Popular College Majors to Consider
If you’re having trouble deciding your college major, you’ve probably considered the more popular ones. Fields like business, healthcare, and communications always reach the top spots in enrollment statistics. Notably, some students will enroll in these programs as they’re more generalized, with the opportunity to specialize. In other words, they open many more doors than a highly specialized degree. You can find work in a larger variety of companies with a business background than one in nuclear engineering. Those who don’t have a dream career prefer this level of freedom. But what else makes these popular college majors so popular?
It’s no secret that some job fields are more secure, stable, and well-paying than others. Thus, you won’t be surprised to find that these common college majors have many well-paying jobs waiting for their graduates. Additionally, healthcare, computer science, and education are among the most recession-resistant industries.
When the world and our economy are less certain, the need for technology, healthcare services, and teachers stays the same or even increases. Today, most of our daily lives rely on computers to some degree. Work, school, entertainment, and more mainly operate online. Similarly, people never stop getting sick or injured – it is simply part of life. As a result, we always need doctors, nurses, and the administrative staff that keep hospitals and offices running. Finally, our children still need an education, so the need for teachers never drops.
What Makes These 4 Popular College Majors so Popular?
Below, we will go over some of the highlights of our top college majors. These majors were chosen based on enrollment statistics collected by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and reported on by Best Colleges.
We’ll examine what makes each choice appealing and possible career paths. However, it’s important to note that you’re not limited to the jobs we’ll discuss below. Some majors have surprising opportunities for their graduates. Consider English degrees often associated with writing, teaching, and library work. Many of those graduates go on to have careers in communication-driven fields. This option is possible as students master writing and critical thinking skills in the programs’ courses.
Thus, you don’t have to think that a degree in business forces you to stay in management. The skills you learn are more important than the name of your major. Prospective students should focus on what they can get from each program, not what their certificate says in the end. In short, don’t limit yourself. College opens doors – it doesn’t determine which one you choose to walk through.
1. Business
Management, Analysis, Entrepreneurship, Accounting, Administration, Marketing, and more!
Students interested in the world of business have many avenues they can pursue. Notably, they can seek a general business degree and explore many aspects of the field or focus on one of the many specializations. Colleges offer a wide range of options, such as marketing, public administration, finance, project management, human resources, and more. Basically, you can find just about any specialty to study.
Of course, with such a variety comes a variety of income opportunities. Higher-level positions may pay well upwards of six figures. Entry-level jobs might offer a starting salary of around $30,000. However, it depends on the company, department, location, and level of education. Some will pay less, and some will pay a great deal more. On average, graduates with a bachelor’s degree should expect a median salary of around $50,000.
In addition, those with an entrepreneurial mindset can use a business degree to start their business. While some don’t see why entrepreneurs need a degree, the knowledge, professional contacts, and networking opportunities you can obtain certainly benefit small businesses.
What You’ll Learn
Business degree students learn the ABCs of business management, operations, and various processes. Additionally, they may build their marketing, communication, and analysis skills. Ultimately, business management graduates will be prepared to work in many positions across unlimited fields. These grads are not limited to one industry but can work anywhere that requires administrative and management employees. These facts make business degrees extremely attractive, landing them at the top of our popular college majors.
2. Healthcare
Health Services, Public Health, Administration, Management, and more!
Some individuals have a passion for healthcare, wanting to help people or improve the system, but they don’t have the ability to help patients directly. Undoubtedly, not everyone is cut out to be a nurse. Much like business, you can find a variety of positions in healthcare. Indeed, you do not need to go to medical or nursing school, treat patients, or even work with sick or injured people in this industry. You can find a job in an administrative position, a lab, or the information sector.
Again, like business, such a variety of positions leaves a large variety of salaries. You can find a desk job for around $30,000 yearly, or you may land a job in health informatics that pays $104,000 annually.
What You’ll Learn
Your studies may teach you about the systems and processes that keep the industry in check, communication, pharmacies, anatomy and physiology, and public health. Basically, these degrees pack a big punch. A healthcare administration degree can lead you to a job in a hospital, nursing home, insurance company, or even a government agency. Grads who studied health services management may work in community health or rehabilitation centers.
