Choosing your major isn’t as chill as deciding what to eat for dinner! It is a crucial decision in your life which will shape your future. A prospective undergraduate student must weigh various criteria when deciding which bachelor's degree to pursue. Queries like how your major will affect your future earnings and career growth are some key factors to consider.
Fortunately, many different college programmes are educational and gratifying, and will also prepare aspiring students for great employment. In this article, we bring you a rundown of the ten best majors for the future that will help graduates the most in the job market.
What is a college major?
A major's degree is what you specialise in after graduation, where you can mould your career. A major is the core concern of a two- or four-year degree. Undergraduates can pick a major to specialise their degree in a specific field.
They must complete coursework related to their major to graduate, irrespective of the stream. Everyone is required to take certain core courses in the specialisation, as well as several electives. Choosing top majors for the future can ensure many career opportunities and overall a good life!
How do you choose your major?
College majors for the future should enable students to enter fields where their knowledge provides strong employment prospects in the coming years while also preparing them to enter professions with excellent annual earnings. Following are some factors that you should consider when selecting your college major;
- Firstly, you should choose a major that aligns with your interests, values, and skills. You will have a better chance of finding contentment with the professional route you select if you consider these factors before anything else.
- The programme's fees, possible earnings, and employment demand are some other considerations. While the fees can be covered with a reliable student loan, calculate how worthy the course is by understanding the demand and scope of the industry.
- Lastly, you should also consider job satisfaction. Will I enjoy the field of work with this college major? This should be one of the essential questions when choosing the ideal major. You will be off to a terrific start if you select a major that ranks highly for one or more of these criteria.
Next, let's look at some of the top majors you can choose.
10 Best Majors For the Future
1. Software Engineering
One of the top majors for the future is software engineering. This is a computer-related college major that has grown in popularity in recent years. Given that the job market in this technological sector is constantly developing, it should not be surprising that it is becoming one of the most popular top college majors for the future.
Classes on application programming, fundamental computer principles, cloud computing, and database system development are usually included in this speciality's major. Future engineers can acquire transferable skills which they can use in other technology-related jobs.
Software and application programming and development are among the top college majors for the future. You can complete your bachelor's degree in one of the best majors for the future, software engineering, online if you'd like.
- Average Salary: $85,000 to $181,000 per year
- Growth Rate: 22%
- Popular Universities:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Stanford University
- University of California
- University of Cambridge
- Harvard University
2. Game designer
Kim Kardashian made over a million dollars with her KKW Hollywood game! Big amount, right? Just imagine how much her game designers might have earned!
Among the top majors for the future that are gaining popularity is game design. Students will learn the fundamentals of making video games and applications in this major, and it will also help them brush up on their coding and general software development abilities.
This may be one of the best majors for the future for someone who is creative but meticulous, enthusiastic about games and enjoys coding. A small number of universities provide a bachelor’s programme in this field.
- Average Salary: $90,000 to $160,000 per year
- Growth Rate: 22%
- Popular Universities:
- University of Southern California
- University of Utah
- Michigan State University
- New York University
3. Petroleum Engineering
One of the most wanted majors in the future in today’s time is petroleum engineering. For younger students, it might be one of the most fruitful majors. Although the market is fiercely competitive, majoring in this area can have significant financial returns. If you choose this degree, you may anticipate a rigorous curriculum with various electives, including engineering, economics, and environmental studies.
This may be your ideal college major if you have a strong maths and sciences background.
- Average Salary: $85,000 to $155,800 per year
- Growth Rate: 8.3%
- Popular Universities:
- Texas A&M University--College Station
- Stanford University
- The University of Tulsa
- Colorado School of Mines
4. Cybersecurity
Who doesn't use Instagram? Despite being a social and fun space, the internet can be scary and dark. Be the Iron Man of the Internet by doing a major in cybersecurity! As a cyber security expert, you will be able to identify crimes and help the authorities when there is a need. This course will also teach you other information technology-related skills, like coding and software development. With this course, you can work as a cybersecurity expert for a private company or the government.
- Average Salary: $75,000 to $150,000 per year
- Growth Rate: 10.9%
- Popular Universities:
- Carnegie Mellon University
- DePaul University
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- George Washington University
5. Health Informatics
Another technical degree on our list of the best majors for the future is Health Informatics. Utilising technology and analytics for medical record analysis and system improvement is known as health informatics. It's one the most practical college majors for the future that combines multiple abilities and gives graduates access to various potential future employment possibilities.
