To date, we’ve asked 251 current and past english students about their happiness with their degree. Turns out, they rate it above average.

The major you choose will have a lasting effect on your career.

To help you reach the decision that is right for you, we asked students who have pursued a english 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 english degree, but it’s a starting point to help you evaluate your options.

How satisfied are english students compared to other degrees?

Overall, english students rate their satisfaction with their degree a 3.6 out of 5. This is high compared to other degrees which average a rating of 3.28 across all degrees. For context, english students rate their happiness similarly to students in English Language and Literature, East Asian Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics and Applied Mathematics.

Here are other degrees that have a similar satisfaction rating to english

DegreeAvg Grad SalarySatisfaction
Theology and Religious Vocations$50,911
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, and Gender Studies$63,219
English Language and Literature$61,334
English$59,934
East Asian Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics$57,745
Applied Mathematics$85,731
History$68,101
International Relations$68,453
Humanities$58,630

Let's break that down further.

Are english 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:
4.0 out of 5 stars
251 ratings
5 stars
39%
4 stars
35%
3 stars
15%
2 stars
7%
1 stars
3%
We asked graduates how intellectually fulfilling they found the degree. Their response was:
4.1 out of 5 stars
251 ratings
5 stars
43%
4 stars
28%
3 stars
19%
2 stars
7%
1 stars
2%

These ratings are meant to give you an indication about what other people enrolled in english 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 english graduates leave school with good job prospects?

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

We asked graduates how satisfied they were with their job prospects. Their response was:
2.9 out of 5 stars
247 ratings
5 stars
9%
4 stars
19%
3 stars
32%
2 stars
26%
1 stars
12%

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 english 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:
3.6 out of 5 stars
251 ratings
5 stars
27%
4 stars
31%
3 stars
23%
2 stars
15%
1 stars
4%

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