There’s a common belief among students that STEM degrees are ‘money-makers,’ while humanities and arts degrees are a pipeline to unemployment. But is this really the case? And, even if it is, should it ultimately determine the degrees we choose to pursue?

The Varsity asked one STEM and one humanities student whether they believe students should choose their university degree based on financial and economic factors.

A humanities degree is not a dead-end

I remember the conversations I had with friends and family after deciding to major in journalism at U of T. One day, on our way home from Starbucks, my mom said, “I was just speaking with the sweetest barista — and guess what? He majored in journalism just like you!” 

The comments didn’t stop there. The summer before university, I heard about the philosophy graduate who couldn’t find a job, the history major who still lived with his parents, and the English graduate who’d be making six figures — if quoting Shakespeare was a viable career.

These stories highlight a disheartening reality — humanities graduates often face greater challenges finding employment than their STEM counterparts. And when they do manage to break through the sinkhole of unemployment, they tend to land lower-paying jobs. According to a 2023 Statistics Canada report, certain careers for STEM graduates allow you to earn up to an average of $70,300, compared to an average of $48,640 for humanities graduates. 

If money is important to you, the raw numbers paint a seemingly dismal tale for the fate of humanities majors. But I believe what these numbers often miss is that — if approached strategically — a humanities degree can still be a practical path to financial stability. 

Rather than an end destination, a humanities degree can serve as the first step toward a sustainable career. Many graduate programs admit more humanities students than STEM students. For instance, 40 per cent of the 2024 first-year class at the U of T Faculty of Law had a humanities background, compared to 15 per cent from the STEM field. Juris Doctor graduates in Canada can earn an average income of $108,700 — higher than the expected earnings for STEM graduates and well above the national average of $64,850.

Now, I’m not saying you have to sell your soul to corporate law to make a living with a humanities degree. A 2016 Journal of Cost Benefit Analysis study found that individuals with a combination of business and a liberal arts degree earn more than those with a single major. As a double major in political science and journalism, potential employers and admissions officers told me that my journalism background makes me a more compelling candidate than a typical political science student. 

With the right strategy, a humanities major can be financially rewarding and get one above the average Canadian income. Although switching from the humanities to STEM may lead to higher earnings, research indicates that individuals with a combination of liberal arts and STEM majors, or those with a business-STEM mix, are less likely to report high job satisfaction.

So with that in mind, study what you love. Besides, flirting with moms at local coffee shops isn’t a bad backup plan.

Mekhi Quarshie is a fourth-year student at UTSC majoring in journalism and political science. He was the Managing Online Editor for Vol. 144 of The Varsity.

 

The price of passion and stability 

Growing up in a South Asian immigrant family, they taught me that careers in engineering, medicine, or law were the only ‘respectable’ paths. If you’re spending thousands of dollars on a degree, it should be a profitable investment, securing a stable, well-paying career. With this mindset, I firmly believed that following one’s passions came at the cost of future security. 

I saw this idea reflected in my parents’ lives. We lived in Abbottabad, Pakistan, a city that would later gain notoriety as Osama Bin Laden’s hideout. Consequent escalating terrorism led to the decision to immigrate to Canada. Though trained as physicians in Pakistan, the Canadian healthcare system did not recognize their credentials, so they had to restart their medical careers from scratch while juggling residencies and raising three children. 

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and layoffs plagued many industries, my parents’ profession stood resilient. At 16, they often pointed out how a career in medicine offers stability and financial freedom, regardless of political or economic uncertainty. 

So, I arrived at U of T with a clear plan: specialize in biochemistry, ace my GPA, and go to medical school. But the pressure of this path quickly unravelled me. What if I didn’t make it to medical school? Would I be stuck with a degree that offered neither satisfaction nor a decent salary? Driven by cultural expectations and fear of failure, I switched to computer science — a ‘hot’ field at the time — alongside biochemistry. Yet, I still found myself miserable.

By the end of my first year, I was lost. My father met my conversations about exploring writing or politics with disappointment. I carried immense guilt, knowing the sacrifices my parents made. How could I reject the stability they worked so hard to provide? Still, I couldn’t shake the anxiety and lack of motivation I felt in my premed courses.  

Eventually, my academic advisors suggested that I take POL101 just to dip my feet in the field. For the first time, I truly enjoyed what I was learning. The lectures on human rights and Indigenous health resonated deeply, leading me to explore U of T’s global health program. In this program, I could integrate my interests in politics, writing, and health. Proving to my father that I could excel in this field took time, but through strong grades and extracurricular involvement, I earned his trust. 

Today, I’m majoring in global health with minors in political science and physiology. This experience taught me that stability isn’t just financial — it’s mental and emotional, too. Whether in STEM or any other field, true success comes when talents and ambitions are nurtured. For me, finding the intersection of my interests allowed me to chart a path that aligns with who I am. 

Laiyena Imran is a fourth-year student at University College studying global health, political science, and physiology.