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s college tuition continues to rise and job prospects become slim, some people question the value of liberal arts degrees. However, a college education remains a secure investment, and the liberal arts education teach valuable lifelong skills.

According to a 2013 survey of 318 employers conducted by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AACU), 93 percent of employers reported a candidate’s critical thinking and problem solving skills are more important than their college major.

Despite this finding, many students perceive a need to study a specialized subject in college. Doing so does nothing to guarantee employment, and in fact, humanities majors designed to hone learning skills may be even more likely to secure a job.

Not only does a liberal arts education help develop key critical thinking skills, it also provides a diversity of educational opportunities. Many students entering college simply do not know what they would like to study. According to a 2013 report by the National Center for Education Statistics, 80 percent of college students will change their major at least once.

The liberal arts, which encourage students to study a variety of academic areas, help students find a pursuit about which they are passionate. Rather than enrolling in a school specific to a certain field, such as business or engineering, liberal arts colleges allow and in some cases even require students to diversify their studies.

Even with potential job prospects and the opportunity to explore various interests, some object to the value of a liberal arts degree. Fields such as engineering and business may certainly have higher starting salaries than jobs humanities majors may apply for.

However, an additional AACU report from January 2014, which collated census data and earnings reports, suggests that in the long run, by ages 55 to 60, humanities majors actually earn an average of $2,000 more than majors in professional fields.

Liberal arts majors offer benefits far beyond the common perception. Despite fear a college education without a specialized field may be a waste of time and money, liberal arts degrees continue to offer value. Students should be aware of the value of such an education, and should consider the benefits of the liberal arts while deciding their futures.