Meanwhile, degrees in computer science, business and engineering have soared, according to UW System data reviewed by the Badger Institute.
Economic factors like concerns about return on investment, tougher job markets and climbing student loan debt are the principal reasons behind these trends, according to the experts we spoke to.
“The number one thing is … students don’t see a direct translation from a humanities degree to a lucrative or successful job,” said Shannon Watkins, a research and policy fellow with the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal. “I think that’s particularly so now because there’s a lot of awareness on return on investment with a degree.”
Last year, the 13 UW System schools awarded 3,548 bachelor’s degrees in the humanities, down 1,436 or about 29 percent from the 4,984 awarded a decade earlier, the data showed. In our analysis, we defined “humanities” as degrees in visual and performing arts, communications and journalism, English, history, foreign languages, liberal arts, legal studies, philosophy and religious studies.
Comparing 2014-15 to 2024-25, the number of UW System students earning bachelor’s degrees in English was down 39.2 percent, from 673 a decade ago to 409 last year. Steep drops also came in communications and journalism — 31.7 percent from 1,581 to 1,080 — and history, down 30.6 percent from 415 to 288.