Health informatics majors combine the study of information technology and healthcare, and graduates might expect to find employment as network system administrators or information analysts.
- Average Salary: $85,000 to $142,200 per year
- Growth Rate: 13%
- Popular Universities:
- Northeastern University
- University of North Carolina
- University of South Florida
6. Finance
The word "FAME" may appear in college brochures when potential students are paging through. This is an abbreviation for the related fields of "Finance, Accounting, Management, and Economics," not a major in how to get famous.
Finance majors may get opportunities to work with big brands since knowledge of private equity, venture capital strategies, etc., may help businesses and clients make sizable profits.
Getting your major in finance from one of these prestigious universities would not only add to your CV but your knowledge and skill set, too, as these universities are considered one of the best.
- Average Salary: $63,950 to $121,300 per year
- Growth Rate: 2.9%
- Popular Universities:
- The University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
- The University of Chicago (Booth)
- New York University (Stern)
- Columbia University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan)
6. Finance
The word "FAME" may appear in college brochures when potential students are paging through. This is an abbreviation for the related fields of "Finance, Accounting, Management, and Economics," not a major in how to get famous.
Finance majors may get opportunities to work with big brands since knowledge of private equity, venture capital strategies, etc., may help businesses and clients make sizable profits.
Getting your major in finance from one of these prestigious universities would not only add to your CV but your knowledge and skill set, too, as these universities are considered one of the best.
- Average Salary: $63,950 to $121,300 per year
- Growth Rate: 2.9%
- Popular Universities:
- The University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
- The University of Chicago (Booth)
- New York University (Stern)
- Columbia University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan)
7. Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering, which Columbia University calls "arguably the broadest and most diversified of engineering specialties," focuses on designing and building discrete components for things like machinery, cars, and electronic equipment. It is also one of the most wanted majors in the future.
If graduates are hired by NASA, The Boeing Company, or Lockheed Martin—three of the top five employers of mechanical engineers in the United States, according to a 2013 report by The Engineering Career Coach—their knowledge will undoubtedly be put to the test.
However, positions with Google, Apple, and Microsoft are eminently attainable for individuals with a more tech-oriented bent.
- Average Salary: $69,000 to $95,000 per year
- Growth Rate: 7%
- Popular Universities:
- Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
- The University of California, Berkeley
- The Delft University of Technology
- Imperial College London
8. Information technology
Although information technology, also known as IT, and computer science may appear to be related subjects, they have distinct characteristics. For instance, while computer science frequently focuses on programming, people in IT often concentrate more on managing and installing computer systems or creating technical networks.
Therefore, students majoring in IT will typically hone their abilities in designing, implementing, and maintaining such systems and learning about critical related topics like information security.
With this knowledge, you may also obtain employment as network architects, support experts, or even research scientists. With IT being a significant part of the future, it becomes one of the best majors for the future.
- Average Salary: $70,000 to $90,000 per year
- Growth Rate: 12%
- Popular Universities:
- Stanford University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- University of Cambridge
9. Accounting
A bachelor's degree in accounting might be the best option for you if you have a talent for maths and an excellent eye for detail. Additionally, studying the field gives you a thorough understanding of the duties accountants perform daily in the workplace, including monitoring sales, paying employees, and keeping track of a person's or a company's financial inflows and outflows.
- Average Salary: $63,000 to $90,000 per year
- Growth Rate: 6%
- Popular Universities:
- London School of Economics
- The University of Oxford
- The University of California
- Stanford University
10. English Major
Graduates with an English major have a wide range of professional opportunities, which is rewarding. You will get a wide range of skills through your studies in this esteemed college major, all transferrable to other specialities.
Media, publishing, marketing, and education careers are viable options for an English major. Becoming an English teacher, a journalist, or even a publisher is a highly popular career path for someone who has studied for this college degree, making it one of the best majors for the future.
This top major requires students to be both imaginative and capable of analytical thought regarding language use and grammar which requires continuous learning and upskilling.
- Average Salary: $50,000 to $80,000 per year
- Growth Rate: 4%
- Popular universities:
- The University of Oxford
- The University of Cambridge
- Harvard University
- The University of California
Considering factors like work economy, your interests, and your abilities might make deciding on the most acceptable college majors for the future seem like a delicate balance. But as you can see from the most recent income information and estimated sector growth rates, bachelor's degree holders have a lot of fantastic possibilities! So, what’s the wait? Let us know in the comments below which one of the most wanted majors in the future you would go for and why! Also, check out this blog to know the things to consider before you choose your major.