10 Most Popular College Majors

The most popular college majors in the United States are business, health, and social sciences, according to data from the National Center of Education Statistics (NCES). Of the 2 million bachelor’s degrees conferred in the US during the 2021-2022 school year, these three majors made up almost 40 percent. Moreover, these three areas of study have topped the list of most popular majors since 2012 [1].

Learn about the top ten most popular majors according to NCES data. You'll also find the percentage of degrees conferred in each major and added median US salary data associated with each major, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics [2].

Here’s a summary:

Keep in mind that this list refers to the popularity of majors across all US institutions, but popularity levels may differ at individual schools. A major’s popularity at a specific school may be related to factors such as the strength of individual programs or the breadth of offerings. For example, business majors are likely to be the most popular at a business school, whereas psychology may top the list at a university with a distinguished psychology department.

What should I major in?

Check out our guide to choosing a major, with reflective questions to ask yourself and important factors to consider as you choose the right path.

Take a closer look at each of these popular majors, as well as specialized majors included within each category and related entry-level jobs:

1. Business

• Percentage of degrees conferred: 18.6 percent

• Median salary: $71,000

Business is the most common major, with nearly one-fifth of all bachelor’s degree recipients choosing this path. Business majors include several areas of study, such as business administration, management, and marketing. These majors tend to be in high demand among employers, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) [4].

Some entry-level jobs you may get with a business degree include administrative assistant, marketing coordinator, human resources assistant, sales representative, and business development associate.

Learn more: Is a Business Degree Worth It?

2. Health

• Percentage of degrees conferred: 13.0% percent

• Median salary: $70,000

Health majors are the second most popular for undergrads and can include nursing, public health, and health science. Many high-paying jobs in health care require credentials beyond a bachelor’s degree, such as a master’s or professional degree. However, it’s possible to start your career in health with a bachelor’s degree.

Some entry-level jobs include registered nurse, health care administrator, nutritionist, public health researcher, clinical lab technician, and exercise physiologist.

Learn more: Is Health Care a Good Career Path? Outlook, Jobs, and More

3. Social sciences and history

• Percentage of degrees conferred: 7.4 percent

• Median salary: $70,000

With a major in the social sciences, you’ll study societal systems: how they’re built, how they operate, and how people interact with them. These majors tend to be interdisciplinary—meaning they relate several areas of study—so students who pursue a social science major may develop strong transferable skills. Some examples of social science majors are anthropology, economics, environmental studies, political science, and sociology.

Some entry-level jobs for social science and history majors include legal assistant, economic analyst, market researcher, public policy analyst, and community health worker.

Learn more: Your Guide to Liberal Arts Majors

4. Biological and biomedical sciences

• Percentage of degrees conferred: 6.5 percent

• Median salary: $71,000

Biological and biomedical science majors study living organisms. Some disciplines include biology, physiology, microbiology, and molecular biology. Biology is among the most common majors for students interested in pursuing a medical career, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges [5]. Many undergraduate biology students go on to pursue a doctoral or professional degree, later becoming medical scientists, physicians, pharmacists, or dentists.

Entry-level jobs associated with a biological or biomedical science degree include research assistant, nutritionist, medical writer, pharmaceutical sales representative, or laboratory technician.

Learn more: 16 Science Majors (and Related Careers) to Consider

5. Psychology

• Percentage of degrees conferred: 6.4 percent

• Median salary: $55,000

Psychology, the study of human behavior and mental processes, is technically a social science, but the popularity of the specialized major warrants its standalone categorization. (If this list included psychology among the social science majors, then psychology majors alone would make up 46 percent of the category [6]. Additionally, the social sciences category would rank second overall on this list.)

As a social science, psychology programs tend to nurture several desirable transferable skills, which could broaden career possibilities. Still, many psychology students go on to earn a master’s degree or more in order to pursue a career as a psychologist or psychiatrist. Some entry-level jobs you may pursue with a psychology degree include case manager, counselor, human resources coordinator, market researcher, and research assistant. 

