries”.
- According to one study, Humanities majors outperformed other degrees on 5 of 8 leadership skill areas: Compelling Communication, Driving for Results, Entrepreneurship, Influence, and Inspiring Excellence.
Will employers value the skills I gain as an Arts & Humanities major?
- 91% of employers believe that “a candidate’s demonstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems is more important than his or her undergraduate major.”
- 78% of employers believe “all college students should gain intercultural skills and an understanding of societies and countries outside the United States.”
- Employers rated liberal arts majors as better prepared or much better prepared than non-liberal arts majors in 21 of 24 essential job skills, including written and oral communication, ability to work in a diverse environment, innovation, use of persuasion, critical thinking, navigating organizational boundaries and sustaining work relationships.
Will an Arts & Humanities major prepare me for graduate school in a professional field?
- Humanities majors have higher MCAT scores and a higher acceptance rate to medical school than biological science, physical science or social science majors.
- Arts & Humanities majors have a higher acceptance rate at top-tier MBA programs than business and quantitative-based majors.
- The top ten majors most likely to be admitted to law school include Classics (90.56% acceptance rate), Philosophy (86.4%), and Foreign Languages (85.96%).
Can I work in a field that isn't directly related to my major?
- “62% of recent college graduates are working in jobs that require a degree, yet only 27% of college graduates are working in a job that relates to their major.”
Are Arts & Humanities graduates satisfied with their career opportunities?
- Almost 87% of all workers with a bachelor's degree in the Humanities reported they were satisfied with their job in 2015, comparable to graduates from every other field.
- Furthermore, Humanities graduates express almost the same level of satisfaction with their salary (71.7%) as do all other college graduates (76.2%).
How much do UC Berkeley graduates in the Arts & Humanities make?
- According to the UC Office of the President, the average UC Berkeley Arts & Humanities graduate working in California makes $35,914 after graduation, and $70,223 after 10 years. The top 75th percentile of UC Berkeley Arts & Humanities graduates make $50,896 after graduation, and $108,722 after 10 years.
- PayScale ranks UC Berkeley as #13 in the country for Best Value for Humanities majors.
- Use the NACE Job Seekers Salary Calculator to learn more about what salary you can expect in specific professions in different states and regions.
- Explore more resources about salary information on the UC Berkeley Career Center website.