Regardless of your position, a job in healthcare means joining an industry that cares for us all when we’re sick, injured, elderly, and disabled. The work can be difficult but extremely rewarding. Careers like medical billing and coding are vital to keeping hospitals and doctors’ offices up and running. Thus, it’s no surprise that healthcare is among the more popular college majors.
Ultimately, this industry is ever-growing and looking for employees. As such, it takes our number two slot on this list.
3. Communications
Marketing, Journalism, Public Relations, Writing, Human Resources, and more!
Many people aren’t sure what exactly a communications degree is. Some common stereotypes include that it’s an easy major, that you can’t do anything with it, or that you can’t make money with one. However, that’s simply not true. Communications majors are highly sought after for public relations, marketing, and writing positions. Indeed, there are many high-paying careers in this field. This choice is one of our more popular college majors due to its relevance and necessity.
What You Can Do With It
Notably, in today’s age of social media, having a communications specialist is vital to avoid messy blunders. Basically, every business will have some sort of social media account, and interns are often in charge of them. You may have seen some companies’ tone-deaf or downright offensive posts in the past. Someone trained in public relations can help stop that sort of content or deal with the aftermath. These professionals can earn around $95,000 annually.
Similarly, many companies utilize SEO optimization to help bring the largest possible audience to their website. They’ll optimize their website and create interesting content to get more viewers and customers. Poor or no SEO work may mean no one comes to their page, as they simply won’t see it. Thus, writers are vital to a business’s success. They can make, on average, $50,000. Communications experts excel in this field as they learn to express themselves clearly and thoroughly. Ultimately, they know how to make a product sound appealing.
Of course, journalism, advertisement, and marketing are among the biggest fields a communications major can go into. Experts in these fields can make upwards of $100,000 annually, especially in a senior role. Basically, communications experts take on several important functions that can determine a company’s success. As such, they are often well paid.
4. Computer Sciences & Information Technology
Programming, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Engineering, and more!
Today, most of us rely on our computers and phones for work, school, entertainment, and daily life. Some even have computers on their refrigerator doors. As a result, we all have run into technical issues at some point. Maybe your phone stopped working, your work computer locked you out, or a website simply won’t function right. In the end, you probably had to consult an IT expert.
Computer science and IT experts work in the back and foreground of the field. Notably, some professions involve designing the hardware or software while others maintain it or the information their systems collect. Others help end users resolve problems every day. One important field that is perpetually on the rise is cybersecurity.
Cybersecurity experts ensure that the data their website or company stores is kept safe from malfunctioning and out-of-date software and hardware, hackers, scammers, and inexperienced end-users. Today, data breaches, ransomware, and other malware have shown to be a big threat to people, companies, and even governments across the globe. If the wrong person downloads malware-ridden software, it can and has resulted in the total loss of a business. Ultimately, cybersecurity professionals protect modern business assets.
What You’ll Learn
Today, it’s unlikely that the world of computer science and information technology will become irrelevant. Rather, these experts must fight to stay on top of the ever-changing trends and technologies.
A degree in this field prepares you for these changes, introduces you to the key concepts and language of computer science, and opens the door for many opportunities. Along the way, you’ll discover the specialty that makes the most sense to you. The practical skills you’ll learn from a degree in information technology can get you a job in programming, network architecture, data analysis, and more. Notably, many of these positions pay from $50,000 to $100,000 annually. Some engineering experts earn upwards of $150,000. Ultimately, it’s not surprising that this is one of the more popular college majors.
Final Thoughts
Lakewood University is an accredited online school that offers a variety of degree and certificate programs. We have rolling enrollments and asynchronous courses. In other words, you don’t have to worry about missing a lecture or running late to class. If you plan on enrolling in college while working, Lakewood University offers the flexibility you need to earn your degree.
Don’t hesitate – reach out to our admissions department today to learn more!
