by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Humanities explores Humanities/humanistic Studies. A Program That Focuses On Combined Studies And Research In The Humanities Subjects As Distinguished From The Social And Physical Sciences, Emphasizing Languages, Literatures, Art, Music, Philosophy And Religion. Continue reading for the key facts every humanities student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering humanities programs.
Nationwide, humanities draws strong interest, with 22,307 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Humanities Schools ranking analyzes these 337 schools to determine the best overall colleges for humanities students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of humanities programs later in this article.
There are several humanities degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 23 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 20,186 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,437 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 568 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 93 |
Majoring in humanities prepares you for numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to humanities.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to humanities.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | 964,215 | -0.1% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of humanities graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $32,164 |
| 4 years | $37,934 |
| 5 years | $44,008 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for humanities graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers humanities grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $68,967 |
With 337 different humanities programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased humanities school rankings to help you.
Those considering humanities, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies | 344,220 |
| General Studies | 127,908 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other | 45,889 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
