What can you do with a English degree from University of California, Los Angeles?

First, some facts. Of the English graduates from University of California, Los Angeles 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? Significantly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 53%, English graduates from University of California, Los Angeles have a much lower likelihood (-14%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 53%
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, 42% 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 you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a English graduate.

See the details:

View a random English graduate from University of California, Los Angeles and our analysis:


Relevance score: 45%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2015 from University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts - BA in English. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Artist Relations Lead
JazzReggae Festival
Mar 2015 - Apr 2015
The role of Artist Relations Lead at JazzReggae Festival may involve some relevant communication skills, but it does not specifically require knowledge of English literature or language as core qualifications.

Office Assistant
UCLA Financial Aid and Scholarships
Jan 2015 - Jun 2015
The Office Assistant position at UCLA Financial Aid and Scholarships primarily involves administrative tasks that do not utilize specific skills or knowledge from an English degree.

Public Relations Assistant
University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
Aug 2018 - May 2019
As a Public Relations Assistant at the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, the role directly engages with communication strategies, making it highly relevant to the English degree.

Manager of Creative Strategy & Research
The Collective Rising
Nov 2018 - May 2019
While the Manager of Creative Strategy & Research at The Collective Rising may utilize critical thinking and creativity, it does not fundamentally require the deep knowledge of English literature, making it somewhat relevant but not a direct match.

Senior Creative Strategist and Strategic Partnerships
The Collective Rising
Nov 2018 - May 2022
The Senior Creative Strategist and Strategic Partnerships position may utilize some skills related to language and storytelling, but it primarily requires strategic thinking and planning skills which are not directly tied to an English degree.

Mentee
Femme It Forward
Oct 2022 - Jun 2023
Being a Mentee at Femme It Forward does not require specific knowledge or skills from an English degree, as it focuses more on mentorship rather than the application of English studies.

Google Rising Innovator: Tech Equity Collective
Tech Prep Rising Innovators
Mar 2023 - Jun 2023
The role of Google Rising Innovator in the Tech Equity Collective at Tech Prep Rising Innovators does not utilize knowledge from an English degree, as it centers on technology and innovation rather than language or literature.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Music Licensing
UCLA Extension
2016 - 2016

Master of Arts - MA
University of Southern California
2017 - 2019
ABOUT

Creative strategist with a background in strategic planning, branding, and organizational operations. I aim to apply my experience collaboratively to develop purpose-driven strategies across music, beauty, luxury, tech and other industries to help talent and/or brands create exciting, innovative, and impactful brand partnerships globally.This is rooted in my fascination with the trajectory of fandom/fan experiences. And how that impacts the business of brand partnerships as well as helps guide teams to assist talent/brands in fostering and growing meaningful audience/consumer relationships.Insight Into How I Work:Meticulous and organizedLead with empathy and respectVersatile in how I apply my skill setIntuitive, creative, and insights-driven critical thinkerOther Notable Skills: Creative strategy Brand DesignOutreachStrategic partnershipsWriting: email, creative, and PR Nontechnical and technical understanding and experience in the tech/startup industry

What jobs can you get with a English degree from University of California, Los Angeles?

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


When looking at the careers of individuals who graduated with an English degree from UCLA, a mixed bag of job types emerges. Many alumni have taken up roles that clearly align with their studies, particularly in education and writing. Positions such as English Professor, Lecturer, and various teaching roles show a solid connection to their English backgrounds, as these jobs require a deep understanding of literature and strong communication skills. Freelance writing and content creation roles also appear frequently, signifying that some graduates are leveraging their writing abilities in creative and media-focused environments. On the other hand, a significant portion of the jobs, like administrative roles, project management, and positions in real estate, don't strongly connect to their English degree. In fact, many of these roles rely more on general skills like organization and communication rather than a deep knowledge of English literature.

So, while it’s great to see that many English majors from UCLA do find relevant positions that directly utilize their skills, there's also a noticeable trend where graduates end up in fields that don't specifically leverage their degree. It’s a reminder that an English degree can open doors to a wide array of job opportunities, but it doesn’t always guarantee that those jobs will involve writing or literature. Whether it’s in a classroom or an office, English graduates often find ways to adapt their communication skills to various contexts, but their work experiences can vary significantly when it comes to relevance to their major.

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 University of California, Los Angeles):

What kind of career trajectories do English graduates from University of California, Los Angeles have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Based on the profiles of UCLA English graduates, it seems that many have embarked on quite varied career paths after finishing their degree. For their first jobs, a noticeable number of graduates took positions as teachers or lecturers, reflecting a strong inclination towards education and academia. Other early roles included writing and production jobs in media, content management, and administrative positions. This indicates that, right after graduation, many students leaned toward fields where their communication and analytical skills could be put to use, which is pretty typical for English majors.

Fast forward five to ten years, and the career trajectories appear to branch out significantly. While a good number continued in education, climbing the ranks to become professors or specialized instructors, others shifted into related fields like marketing, content creation, and even management roles in companies like NBCUniversal and Disney. However, it’s also worth noting that some graduates found themselves in positions that seem less directly related to their English degree, like operations or administrative roles, which might not fully utilize their literary skills. Overall, while many have landed solid jobs relevant to their studies, there's also a chunk who have found themselves in careers that diverge from their English backgrounds, suggesting a mix of success stories and those still figuring things out.

How hard is a English degree from University of California, Los Angeles?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in English at UCLA can be a pretty challenging experience, but it's not the hardest degree out there. You'll be diving deep into a ton of reading, writing, and critical thinking, which can be demanding, especially with the workload and the expectations from professors. UCLA's English program has a great reputation, so you can expect some tough classes that really push you to think creatively and analytically. That said, if you love literature and don’t mind spending some late nights writing papers, it’s definitely doable and can be really rewarding. It’s not a walk in the park, but if you’re into it, you might even find it more enjoyable than stressful!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 2 years to finish a Bachelor degree in English.

Do English graduates from University of California, Los Angeles tend to make good money?

So, looking at the career paths of these UCLA English grads, it seems like they’ve got a mixed bag when it comes to cash flow. Some have landed solid teaching or administrative roles at universities which typically come with decent salaries, especially as they gain more experience. The folks who veered into marketing, production, or tech seem to have fared even better, with careers at companies like Disney and Warner Bros. likely bringing in some impressive paychecks. However, others stuck with more traditional education roles or freelance gigs, which can be a bit hit-or-miss financially. Overall, while some are definitely on the higher end of the salary scale, others may be scraping by a bit more, but it seems like the opportunities are there for those who hustle and find their niche!

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 University of California, Los Angeles). 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