The Decline of the English Major: Crisis in Humanities

For decades, the English major was a staple of the university experience. It represented a commitment to critical thinking, literature, and the art of argumentation. However, recent data indicates a massive shift in how students approach higher education. With rising tuition costs and anxiety about the job market, students are abandoning the humanities in favor of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. This shift is forcing colleges to make difficult, often controversial decisions to shut down historic departments.

The Numbers Behind the Exodus

The statistics paint a stark picture of the current academic landscape. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded in English Language and Literature/Letters has dropped significantly.

In 2012, U.S. colleges awarded roughly 54,000 degrees in English. By 2020, that number had fallen to under 38,000. That represents a decline of nearly 30% in less than a decade. During that same period, degrees in Computer and Information Sciences skyrocketed by over 140%.

This isn’t just a slow leak; it is a rapid migration. Several factors are driving this change:

  • The 2008 Financial Crisis: Economic data suggests the shift began in earnest after the Great Recession. Students became risk-averse, prioritizing degrees with a perceived clear path to employment.
  • Rising Tuition: With the cost of attendance at private universities often exceeding $60,000 per year, families view college as a financial investment that requires an immediate return on investment (ROI).
  • STEM Promotion: Government initiatives and high school curriculums have aggressively pushed coding and engineering as the only viable paths to the middle class.

Universities on the Chopping Block

The drop in enrollment has financial consequences for universities, particularly regionally focused public institutions and smaller private colleges. Without enough students to fill seats, these schools argue they can no longer subsidize “low-enrollment” majors. This has led to high-profile cuts across the country.

West Virginia University (WVU)

Perhaps the most publicized example occurred in late 2023 at West Virginia University. Facing a budget deficit estimated at $45 million, the university voted to cut 28 academic programs. This included the elimination of all world language majors and the master’s program in creative writing. The administration argued that student interest had shifted, but faculty and students protested that a flagship university cannot truly serve its state without a robust humanities department.

Marymount University

Earlier in 2023, Marymount University in Virginia voted to eliminate nine undergraduate majors to position the school for growth. The list included English, history, philosophy, and mathematics. The university stated that these programs were no longer sustainable due to low student interest.

SUNY Potsdam

The State University of New York at Potsdam announced plans to cut 14 degrees, including French, Spanish, and Art History, to address a $9 million deficit.

These are not isolated incidents. They represent a trend where higher education is increasingly run like a business, with departments viewed as profit centers that must justify their existence through enrollment numbers alone.

The Return on Investment Argument

The driving force behind the decline of the English major is the perception of value. When the Federal Reserve Bank of New York releases data on underemployment, liberal arts majors often appear at the higher end of the spectrum compared to engineers or nurses.

The median starting salary for a Computer Science major is roughly $78,000. For an English major, it hovers closer to $45,000. For a student borrowing $30,000 or more to get a degree, that gap can dictate their entire academic path.

However, career data often tells a more complex story. While STEM majors start with higher salaries, the “soft skills” gap means humanities majors often catch up later in their careers as they move into management roles. Skills like empathy, communication, and synthesis of complex ideas are difficult to automate and highly valued in leadership.

The Role of AI and Future Skills

Ironically, the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) like ChatGPT has sparked a renewed conversation about the value of the humanities. As AI takes over basic coding and data entry tasks, the human ability to interpret context, edit for tone, and understand ethical implications becomes more valuable.

Tech leaders are increasingly vocal about this. Executives at companies like Slack and LinkedIn have noted that while they need coders, they desperately need employees who can communicate what the code actually does to a human audience.

Adapting the Curriculum

To survive, English and Humanities departments are rebranding. They are moving away from pure literary analysis and toward applied humanities.

  • Digital Humanities: This field combines computing with the study of culture, teaching students to analyze large datasets of text.
  • Technical Writing: Many English departments are partnering with engineering schools to create “Technical Communication” certificates, which have very high job placement rates.
  • Pre-Law and Pre-Med Tracks: English remains one of the best preparatory majors for the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) and MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), as these exams test reading comprehension and logic heavily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an English degree useless in 2024? No. While it does not have a direct pipeline to a specific job title like “Nursing” or “Accounting,” English majors are highly sought after in marketing, public relations, law, and corporate communications. The unemployment rate for English majors is generally comparable to the national average.

Why are colleges cutting humanities departments? It is primarily a financial decision. Universities receive tuition revenue based on enrollment. If a department has ten professors but only graduates five students a year, the university loses money on that department. Public universities facing budget cuts from state legislatures are under extreme pressure to balance their books.

How much has enrollment dropped in humanities? Since 2012, the number of English degrees awarded has dropped by roughly 30%. History and foreign language degrees have seen similar or even steeper declines.

Do humanities majors eventually make good money? Yes, but it takes longer. While STEM majors have high starting salaries, humanities majors often see significant wage growth in their 30s and 40s as they enter management and leadership positions where communication skills are paramount.