To date, we’ve asked 87 current and past linguistics students about their happiness with their degree. Turns out, they rate it above average.

Different majors will offer different opportunities.

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

How satisfied are linguistics students compared to other degrees?

Overall, linguistics students rate their satisfaction with their degree a 3.4 out of 5. This is high compared to other degrees which average a rating of 3.28 across all degrees. For context, linguistics students rate their happiness similarly to students in Geography, Ecology and Related Studies and Industrial Design.

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

DegreeAvg Grad SalarySatisfaction
Visual Communication$55,832
Art Studies$50,425
Computer Science and Related Studies$92,577
Ecology and Related Studies$56,466
Linguistics$54,747
Geography$67,964
Industrial Design$62,551
Area Studies$62,438
Animal Sciences$56,379
Physical Sciences$79,864

Let's break that down further.

Are linguistics 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:
4.1 out of 5 stars
77 ratings
5 stars
47%
4 stars
32%
3 stars
13%
2 stars
4%
1 stars
4%
We asked graduates how intellectually fulfilling they found the degree. Their response was:
3.9 out of 5 stars
82 ratings
5 stars
40%
4 stars
27%
3 stars
18%
2 stars
6%
1 stars
7%

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

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

We asked graduates how satisfied they were with their job prospects. Their response was:
2.8 out of 5 stars
81 ratings
5 stars
6%
4 stars
23%
3 stars
30%
2 stars
23%
1 stars
17%

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 linguistics 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:
3.4 out of 5 stars
87 ratings
5 stars
24%
4 stars
29%
3 stars
17%
2 stars
10%
1 stars
17%

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