About the Authors

Michelle R. Weise, PhD, is the chief innovation officer at Strada Institute for the Future of Work and senior vice president of workforce strategies at Strada Education Network. She Michelle specializes in disruptive innovation and the future of learning and work.

Andrew R. Hanson is a senior research fellow at Strada Institute for the Future of Work, where he researches the challenges associated with the future of work and Andrew opportunities for our learning ecosystem to evolve to meet those challenges.

Rob Sentz is the chief innovation officer at Emsi, where he leads in furthering Emsi’s vision through new and updated products for higher education, economic Rob development, workforce planning, and talent acquisition.

Yustina Saleh, PhD, is the senior vice president of analytics at Emsi. She is passionate about developing products that realign workforce and higher education resources and policies with Yustina real-time employer demand using statistical modeling and data science.

Contributors

Elyse Ashburn is a researcher for Strada Institute for the Future of Work. She’s written about and worked in higher education for over a decade, including posts as a university Elyse chief of staff and an editor at The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Daniel Botkin is a graphic designer at Emsi where he assists with data visualization, marketing, and branding.

Daniel The Real, Long-term Labor Market Outcomes of Liberal Arts Grads 1 The 5 1 as well as as well as 4

and Valid Assessment of Learning of Assessment Valid and 3 Lumina’s Degree Qualifications Profile (DQP). Profile Qualifications Degree Lumina’s these in translating however, been, has challenge audience wider a much for outcomes learning have policymakers a result, As academia. beyond liberal of outcomes the down on particularly been as majors these of value the questioning arts, with the associated challenges the to relevant rallied have others work. In response, of future who on Depending arts. liberal the defend to headed for are graduates either you ask, these doing of capable are or a barista as a lifetime absolutely anything. It’s not that institutions education that higher It’s of not have learning been trying outcomes. not document to efforts, major been have There have. Many Colleges American of Association the as such America’s and Education Liberal Universities’ & (LEAP) Promise (VALUE), Education in Undergraduate specifically on liberal arts majors in order order in majors arts liberal on specifically institutions—to programs—not connect to transferring the fundamentallearners as unit As market. labor in the value economic Anthony Carnevaleeconomist explained in you “What op-ed: Post Washington a recent take you what on more much earn depends a career From go. you where than in college in a market more is college perspective, program majors than a in market institutions.” “Liberal Arts”? 2

America’s modern view of a liberal education education a liberal of view modern America’s and global, individualistic, is that one is the emphasizing typically in nature, pluralistic often also is term The humanities. or classics which colleges, arts liberal to refer to used a common curriculumadopt alignedwith the focus we however, brief, In this tradition. liberal What do we mean by we mean do What a on consensus gain to challenging It’s broadly term The arts. liberal the of definition education. of concept Western the to refers This brief is a companion piece to “Robot-Ready: Human+ Skills for the Future Future the for Skills Human+ “Robot-Ready: to piece a companion is brief This full The www.economicmodeling.com/robot-ready. at available Work,” of and methods. data sources, references, of list a complete contains report yet “even as they teach their students to back up back to students their teach they as “even yet much have don’t they with evidence, claims their claims.” up those back to evidence mission statements, they’re loaded with grand with grand they’re loaded statements, mission the skills and of about habits pronouncements students,” in their inspire they’re to mind going director of the National of director Survey Student of survey the longest-running (NSSE), Engagement educational the examines that undergraduates of experience, explains: “When college at look you arts seem to be particularly subject to bold claims claims bold to subject particularly be to seem arts with little value—often and relevance their about data underpinning McCormick, them. Alexander In general, it has been difficult to understand the the to understand difficult been has it In general, liberal The graduates. arts liberal of outcomes Liberal Arts Liberal Grads Career Outcomes of of Outcomes Career The Real, Long-term Long-term Real, The

$90,000 $76,000 There are some wild narratives out there about about there out wild narratives some are There a is popular most the One of grads. arts liberal wait-and-see the that approach suggests that much is (ROI) investment on return long-term majors arts Liberal majors. arts liberal for higher other overtake ultimately and time take just don’t. they But careers. in their late majors $60,000 $55,000 $35,000 $90,000

