Most students will probably agree that the primary goal of college is to pursue a course of study that will ultimately lead to earning a college degree. Some courses of study are intended to expand the student’s intellectual knowledge but are unlikely to qualify the person to obtain specific employment immediately after college.

For instance, a liberal arts education gives a student a strong background in the humanities, including literature, history, philosophy, and other topics. However, a liberal arts degree does not in and of itself qualify the graduate for any particular employment. Nevertheless, the degree is often deemed valuable because these students have honed their research and writing skills.

Conversely, a college degree in engineering is viewed as more likely to land a student employment immediately upon graduation, although many students might not find it as rewarding as the study of humanities.