Is an English Degree Worth It?

Having a passion for reading and writing can be the important first step toward a rewarding and versatile career. With a foundation in communication, research and editorial skills, an English degree can help you qualify for many kinds of roles — from teaching high school students to writing a marketing campaign.

Are English Degrees Valuable?

As a liberal arts degree, studying English helps students develop their creativity, expand their knowledge base and gain important communication, analytical and research skills, said Dr. Margaret Clark, an adjunct instructor of graduate literature courses at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). Clark has served as a teacher and administrator of writing and literature for the past 20 years at multiple institutions.

This foundation in the liberal arts can be quite valuable to hiring managers, said Dr. Marlen Harrison, an adjunct instructor of graduate English and creative writing at SNHU. In addition to teaching, Harrison serves as the founder and editor-in-chief of a literary and arts magazine and has applied his doctorate in English to work in a number of different career fields.

Provoking thought and engaging in the practice of learning, questioning, making connections and integrating knowledge make the degree inherently valuable, Clark said.

Learn about other liberal arts degrees and what you can do with one.

Is English a Respected Degree?

If you're passionate about teaching, writing and communication, then an English degree is highly respectable and can prepare you for a successful career in a variety of fields, Clark said.

Coursework provides a basis for work in business, political science, marketing and many other areas. This leads to English majors being competitive for roles where communicating complex ideas effectively in writing is highly valued, Harrison said.

Can You Be Successful With an English Degree?

Because the degree is of value across broad industries, you may need assistance determining which field or role might suit you best. Most universities offer a career services office that can help. This office can provide direction to digital resources and help with professional connections to employers, Harrison said.

One of the biggest professional benefits of earning a degree in this field is the transferable skill set it offers while completing the coursework. Hiring specialists usually understand that someone who has earned an English degree will likely possess strong analytical, research and writing skills, Harrison said.

Moreover, someone who knows how to compose effective communications creatively and clearly (e.g. proposals, presentations, press releases, social media, manuals, instructions, blog posts, etc.) should enjoy a good measure of success on the job market, he said.

While many skills taught in English programs are commonly known as “soft” skills, they are valuable in the job market. According to both Clark and Harrison, these skills include:

• Analytical thinking
• Communication
• Research

In today’s marketplace, employers are looking for candidates who can write well, demonstrate advanced critical thinking skills and analyze data effectively, Clark said.

Careers With an English Degree

Because the degree includes coursework in language, literature and writing, careers in teaching and writing may seem like an obvious choice. Yet, teaching and writing are only two of the ways that this degree can be used. “For example, I was able to use my background in English to work as administrative or research support at such diverse settings as hospitals, law firms and museums,” Harrison said.

Harrison and Clark both identified the following professions as just a few of the ways to apply an English degree professionally:

• Advertising, Promotions and Marketing Managers. In these areas, you may review and negotiate contracts, plan advertising campaigns or evaluate websites. You might also create marketing campaigns or develop marketing strategies. The median pay for jobs in advertising, promotions and marketing management as of 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), was $156,580 per year.*
  
  
• Public Relations. This field includes writing press releases and responding to media requests, writing speeches or creating social media content. The median salary for public relations jobs as of 2023 was $66,750 per year, with a 2023-2033 job outlook that is “faster than average,” said BLS.*
  
  
• Publishing. This area includes editorial work, such as correcting punctuation and grammar in different forms of content, rewriting content or fact-checking. You may also work with authors to shape and communicate their ideas, as well as work with them to develop story and content ideas. The median pay for publishing roles as of 2023 was $75,020 per year, reported BLS.*
  
  
• Television and Film Production. This area requires strong written and verbal communication skills to read and choose scripts. You may oversee the production process or promote films through advertising and other media. Strong communication skills with other business professionals, actors and talent are key. The 2023 median pay for roles in television and film production was $82,510 per year, according to BLS.*
  
  
• Writers and Authors. Writing and editing technical manuals and website copy are just two ways to apply your English degree in this field. You may also write fiction or nonfiction as well as biographies, newspapers, magazines or web copy. Content writing, copywriting, blogging and speechwriting can fall under this umbrella as well. The 2023 median pay for writers and authors was $73,690 per year, according to BLS.*

And if teaching is your chosen profession, it’s important to note that a bachelor’s degree can help lead to a job as an educator in elementary or secondary education. (Note: Licensure is a requirement for teaching in some states.) “An English degree can also open doors for teaching language and culture both in the USA and internationally,” Harrison said.

Find out what else you can do with an English degree.

Is an English Degree Right for You?

According to Clark, pursuit of an English degree could be for you if you:

• Are passionate about clear and effective communication;
• Value improving a person’s image or professional path by developing excellence in written and oral communication; and
• Have a great love for the written word and how it can entertain, persuade, elevate and comfort others.

These qualities together can lead you to a rewarding career exploring language and developing your writing skills.

*Cited job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Actual salaries and/or earning potential may be the result of a combination of factors including, but not limited to: years of experience, industry of employment, geographic location, and worker skill.

A former higher education administrator, Dr. Marie Morganelli is a career educator and writer. She has taught and tutored composition, literature, and writing at all levels from middle school through graduate school. With two graduate degrees in English language and literature, her focus — whether teaching or writing — is in helping to raise the voices of others through the power of storytelling. Connect with her on LinkedIn.