$76,000 Median High School Graduate School High Median

Median Liberal Arts BA Arts Liberal Median Median BA Median

Median Liberal Arts MA+ Arts Liberal Median 75th Percentile Liberal Arts BA Arts Liberal Percentile 75th

relative to high school graduates, and the half who go on to to on who go half the and graduates, school high to relative annually. $76,000 of earn an average degrees earn graduate Figure 1. Figure premium wage earn a significant graduates arts Liberal Source: data of analysis Work of Future the for Institute Strada 2016. Survey, Community American the from career outcomes and outcomes longer-termcareer marketability of graduates. arts liberal the decline. It’s important, therefore, to clarify the to therefore, important, It’s decline. the stable career is also the most straightforward straightforward most the also is career stable on hand, are other the on arts, liberal The one. business, health, andbusiness, engineering—clearly hearing path a meaningful, to financially the surest that In the wake of this debate, students have moved in moved have students debate, this of wake In the as such majors, career-oriented to numbers large

The Real, Long-term Labor Market Outcomes of Liberal Arts Grads 2 $60,000 $55,000 $90,000 $35,000 $76,000 Median Liberal Arts MA+ Arts Liberal Median BA Median BA Arts Liberal Median Graduate School High Median 75th Percentile Liberal Arts BA Arts Liberal Percentile 75th $60,000 $55,000 $35,000 75th Percentile Liberal Arts BA Arts Liberal Percentile 75th MA+ Arts Liberal Median BA Median BA Arts Liberal Median Graduate School High Median The Real, Long-term Labor Market Outcomes of Liberal Arts Grads 3 7 this decline has occurred in just the past decade. decade. the past declinethis in occurred has just and in 2007 peaked example, for majors, History 45 percent. dropped since have In 1970, 36 percent of college graduates earned earned graduates college of percent 36 1970, In 23 only Today, field. arts in a liberal a degree of striking, much more Even 2). (Figure do percent

$90,000 $90,000

64% 6 64% 77% 77%

Strada Institute for the Future of Work analysis of data from from data of analysis Work of Future the for Institute Strada

and Social Science Majors Science Social and

Career-oriented Majors Career-oriented

Liberal Arts, Humanities, Humanities, Arts, Liberal

and Social Science Majors Science Social and

Career-oriented Majors Career-oriented Liberal Arts, Humanities, Humanities, Arts, Liberal

23% 36%

23% 36% 2016 1970 2016 1970 Source: 1970-2016. System, Data Education Postsecondary Integrated the than the average college graduate (Figure 1). (Figure graduate college average the than go graduates arts liberal five of two out However, boosts further which degrees, earn graduate to on average. on annually, $76,000 to earnings their are working (70 percent full-time), and the average average the and full-time), percent (70 working are earns $55,000full-timeworker $20,000 annually, $5,000 less but graduates, school high than more in earnings, liberal arts majors perform well in well perform majors arts in earnings, liberal the achieving market, labor substantially better education. with less workers than outcomes percent 82 BAs, arts with liberal workers Among While they never catch up to STEM graduates graduates STEM up to catch never they While Since 1970, BAs in liberal arts arts in liberal BAs 1970, Since from declined have programs 23 to percent. 36 percent Figure 2.Figure Earnings 105k 75k 85k 65k 95k 55k 45k 25k 35k 61+ 56-60 51-55 Social Sciences/ Studies Cultural/Area Language/Philosophy 46-50 41-45 Age STEM 36-40 Healthcare 31-35

Business 26-30 Earnings 105k 75k 85k 65k 95k 55k 45k 25k 35k 61+ 18-25 56-60

51-55 Earnings 105k 75k 85k 65k 95k 55k 45k 25k 35k 66% Third Job 76% Social Sciences/ Studies Cultural/Area Language/Philosophy 61+ 46-50 72% Second Job Second 61% 56-60 41-45 Age No Degree Required Degree No Some College/Associate Higher or Bachelor’s First Job Liberal Arts Graduates Arts Liberal Business Graduates Business 59% 66% STEM 51-55 36-40 Healthcare Social Sciences/ Studies Cultural/Area Language/Philosophy 46-50 31-35 Other Career Career Other Category Same Career Same Career Category Same Career Same Career Category Other Career Career Other Category 53% 70% 41-45 Age Business 26-30 Second Job Second STEM 36-40 18-25 Healthcare 31-35 First Job

