Money Is a Terrible Way to Measure the Value of a College Major

The Atlantic ^ | 1/24/2014 | JORDAN WEISSMANN

[Borges]

The cliche about majoring in humanities is that it's a lovely way to spend four years of college and poor way to land a lucrative job. To some extent, that cliche may be true. On the whole, humanities grads earn less than students who study disciplines like business or engineering. So sayeth the statistics.

But the Association of American Colleges and Universities would like you to know that getting a degree in English or History, while perhaps not the most financially rewarding choice, doesn't require an oath of poverty either. Over a lifetime, they note, typical humanities and social science majors earn similarly to graduates who study practical, pre-professional fields such as education or nursing.

[Resolute Conservative]

I had a job one time where our VP over Software Development was a BA in English Lit. Go figure. I was not there long enough to gauge her effectiveness.

[TalonDJ]

Only if you miss the WHOLE POINT of college... and also don’t understand the word VALUE.

[RJS1950]

The statement of what a fluff major can make over the years might be true for a lot of them.

I teach at a medium size university that has traditionally focused on older, returning, lifetime learners. That is the key. Many of the students I see in courses who want an IT degree or business degree are former fluff majors.

Now, taking and learning from the English and history courses is still important for a well-rounded educated individual but those types of majors won’t in the long run be very satisfying for most students in the long run.

[Londo Molari]

A lot of college majors are hobbies — Art History, Literature, theater, etc.

[cherry]

there is a 2 yr waiting period at our local colleges to get accepted into that "pre professional" degree program called nursing....the local colleges and universities will only look at you if you carry at least a 3.6gpa in all your prerequisites and then its still many rosaries away....

while it may be true that every one catches up to others, the only reason humanities etc make any money is that they go into teaching in college or completely change their job searches to something more practical....

[Vigilanteman]

There is value in a liberal arts degree if it comes from the right place. Ask a Hillsdale College graduate.

[thorvaldr]

The only way to judge the effectiveness of a liberal arts education is to find out how well the student adheres to communist ideologies.

“Education is a weapon whose effects depend on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed.”— Joseph Stalin

[discostu]

Maybe in the 19th century when people went to college to be more rounded in their education, when most of the folks going were on the life path to “good” jobs before ever getting near college. But this is the 21st century, now we go to college to get jobs, and you need to gauge the cost of the degree to the wage it’ll get you.

[familyop]

"Money Is a Terrible Way to Measure the Value of a College Major"

Then take students free for what the program is worth.

[LRoggy]

I’m a liberal arts guy who rejected communism BEFORE leaving college in 1980, partly thanks to Jimmy Carter’s presidency. The author is absolutely correct. One of my closest friends majored in history and now holds a very high paying internet security position for a major bank, putting him in the Top .5% salary-wise.

I am a financial advisor and am doing very well now. If you keep up the learning it pays off quite a bit. I still read pretty much EVERY day and it really helps my practice. Liberal Arts is supposed to be about thinking critically, not reciting mush.

[dfwgator]

And it used to be that companies actually trained people.

Now they expect you to know everything to day you first come through the door.

[TheThirdRuffian]

No, it’s not.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

In that case, college should be ffFFRRrrEEeeEEEEEE!!!

Wheeeeee!!!

[discostu]

Of course back then the place that hired you and trained you was where you stayed until you retired. Once people started being mobile in their jobs (both voluntarily and by force) the whole game changed.

[PA Engineer]

Colleges are business and there is nothing lofty in this day and age that differentiates it from other service industries. This is nothing more than a marketing piece.

Students have to demand a payback for that service or an honest disclosure from the University of what the real world gains or losses will be. Even professional majors are padded today to improve college business models, without providing any benefit to the postgraduate.

Education is a lifetime endeavor with or without college.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

*

[Professional Engineer]

Would you like fries with that would seem to be a follow up question.

[Responsibility2nd]

When colleges and universities return to the concept of education instead of indoctrination - then they can talk about the value of a Hunanities Degree.

[Oberon]

"Money Is a Terrible Way to Measure the Value of a College Major"

I'll happily agree with that premise, if universities will also agree that money is a terrible way to pay for a degree.