Learn more: 11 High-Paying Jobs You Can Get with a Liberal Arts Degree

6. Engineering

• Percentage of degrees conferred: 6.1 percent

• Median salary: $100,000

Engineering majors design and build things. The specific things you build and the scale at which you build them depend on your discipline. Some popular engineering disciplines include electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, chemical engineering, and computer engineering.

Entry-level engineering jobs are often titled "entry-level engineer" in their decided discipline, for example entry-level mechanical engineer or entry-level electrical engineer. You may also enter the workforce as an assistant, associate, or analyst.

Learn more: Computer Science vs. Computer Engineering: How the Jobs Differ

7. Computer and information sciences

• Percentage of degrees conferred: 5.3 percent

• Median salary: $95,000

Computer and information science majors include computer science, computer information systems, and information technology. The popularity of computer and information sciences saw 3.4 percent growth year-over-year, the highest of all the majors on this list [1]. This major’s popularity has seen similarly exceptional growth over the past several years.

This increase in popularity could be related to employer demand. According to NACE, computer sciences sits just behind business as the most in-demand major among employers, and they stand to be among the highest-paid graduates [4]. Some entry-level computer science jobs include computer support specialist, web developer, software developer, and information security analyst.

Learn more: Is Computer Science Hard?

What type of degree is highest in demand?

Job opportunities for nurse practitioners should increase 46 percent from 2023 to 2033, which makes a master's degree in advanced nursing practice a top choice [7, 8].

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, data scientists, information security analysts, and medical and health services managers are among the fastest-growing occupations in the country [7]. The agency expects the number of jobs in these fields to grow by 29 percent to 36 percent.

8. Visual and performing arts

• Percentage of degrees conferred: 4.4 percent

• Median salary: $50,000

Visual and performing arts majors can include graphic design, fine arts, theater, photography, and music. A bachelor’s degree isn’t always necessary to start a career in the arts. According to the BLS, about 20 percent of people who pursue a visual and performing arts major end up working in art, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations [9].

Still, a Bachelor of Fine Arts can enable you to practice your craft as you prepare for entry-level design positions such as graphic designer, photographer, user experience (UX) designer, studio assistant, or visual content producer.

Learn more: 4 Types of Degrees for Artistic Individuals

9. Education

• Percentage of degrees conferred: 4.4 percent

• Median salary: $52,000

An education major prepares students to work in a school setting. Degree programs may focus on general education, or they may center on a specific type of student, such as early childhood education, elementary education, or special education. Most people who study education end up finding a job as a teacher, which often requires a teaching certification in addition to a bachelor’s degree. You may go on to pursue your master’s in education in order to qualify for administrative positions.

Some entry-level positions associated with an education degree include elementary, middle, or high school teacher, substitute teacher, school librarian, curriculum design specialist, and teaching assistant.

Learn more: Early Childhood Education Degree Guide: Types, Jobs, and More

10. Communication and journalism

• Percentage of degrees conferred: 4.2 percent

• Median salary: $60,000

Communication majors focus on the various ways to share information. Common areas of study include general communications, journalism, and mass media.

Some entry-level jobs associated with a communication degree are social media coordinator, public relations specialist, marketing assistant, editorial assistant, reporter, and media planner.

Learn more: What Can You Do with a Communication Degree: 10 Careers

What major has the most job opportunities?

In addition to a major’s popularity, it may be worth considering a major’s demand among employers. According to NACE, three types of bachelor’s degree majors stand out: business, computer science, and engineering [4].

Specifically, here is its ranking for the most in-demand majors as of its winter 2024 survey:

1. Finance

2. Accounting

3. Computer science

4. Business administration/management

5. Information sciences and systems

6. Marketing

7. Mechanical engineering

8. Electrical engineering

9. Logistics/supply chain

10. Sales

Explore the most popular college majors on Coursera

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