Business 26-30 Graduation IT Graduates IT Liberal Arts Graduates Arts Liberal Figure 4. of rates high have graduates arts Liberal careers change mobility: percent 70 career job. second their to job first their from They have high rates of career mobility compared mobility compared career of rates high have They percent 53 majors: other of mobility rates the to health allied for 54 percent 4), (Figure majors IT for education majors.majors, for and59 percent are majors arts field,liberal career every Across more likely than other change to professions in office and for administrationmajors, except jobs. 66% Third Job 76% 18-25 72% Second Job Second 61% No Degree Required Degree No Some College/Associate Higher or Bachelor’s First Job Liberal Arts Graduates Arts Liberal Business Graduates Business 59% 66% 66% Third Job 76% 72% Second Job Second 61%

Other Career Career Other Category Same Career Same Career Category Same Career Same Career Category Other Career Career Other Category 53% 70% Emsi analysis of resume and profile data, 2018. 2018. data, profile and resume of analysis Emsi

No Degree Required Degree No Some College/Associate Higher or Bachelor’s Second Job Second First Job Liberal Arts Graduates Arts Liberal Business Graduates Business

59% 66% of college-educatedof workers. arts graduates transition into middle- and and middle- into transition graduates arts concentrations with high careers high-skill Figure 3. liberal jobs, third their and first Between their customer service, for example. service, for customer resources (Figure 3). Conversely, they transition transition they Conversely, 3). (Figure resources and preparation in food jobs low-wage of out high-demand careers in marketing,high-demand careers advertising, andand human public relations, management, From their first job to their third job, liberal arts arts liberal job, third their to job first their From high-skill, into transition commonly graduates Source: 4 The Real, Long-term Labor Market Outcomes of Liberal Arts Grads 4 First Job Other Career Career Other Category Same Career Same Career Category Same Career Same Career Category Other Career Career Other Category 53% 70% Second Job Second Graduation IT Graduates IT Liberal Arts Graduates Arts Liberal First Job Graduation IT Graduates IT Liberal Arts Graduates Arts Liberal The Real, Long-term Labor Market Outcomes of Liberal Arts Grads 5 Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations Sales and Office Administrative Services Management Writing Journalism, and Communications Education Resources Human and Business Financial Analysis Social, Community Services Religious and Accounting, Tax and Financial Services Third Job Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations and Office Administrative Services Writing Journalism, and Communications Management Education Social, Community Services Religious and Resources Human Accounting, Tax and Financial Services Unclassified Occupation Sales Second Job Second their third job. The same kind of dynamic occurs occurs dynamic kind of same The job. third their and human in management occupations for away from pulled are graduates where resources, into move and jobs second and first their from and high-wage more with fields magnetic these high-skill job opportunities. Figure 5 illustrates the magnetism of a field such such a field of magnetism the 5 illustrates Figure arts Liberal PR. or advertising, marketing, as by field this to numbers in large move graduates Human Resources Human Office and Office Administrative Services Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations Education Writing Journalism, and Communications Management Social, Community Services Religious and Accounting, Tax and Financial Services PreparationFood Services and Sales First Job

Emsi resume and profile analysis, 2018. analysis, profile and resume Emsi aimlessness. The popular narrative aimlessness. that supposes outcomes career worst the have graduates these that. support doesn’t data The a result. as what liberal arts graduates are doing with doing are graduates arts liberal what migrating a lot, around move They majors. their between This industries and occupations. evolution a kind career often is mistaken for of Real-time data market labor illuminates exactly Source: From their first to their third job, liberal arts arts liberal job, third their to first their From careers. marketing toward gravitate graduates Figure 5. Figure Liberal Arts (Bachelors) Graduation Earnings 105k 75k 85k 65k 95k 55k 45k 25k 35k 61+ 56-60 51-55 Social Sciences/ Studies Cultural/Area Language/Philosophy 46-50 ever catch up to STEM majors in earnings. Liberal in earnings. Liberal majors STEM up to catch ever healthcare, STEM, behind out start graduates arts in earnings, majors relativeand and business their the largely remains unchanged over position course of their careers. 41-45 Age

STEM 36-40 Healthcare 31-35 Business 26-30

Emsi analysis of data from the Strada-Gallup Education Consumer Pulse Survey, 2018. Survey, Pulse Consumer Education Strada-Gallup the from data of analysis Emsi

