Picking a major that will ensure long-term financial and job security is an ever-moving goalpost that is often hard to nail down. To gain a better understanding, it has historically been a valuable resource for students to look at the current popular college majors and their forecasted market conditions.
Today we’ll be looking deep into NCES (National Center for Educational Statistics) and BLS (U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics) information to provide you with an educated overview of the ten most popular college majors in the US.
1. Business
Historically, business majors have been the most popular in US colleges across the country. They comprise the highest number of undergraduate degrees and have for over a decade now. In 2021, the business sector saw 980,200 job openings to replace talent and meet growth.
Business majors focus on the foundational practices and principles that work as a foundation to ensure companies run efficiently. The academic field is broad, offering students a robust curriculum that focuses on critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills, leadership, and effective communication.
Median Annual Salary (2021) | $76,570 |
Job Growth (2021) | 7% |
Common specializations include:
- Accounting
- Business Administration
- Construction Management
- International Business
- Marketing
- Real Estate
- Taxation
- Insurance
- Entrepreneurship
- Commerce
2. Engineering
With an ever-changing landscape throughout the world for renewable technologies, engineers are in historically high demand. It is projected that between 2021-2031 there will be 91,300 annual jobs added to meet growth. The current opening rate in 2022 is 200,900 jobs per year, aimed to replace talent and match expanding technologies.
Whilst the engineering major covers a broad scope of subject matters, the core tenants focus on effective project management, problem-solving skills, planning skills, and graphical communication. It is a highly versatile major that can appeal to many industries.
Median Annual Salary (2021) | $79,840 |
Job Growth (2021) | 4% |
Common specializations include:
- Civil Engineering
- Biochemical Engineering
- Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
- Agricultural Engineering
- Architectural Engineering
- Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering
- Metallurgical Engineering
- Mining and Mineral Engineering
- Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
- Nuclear Engineering
- Ocean Engineering
- Operations Research
3. Health Professions
The global demand for healthcare is steadily climbing, expected to peak in the 2030s. The US is no exception to this, seeing year after year increases to the healthcare workers required. With a staggering 1.9 million job openings each year, job security is not a concern for health profession majors.
Healthcare studies will lead students down a wealth of different specializations, requiring a mixture of both coursework and practical training. There is a highly versatile range of specializations, contributing to the major’s popularity.
Median Annual Salary (2021) | $75,040 |
Job Growth (2021) | 13% |
Common specializations include:
- Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
- Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
- Dentistry
- Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies
- Medical Illustration and Informatics
- Medicine
- Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
- Movement and Mind-Body Therapies and Education
- Nursing
- Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions
- Optometry
- Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy
- Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
- Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences
- Veterinary Medicine
4. Psychology
With one of the largest modern mental health crises just behind us, the demand for psychologists has never been higher. Job openings continue to rise, sitting at 181,600 per each to rise to the ever-expanding industry.
Despite the fact that perusing a career in clinical practice requires a doctorate, the major continues to rise in popularity with students. This is in part due to the major’s focus on understanding human behavior, a skill with a versatile application in today’s modern job market.
Median Annual Salary (2021) | $81,040 |
Job Growth (2021) | 6% |
Common specializations include:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics
- Comparative Psychology
- Developmental and Child Psychology
- Experimental Psychology
- Personality Psychology
- Physiological Psychology/Psychobiology
- Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology
- Psychopharmacology
- Social Psychology
5. Social Sciences
Study into social science has historically been a less popular option, yet over the past decade, the job market has changed significantly. Social science professionals see high demand for their skills, with 147,900 new job openings in 2021.
Social science coursework is known for its broad range of studied topics, including sociology, history, and economics. This provides a more liberal arts styled curriculum, delving into leadership, communication, and analytical skills.
Median Annual Salary (2021) | $72,740 |
Job Growth (2021) | 7% |
Common specializations include:
- Anthropology
- Archeology
- Criminology
- Demography and Population Studies
- Economics
- Geography and Cartography
- International Relations and National Security Studies
- Political Science and Government
- Rural Sociology
- Social Sciences
- Sociology and Anthropology
- Sociology
- Urban Studies/Affairs
6. Media And Communication
A Media and Communication major provides students with a range of highly marketable skills, as well as a broad scope for their skills to provide value for employers. This major has increased in popularity with students in the US three years in a row. This trend is backed by NCES data that shows 115,800 openings for this sector in 2021.
The coursework behind this major focuses on honing skills such as writing, editing, reading comprehension, marketing, and critical thinking. There is also a practical focus on public speaking for many specializations.
