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undergraduate

Liberal arts and humanities


What is a liberal arts and humanities major?

Liberal arts and humanities is a structured combination of the arts, biological and physical sciences, social sciences, and humanities, emphasizing breadth of study. It includes instruction in independently designed, individualized, or regular programs.

22%

of students said great professors were a highlight of this major.

27%

of students found this major to be difficult.

30%

of students said they were motivated to select this major because it fit their passion & interest.

40%

of students and alumni plan on being or are currently employed in an occupation related to this major.

17%

of students said limited career opportunities were a challenging aspect of the major.

How much do liberal arts and humanities majors make?

median average salary

$60,000/yr

The national average salary for liberal arts and humanities graduates in the United States is $60,000 per year. Those in the top 10 percent make over $144,000 a year, while the bottom 10 percent make under $22,000 a year. While salary ranges can vary by role, industry, and location, liberal arts and humanities graduates typically make between $38,000 and $94,000 per year.

How popular is liberal arts and humanities as a major?

Each year, around 77,500 students obtain a bachelor’s degree and around 402,800 students obtain an associate degree in liberal arts and humanities. In 2021, 76,883 students received a bachelor's degree and 406,945 students received an associate degree. This is relatively the same number of liberal arts and humanities majors as there were in 2020. Liberal arts and humanities is one of the most popular majors within interdisciplinary studies.

Advice from liberal arts and humanities majors

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