18-25 Source: majors in their late 30s and early 40s. and 30s late in their majors they have the fastest incomethey growth have the fastest among Liberal arts never catch up to STEM, STEM, up to catch never arts Liberal but earnings, majors’ business or healthcare, Figure 6. certain career-oriented majors, they don’t but and early 40s—the fastest among majors (Figure 6). 6). (Figure majors among fastest early 40s—the and outstrip consistently and earnings solid have They Graduates then hit their stride later in their careers, careers, in their later stride their hit then Graduates 30s late growth in their wage rapid experiencing

The Real, Long-term Labor Market Outcomes of Liberal Arts Grads 6 66% Third Job 76% 72% Second Job Second 61% No Degree Required Degree No Some College/Associate Higher or Bachelor’s First Job Liberal Arts Graduates Arts Liberal Business Graduates Business 59% 66% Other Career Career Other Category Same Career Same Career Category Same Career Same Career Category Other Career Career Other Category 53% 70% Second Job Second First Job Graduation Liberal Arts Graduates Arts Liberal Graduates IT The Real, Long-term Labor Market Outcomes of Liberal Arts Grads 7

looking for intellectual dexterity just as much as as much as just dexterity intellectual for looking expertise. technical need they achieved average, on have, graduates arts Liberal run. long in the outcomes market labor positive long-term the about precise be to important It’s Liberal graduates. these for outcomes career transition ultimately average, on graduates, arts with good areas career high-skills magnetic, to a business as strong as earnings the earnings. Are a find do they but No, major? a STEM or major path forward. more informationFor on how this data relates to “Robot-Ready: to refer work, please of future the Work” (www. of Future the for Skills Human+ economicmodeling.com/robot-ready), a report by Emsi. and Work of Future the for Institute Strada software companies are especially popular—38 popular—38 especially are companies software liberal arts in grads tech all recent of percent are Companies space.” in this work currently Association of American Colleges & & Colleges American of Association Universities, Value, 2018. Value, Universities, Strada Institute for the Future of of Future the for Institute Strada Work analysis of data analysisWork from of the American Bureau’s U.S. Census 2016. Survey, Community Association of American Colleges & & Colleges American of Association Universities, The LEAP Challenge, 2018. Challenge, LEAP The Universities, Adelman et al., The Degree Qualifications Qualifications Degree The al., et Adelman Profile, 2014. 2014. Profile, Schmidt, Benjamin, “The Humanities Schmidt, Are in Crisis,” 2018. in Crisis,” Are 3.  4.  5.  6.   7.

Marcus, Jon, “Colleges face pressure pressure face “Colleges Jon, Marcus, to answer a basic question: What are are What question: a basic answer to learning?” 2018. students Carnevale, Anthony, “House Republicans Republicans “House Anthony, Carnevale, outcomes thanoutcomes majors like computer engineering. do include We or science the degrees, interdisciplinary broad, history, philosophy, (English, humanities sciences. social the and etc.), theology, healthcare, as well as the physical physical the as well as healthcare, grouped often more are they as sciences, parlance. in common majors with STEM disciplines that acknowledge,We however, like biology and chemistry have different got this right: Colleges should tell students students tell should Colleges right: this got 2017. will buy,” buck their bang much how liberal distinguish we examination, In our more are that majors from majors arts and business as such career-oriented, Endnotes 2.  1.  arts majors entering the technology industry from from industry technology the entering majors arts science computer undergrad of outpaced that or Internet 10 percent. by majors engineering and the market, liberal arts graduates now make up make now graduates arts liberal market, the than workforce tech the of percentage a larger estimates: data LinkedIn do. graduates technical liberal growth of the “Between 2013, and 2010 market. Not all liberal arts graduates become become graduates arts all liberal Not market. school graduate to all go they do nor baristas, become teachers. In aor fascinating evolution of marketplace outcomes are positive but less less but positive are outcomes marketplace peers. STEM their than predictable in today’s well fare graduates arts Liberal and we shouldn’t necessarily think about the think about andwe shouldn’t necessarily race rat as a majors across outcomes differential graduates’ arts Liberal competition. a zero-sum or competencies in the labor market, and STEM STEM and market, labor in the competencies to start from majors all other out-earn majors far is earnings course, Of careers. their of finish success, life or career of measure only the from No competencies are rewarded more than STEM STEM than more rewarded are competencies No

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