The value of what you learn should not hinge on your ability to monetize it. Education, especially higher education, is a privilege — and forming a well-rounded education goes far beyond learning skills to get you into the career you’ll be working in for 40 years.

The USC graduates of today earn degrees in business and computer science more than any other field. If they weren’t already sold on their choice of major, university culture paired with the pressures of post-grad life incentivizes students to switch to these fields, creating a homogenous environment that undermines the point of college. 

It’s not enough to study what you’re passionate about anymore. With the cost of living growing higher, students look for jobs that can set them up for success in the workforce.

Daily headlines, sent straight to your inbox.

Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up with the latest at and around USC.

In comes a pragmatic view that places an importance on the tangible and devalues the abstract. 

Don’t get me wrong — science, technology, engineering and mathematics will never go out of style. We need civil engineers and advancements in medical technology. However, overlooking the impact of a liberal arts education means betraying our curiosity and how the two fields complement each other.

Liberal arts is our way of making sense of the sciences and applying them to maximize their impact, but that is not the sentiment I’ve experienced as a college student. There are countless articles and advice columns discussing the practicality and usefulness of certain college degrees.

Full disclosure, I have studied journalism and law during my time at USC and intend to go to law school.

Yes, some majors may demand more out of students. I don’t expect a communication major to be able to adapt to the demanding workload of an electrical engineering student. That being said, major choice indicates nothing about intelligence. The communication major and the electrical engineering major are developing two different skill sets — but from what I’ve seen, one is just rewarded more than the other. 

But the conversation surrounding the superiority of hard science degrees over liberal arts degrees ignores a fundamental pillar of education: growth. Life is not all about what your job is. 

In 2022, the University awarded 1,015 computer science degrees, ranking second out of a large pool of universities that awarded similar four-year degrees. 

Outside of USC, computer science has quickly become one of the most sought-after degrees, with more than 110,000 students earning a computer science bachelor’s degree in 2022-2023 compared with 51,696 in 2013-2014.

The field’s expansion can be attributed to several things that are symbolic of the larger conversation college students today are having about income, work-life balance and passion. 

Between 2011 and 2021, the number of undergraduates majoring in computer science tripled, reaching almost 140,000 students. From those around me, it seems that the promise of a higher salary out of college and a flexible work structure was a selling point of working in tech. However, many computer science graduates in recent years are struggling to find a job because of an influx of new graduates and a changing market that shifts the demand for tech jobs away from large names like Meta. 

Let the trend in computer science serve as a lesson: No matter how appealing or profitable it may seem, things can change in a few years. So you might as well study what you like. 

College is a major financial commitment and milestone in a student’s journey to becoming fully functioning members of society, so it makes sense to pick a major based on what will offer you the greatest amount of career prospects later down the line. 

But as I look back on my time at USC, I think about all the students I’ve met who secretly loathe their field of study and pursue it solely because it’s the “smart” move. This isn’t a new dilemma — it has plagued college students for decades. 

I have friends whose parents want their children to pursue a career in something they enjoy while still studying something that can become a well-paying job. They tell their kids to major in something practical and minor in something they love. A kind of best of both worlds scenario. 

There are also students who go all in on their passion. Whether that’s a student who has a passion for art history or someone fascinated by human biology, that individual is lucky enough to know their life’s purpose at the ripe age of 21 and can pursue it with their whole being. 

But passion won’t always pay the bills, and the way to get the most out of a career is to negotiate what you like doing with what will pay you enough to live comfortably — whatever that may look like for you. 

I’ve never bought the “do what you love and the money will follow” advice relatives gave me because it seemed too simple. But as I prepare to embark on my professional journey, I realize that there is truth to it. I’ve noticed that those around me who are motivated and genuinely interested in their industry can make more meaningful professional relationships and will be able to apply themselves in a way that will make them stand out to employers. 

Take that class even if it’s just to learn because it may be the thing that makes you the most money later down the line.