The Battle of Liberal Arts and Finances

 by Kyle P.

As a senior who plans to major in music, the cost of getting into a college that offers education for a competitive industry can be a challenge. Post-secondary school can also bring fear to many. For most of my high school career, I was surrounded by STEM trying to fill my schedule with it as much as I can. Wanting to go into the medical field for both the money aspect and the selfless aspect as well. But this sudden shift in wanting to go to this year has gnawed me nonstop. Though yes, there is no post-secondary education required to become a musician, others like me finally found out they want to fully commit to this line of work that college is a fail-safe to help get our names out there. The problem is… finances get in the way and post-secondary employment.

The music industry is a competitive industry that yields drastic results. Many liberal arts colleges such as Belmont University, Columbia College Chicago, Julliard, etc. have skyrocket costs for one year. For example, Belmont University's average cost after aid is $36,000 per year. Which can be an influential deterrent to going to college in itself. However many can agree that once you start studying, you instantly start your journey within the liberal arts field working with industry professionals, and professors who’ve spent years studying everything about their major. The networking of these colleges they offer such as Columbia College Chicago can help you make a name for yourself much easier. At Columbia, you work with a consultant that will help you get gigs and part-time jobs during your stay in Columbia. The problem is, yet again, the average cost per is $31,000. So people who genuinely want to work in the field of liberal arts face a dilemma of going or not going for the quality of the education or the cost. Not to mention the post-secondary school stress of finding a job. (Graph taken from mellon.org)

It is said that the expected job growth of musicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics from 2019 to 2029 is 1%. In 2019, liberal arts fields were facing a “high unemployment number, at 6.7%, and an underemployment rate of 54% according to government figures.” with only a median early-career annual income at $33,000. Though, this number has surprisingly come down to 4.3% unemployment when COVID was at an all-time high in 2020. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, “Enrollment numbers have also decreased for many liberal arts degrees. Philosophy degrees declined 21% from 2010-2016, while English degrees dropped 19%. In that same period, social sciences and history saw a 9% dip, while liberal arts and sciences degrees as a whole fell 7%.” So with such outstanding quality of education and high cost to pay for college, liberal arts has been a high risk, high reward major that leads many to unemployment or other means of generating income. (Table taken from newyorkfed.org)

Although these facts and views have mostly negative, do not let these cold facts dissuade you if you are going into something like music, psychology, journalism, human resources, etc.  The liberal arts do have value in our society. “Liberal arts study helps students develop strong foundational competencies. It gives them tools to succeed beyond their first job.”--Paul Timmins, Director of Career Services at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Thus, studying liberal arts helps students strengthen their creativity, research, and creative problem solving to help communicate with diverse groups of people. In the end, if you’re thinking of going into liberal arts, you’ll never know what the future has in store for you, and just taking that risk is more valuable than not knowing at all. 

Works Cited

“Columbia College Chicago” Google Search, Google, www.google.com/search?q=columbia+college+chicago&rlz=1CAHZJV_enUS942&oq=columbia+&aqs=chrome.0.69i59j46j69i57j46i175i199j46i199i291j69i61l3.2502j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&safe=vss&ssui=on.

“Belmont University” Google Search, Google, www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJzj4tTP1TcwLEzJqDBg9BJKSs3Jzc8rUSjNyyxLLSrOLKkEAJ7_CvU&q=belmont+university&rlz=1CAHZJV_enUS942&oq=belmont+&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j46l3j46i175i199j0j46i175i199j46j0.3915j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&safe=vss&ssui=on.

The Labor Market for Recent College Graduates - FEDERAL RESERVE BANK of NEW YORK, www.newyorkfed.org/research/college-labor-market/college-labor-market_compare-majors.html.

“Musicians and Singers : Occupational Outlook Handbook.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1 Sept. 2020, www.bls.gov/ooh/entertainment-and-sports/musicians-and-singers.htm.

O'Connell, Brian. “College Majors with the Highest Unemployment Rates.” Savingforcollege.com, Savingforcollege.com, 7 May 2020, www.savingforcollege.com/article/college-majors-with-the-highest-unemployment-rates#:~:text=Liberal Arts.,career annual income of $33,000.

Writers, Staff. “The Value of a Liberal Arts Education: BestColleges.” BestColleges.com, BestColleges.com, 10 June 2020, www.bestcolleges.com/blog/is-a-liberal-arts-degree-worth-it/.