First, some facts. Of the English graduates from The University of Texas at Austin 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 11 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? Significantly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 56%, English graduates from The University of Texas at Austin have a much lower likelihood (-11%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:
And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.
Also, after graduating, only 18% 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:
Relevance score: 96%We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2011 from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelors Degree in English. Also pursued further education since (see below). JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONTexas Baseball Camp InternThe University of Texas at Austin Baseball Department Jun 2013 - Aug 2013 Sports Editor Elgin Courier Mar 2014 - Apr 2015 Sports Writer Austin Community Newspapers Aug 2015 - Nov 2015 Sports/ News Reporter Brenham Banner- Press Dec 2015 - Dec 2016 Sports Broadcaster KTIM FM- 89.1 Apr 2017 - Aug 2017 Communication/Sports Information Specialist Blinn College Aug 2017 - Sep 2019 Sports Information Specialist Blinn College Sep 2019 - Aug 2021 Texas Athletics - Cheer, Pom & Hook 'Em Academic Intern The University of Texas at Austin Aug 2021 - Dec 2021 Freelance Media Relations and Communication Consultant/Content Writer Freelance Apr 2022 - Present FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATINGMaster of Education - MEdThe University of Texas at Austin 2020 - 2022 ABOUTNamed the 2020-2021 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Sports Information Director of the Year for best exemplifying the overall purpose of promoting and leading a NJCAA institution, athletic department, and student-athletes through sports information. Served on the NJCAA Division I Mens Basketball Poll Committee as a representative of the Mid-South District. Led media relations/ sports information efforts for 12 NJCAA athletic programs. Led communication efforts for three college campuses. Produced athletics media guide that received the 2020 Collegiate Advertising Gold Award. Worked in a NCAA Division I athletic department. Created content for the launch of the I Choose Blinn marketing campaign. Served as a sports editor of a publication. Wrote for the award-winning Daily Texan sports section. Served as a graduate assistant for the Texas Cheer, Pom, & Hook Em squads. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
Looking through the jobs held by graduates from The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in English, it’s clear that there are a couple of common paths that many have taken. A significant number of these individuals have gone into teaching, which makes a lot of sense since they studied English. Being an English teacher directly pulls from the knowledge of language and literature that they learned in college. A few also found positions in fields like sports journalism and writing, where skills in writing, editing, and storytelling are essential. This is pretty spot-on for what you would expect an English major to do, right?
However, there's also a notable chunk of graduates working in roles that seem pretty far removed from anything related to English. Positions like data analyst, technical writer, and manager in various companies don't rely heavily on the deep understanding of literature or language that an English degree provides. While some of these jobs might require strong communication skills, the core responsibilities don’t tie back to what they studied. So, in general, while a solid part of these graduates have jobs relevant to English, a good amount are doing things that don’t directly connect back to their degree at all. It's a mixed bag, which shows the versatility that an English degree can offer but also highlights how degrees don’t always dictate career paths.
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 University of Texas at Austin):
Looking at the career trajectories of graduates from The University of Texas at Austin with English degrees, it seems like many have started off in educational roles right after graduation, particularly as teachers. For instance, one graduate became a high school English teacher right out of college and continues to teach. This trend suggests that pursuing a career in education is a common first step for many English majors, especially those who are passionate about teaching and literature.
However, as time goes on—around five to ten years into their careers—we see a broader spectrum of paths. Many graduates transition into more varied roles, including positions in marketing, technical writing, data analysis, and even customer success management. Some have taken on creative roles like freelance writing and media relations, while others have gravitated towards technical fields, which is a bit surprising but definitely shows the versatility of an English degree. In the long run, it's clear that graduates might not all stick to traditional roles directly related to English literature; instead, they leverage their communication skills in diverse industries. While some may find themselves in positions that don’t directly reflect their degree, it seems that a good chunk of them are using their foundation in English to forge successful careers in various fields, so there's definitely promise for new graduates!
Getting a Bachelor’s degree in English at The University of Texas at Austin can be a mixed bag, just like any other degree. Overall, it’s not considered one of the most difficult majors, but it does require a good amount of reading, writing, and thinking critically about literature and language. You’ll be diving into everything from classics to contemporary works, and there’s a lot of essays and discussions you'll have to tackle. If you enjoy reading and expressing yourself through writing, you might find it pretty manageable, but if you’re not a fan of those things, it could feel a bit overwhelming. So, while it’s not the easiest degree out there, it’s definitely doable if you’re passionate about the subject!
Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in English.
So, looking at these English graduates from UT Austin, it seems like some of them have landed decent-paying jobs, while others are still figuring things out. The ones who went into fields like technical writing, data analysis, and marketing generally have a good shot at making good money, especially with their career progression. For instance, the data analyst started as a junior and moved up the ranks, which usually means better pay. On the flip side, folks sticking to traditional teaching roles or freelance gigs may not rake in as much cash, especially compared to those in the tech or business world. Overall, it looks like a mixed bag, but those who pivoted into more specialized areas are likely doing pretty well financial-wise!
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 University of Texas at Austin). This may or may not be useful:
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 |