The Top 10 Most Popular College Majors
According to The Princeton Review, here are the top 10 most popular majors in the United States:
- Business Administration and Management
- Psychology
- Elementary Education
- Biology
- Nursing
- Education
- English
- Communications
- Computer Science
- Political Science
So, is it a good idea to major in something that’s very popular? Maybe. These majors are popular for a reason–because students find them interesting and useful for their future career plans. In addition, when a major is popular, you can often find plenty of resources on campus to accommodate the large number of students in these majors, like lab space, internship programs, and a wide variety of course offerings.
However, there are some problems with majoring in one of the most popular majors on campus. One big issue can be course size, and another can be competition to get into the classes you need. If the number of students outnumbers the number of faculty members by too much, it’s possible you won’t get the classes you need before graduation. In addition, a disadvantage to a popular major is that it can make it harder for you to stand out in a pile of graduate school or job applications.
One thing to consider: choose a major that’s similar to these top choices, but less popular. Try these alternatives.
- If you like Business Administration and Management, try human resources, hospitality management, or recreation management.
- If you like Psychology, try sociology or anthropology.
- If you like Elementary Education or Education, try social work or human development.
- If you like Biology, try geology, natural resources, forestry, or animal science.
- If you like Nursing, try medical technology
- If you like English, try classics, comparative literature, technical writing, or journalism
- If you like Communications, try cultural studies, film studies, public relations, sociology, or journalism
- If you like Computer Science, try management and information science or information technology
- If you like Political Science, try history, geography, sociology, or anthropology
Remember–always choose a major that piques your interest. Otherwise, it’s going to be a miserable four (or more) years, and you’re not likely to do well in your classes.