Median Annual Salary (2021) | $62,340 |
Job Growth (2021) | 6% |
Common specializations include:
- Journalism
- Publishing
- Advertising
- Health Communication
- International and Intercultural Communication
- Organizational Communication
- Political Communication
- Public Relations/Image Management
- Sports Communication
- Technical and Scientific Communication
7. Biomedical And Biological Sciences
Biology and biomedical occupations have seen a consistent rise in popularity, with a historic rise of 35% between 2010-2011. In 2021, 37,500 job openings were available for biomedical and biological majors, with 5,700 more openings added each year and rising. This sharp increase in demand is a reflection of an ever-expanding industry, hungry for specialized talent.
Biomedical and biological majors study a range of topics in-depth, including biology, zoology, ecology, and genetics. Students pursuing this major will be pushed to specialize heavily into more complex biomedical and biological fields.
Median Annual Salary (2021) | $102,270 |
Job Growth (2021) | 15% |
Common specializations include:
- Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
- Biology
- Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology
- Biotechnology
- Botany/Plant Biology
- Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
- Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
- Genetics
- Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
- Molecular Medicine
- Neurobiology and Neurosciences
- Pharmacology and Toxicology
- Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
- Zoology/Animal Biology
8. Computer And Information Technology
The insatiable hunger from businesses for trained IT professionals continues to drive incredible demand for new IT talent. With the technology world on the brink of a new age, and more businesses solidifying their platforms online, IT professionals of all disciplines will be required to meet the expanding market.
Undergraduate students who pursue a computer and information technology major will study programming, information technology, data structures, server system fundamentals, and much more. This major is unparalleled in its versatility when it comes to its practical application.
Median Annual Salary (2021) | $97,430 |
Job Growth (2021) | 15% |
Common specializations include:
- Computer Programming, Vendor/Product Certification
- Computer Programming/Programmer
- Artificial Intelligence
- Computer and Information Sciences
- Information Technology
- Data Entry/Microcomputer Applications
- Data Processing
- Information Science/Studies
- Network and System Administration/Administrator
- System, Networking, and LAN/WAN Management/Manager
- Web/Multimedia Management and Webmaster
9. Visual And Performing Arts
Historically, the steep financial investment required for a visual and performing arts degree has been seen as a steep investment, when contrasted against median earnings. Despite this, it remains a popular major, seeing 20,500 openings reported in 2021.
Visual and performing art majors focus on building skills around creativity, collaboration, visual media, digital arts, and time-management skills. The core coursework strikes a balance between theory and practical studio work, such as design sessions or theatre performances.
Median Annual Salary (2021) | $48,220 |
Job Growth (2021) | 2% |
Common specializations include:
- Fine and Studio Arts Management
- Music Management
- Theatre/Theatre Arts Management
- Digital Arts
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Intermedia/Multimedia
- Metal and Jewelry Arts
- Painting
- Printmaking
- Sculpture
- Art History, Criticism and Conservation
- Art/Art Studies
10. Education
Education is one of the foundational pillars of modern society, and it continues to see a rising demand in the 2020s. With a staggering 658,200 new jobs projected to be added to the industry over the next decade, piling onto the already 929,900 yearly openings the industry currently demands, teachers have never been this desirable.
Students who take an education major will be taught coursework designed to support students, communicate information clearly, design and teach unique curricula, as well as manage classrooms. Specializations within the major will focus on unique education needs students may have, as well as many auxiliary roles that exist in the education industry.
Median Annual Salary (2021) | $57,220 |
Job Growth (2021) | 7% |
Common specializations include:
- Teaching Assistants/Aides
- Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
- Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Educational Administration and Supervision
- Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research
- Educational/Instructional Media Design
- Education
- Elementary Education
- International and Comparative Education
- Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education
- Special Education and Teaching
- Student Counseling and Personnel Services
Editor: Claire Tak
Robert Farrington is the founder of The College Investor and is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading voices on student loan debt and saving for college. He holds an MBA from UC San Diego Rady School of Management and has spent over 15 years researching, writing, and advising on student loans, 529 plans, financial aid programs, and saving and investing for young professionals.
Robert has been featured in the The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, NBC News, and Forbes, where he has been a regular personal finance contributor for over a decade. His work combines both professional expertise and personal experience – he successfully navigated his own student loan repayment journey and has helped thousands of readers do the same.
He is committed to making the intersection of personal finance and education transparent and accessible. You can learn more about Robert on the About Page or on his personal site RobertFarrington.com.