What can you do with a English degree from The Ohio State University?

First, some facts. Of the English graduates from The Ohio State University we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 14 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Bad. Overall, with an average relevance score of 41%, English graduates from The Ohio State University have a substantially lower likelihood (-26%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 41%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, only 28% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most English graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random English graduate from The Ohio State University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 81%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2012 from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Office Manager
St. Joseph Catholic Church
Jun 2013 - Aug 2017
As Office Manager at St. Joseph Catholic Church, some administrative and organizational skills may be relevant, but the position does not substantially use English knowledge or skills on a daily basis.

Communication Specialist
St. Joseph Catholic Church
Aug 2017 - Nov 2017
The Communication Specialist role at St. Joseph Catholic Church directly utilizes skills in communication and language developed through the Bachelor's degree in English, making it highly relevant.

Communications and Social Media Specialist
Diocese of Toledo
Nov 2017 - Present
As a Communications and Social Media Specialist at the Diocese of Toledo, this position requires extensive use of English language skills and communication strategies, aligning well with the Bachelor's degree earned.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a English degree from The Ohio State University?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


When looking at the jobs held by graduates with an English degree from The Ohio State University, it's clear that there’s a pretty mixed bag in terms of relevance. A lot of folks ended up in positions like marketing and communication roles, which do use some skills from their English studies—like writing and editing—but often lean more toward business and strategy rather than pure literary knowledge. For example, positions like Content Manager or Marketing Manager may touch upon writing skills, but they mostly focus on things like strategy and project oversight. On the flip side, roles like Graduate Writing Center Tutor or English Teacher showcase how directly some graduates do apply their English knowledge in teaching and tutoring situations. These jobs show a clear connection to their studies.

However, a significant number of these roles don’t really tie back to the English curriculum at all. Many graduates found themselves in jobs that are completely unrelated, such as administrative roles, sales positions, or technical jobs. For instance, being an Office Manager or a Database Administrator doesn’t draw on the skills they developed through an English degree. This indicates that while some English grads do find work that aligns well with their studies, many explore paths that don’t require that background. Overall, it’s a bit of a mixed picture—some are hitting the nail on the head with relevant roles, while others are just getting by with skills they picked up along the way, rather than strictly from their English degrees.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for English graduates (this is across all English graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to The Ohio State University):

What kind of career trajectories do English graduates from The Ohio State University have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

When looking at the career trajectories of graduates from The Ohio State University who majored in English, there's a mix of paths taken, especially right after college. Many of these graduates kick off their careers in internships or entry-level roles related to writing, editing, or administrative support. Jobs like web design internships, tutoring, or content management stand out as common first steps, and these roles often leverage their English skills in practical ways. However, a visible trend shows that while some have carved out positions in writing and education, others have drifted into roles that don't directly relate to their degree, like administrative work or even recruiting.

Five to ten years down the line, some graduates seem to find themselves in more established positions, particularly in the education and marketing sectors. For instance, some have become account managers or communications specialists, while others have taken on roles in nonprofit management or environmental organizations. There are, however, cases where graduates have transitioned into entirely different industries, such as hospitality or technical recruiting, which indicates that an English degree can lead to various career paths, not all of which are directly aligned with writing or literature. Overall, while there are exciting accomplishments in relevant fields, a noticeable portion of these alumni appears to have taken detours away from the traditional English career routes."

How hard is a English degree from The Ohio State University?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in English at The Ohio State University can be a mixed bag in terms of difficulty. It’s not the hardest degree out there, but it definitely has its challenges, especially if you're not a big reader or writer. You’ll be doing a lot of reading, interpreting texts, and writing essays, which can feel overwhelming for some. However, if you enjoy literature and expressing your thoughts, it can also be really rewarding. The coursework can be demanding at times, but if you stay on top of your reading and participate in class discussions, it’s totally manageable. Overall, I’d say it’s about average in terms of difficulty, depending on your interests and strengths.

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in English.

Do English graduates from The Ohio State University tend to make good money?

Looking at the career paths of these Ohio State English grads, it seems like they’ve definitely had a mixed bag when it comes to making decent money. Some have landed gigs that likely pay pretty well, like the Regional Recruiting Director and the Product Marketing Manager roles, which usually come with a nice salary. Others, like the Freelance Editor and the Long Term Substitute Teacher, might not be raking in the cash quite as much; those can be pretty hit-or-miss, especially when you're starting out. Overall, while a few have found solid-paying positions, others seem to be in jobs that probably keep the paychecks modest, so it really depends on the specific role and industry.

What buzzwords do English graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in English (this is across all English graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to The Ohio State University). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for English?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in English (ordered by the average relevance score of their English graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
The University of Texas at Austin 56 11
University of California, Los Angeles 53 14
The Ohio State University 41 14
Brigham Young University 38 13