To date, we’ve asked 31 current and past art history students about their happiness with their degree. Turns out, they rate it above average.

There are thousands of majors available, and it can be overwhelming trying to choose one.

To help you reach the decision that is right for you, we asked students who have pursued a art history degree to respond to questions concerning five dimensions of the educational track they chose:

  • Course material: Were they interested in the material they learned?
  • Intellectual fulfillment: Did they find the coursework intellectually stimulating?
  • Job prospects: Did they leave the program with job opportunities?
  • Personality: Was the degree a good fit for their personality?
  • Overall fit: Were they happy with the program overall?

We examined their responses and combined the rankings to give us an average satisfaction score across all students. This doesn't necessarily reflect how satisfied you would be with a art history degree, but it’s a starting point to help you evaluate your options.

How satisfied are art history students compared to other degrees?

Overall, art history students rate their satisfaction with their degree a 3.8 out of 5. This is high compared to other degrees which average a rating of 3.28 across all degrees. For context, art history students rate their happiness similarly to students in English Composition, Philosophy and Related Studies and Philosophy.

Here are other degrees that have a similar satisfaction rating to art history

DegreeAvg Grad SalarySatisfaction
Classics And Classical Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics$55,693
Art/Art Studies$61,522
Philosophy and Related Studies$65,061
Philosophy$65,381
Art History$57,999
English Composition$54,625
Theology and Religious Vocations$50,911
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, and Gender Studies$63,325
Robotics Engineering$115,390

Let's break that down further.

Are art history students satisfied with what they’re learning?

We asked students about their satisfaction with their course material and overall intellectual fulfillment. Here’s what they said:

We asked graduates how interesting they found the course material to be. Their response was:
4.6 out of 5 stars
32 ratings
5 stars
69%
4 stars
22%
3 stars
6%
2 stars
3%
1 stars
0%
We asked graduates how intellectually fulfilling they found the degree. Their response was:
4.4 out of 5 stars
32 ratings
5 stars
56%
4 stars
31%
3 stars
9%
2 stars
3%
1 stars
0%

These ratings are meant to give you an indication about what other people enrolled in art history experienced. While their input is useful, keep in mind that different people have had vastly different experiences, all of which were impacted by their personal motivations, professors, and specific curriculum. Always keep your own goals at the center of your decision-making process when it comes to something as significant as your education.

Did art history graduates leave school with good job prospects?

Of course, working towards a degree is also about pursuing your desired career. Here’s what art history grads had to say about their job prospects:

We asked graduates how satisfied they were with their job prospects. Their response was:
2.6 out of 5 stars
32 ratings
5 stars
3%
4 stars
9%
3 stars
41%
2 stars
34%
1 stars
13%

These responses represent a wide range of opinions. Things like extracurricular activities, internships and work placements can set you up for success after graduation.

Were art history students happy with their degree overall?

This rating takes into account all factors: how demanding the program is, whether graduates felt it was worthwhile, and how fulfilling they found their educational experience.

We asked graduates how satisfied they were with their degree as a whole. Their response was:
3.8 out of 5 stars
31 ratings
5 stars
35%
4 stars
19%
3 stars
35%
2 stars
6%
1 stars
3%

As you consider this information and input from others, remember above all that your choice should be based on your interests, goals, passions, and abilities. Consider the future and give yourself time. If you’re feeling unsure, click here to take our career assessment and see what path could be right for you.

Career Paths

Learn about your career prospects after graduation.

Read about Career Paths