The 10 Most Popular College Majors in the US

Choosing a college major is one of the most consequential decisions a student will make, and knowing which fields attract the most graduates offers useful context. Popularity reflects employer demand, career flexibility, and sustained academic interest at scale.

This guide ranks the ten most popular college majors in the US by degrees conferred, drawing directly from the NCES Digest of Education Statistics. Each section includes degree counts, median salary figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and an overview of common career paths.

• What Are the Most Popular College Majors in the US?
• Business
• Health Professions and Related Programs
• Social Sciences and History
• Biological and Biomedical Sciences
• Psychology
• Engineering
• Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
• Visual and Performing Arts
• Education
• Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Are the Most Popular College Majors in the US?

According to the NCES Digest of Education Statistics, postsecondary institutions in the US conferred 2,015,035 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-22. The table below ranks the ten most popular majors in the US based on bachelor’s degrees conferred:

Because NCES organizes degree data at the broad field level, categories like “Health Professions and Related Programs” encompass nursing, public health, health administration, and related programs rather than a single named major.

Each of the ten fields below gets its own dedicated section covering degree volume, median salary, and common career paths.

1. Business

Degrees Conferred (2021-22): 375,418
Median Salary (BLS May 2024): $80,920

Business has been the most popular college major in the United States since the mid-1970s. In 2021-22 alone, it produced 375,418 bachelor’s degrees across specializations in business administration, international business, supply chain management, human resources, and more, reflecting decades of proven career returns. Note that the NCES “Business” category also includes culinary, entertainment, and personal services alongside traditional business fields.

Core coursework in management, marketing, finance, accounting, and entrepreneurship prepares graduates for roles across corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors, including financial analyst, marketing coordinator, operations manager, and management consultant.

At a median of $80,920 annually, business and financial operations workers earn 63% more than the $49,500 all-occupations median. That gap explains why enrollment has held strong for five decades.

The undergraduate program you choose shapes your network, internship access, and career trajectory. Explore the top undergraduate business programs to compare schools by placement rates, specializations, and academic reputation.

2. Health Professions and Related Programs

Degrees Conferred (2021-22): 263,765
Median Salary (BLS May 2024): $83,090

Among the most common college majors by raw degree volume, Health Professions and Related Programs is also one of the broadest, covering nursing, public health, health administration, medical laboratory science, physical therapy, and health sciences. That breadth gives students multiple entry points into healthcare, from direct patient care to research, administration, and public health policy.

The field rose from 75,537 degrees conferred in 2000-01 to 263,765 in 2021-22, a more than threefold increase driven by a documented healthcare worker shortage, an aging population, and rising demand for preventive and chronic care services.

Common career paths include registered nurse, public health researcher, healthcare administrator, clinical lab technician, and health educator. BSN graduates can enter the workforce directly as licensed registered nurses, with a clear progression ladder toward advanced practice and leadership roles requiring graduate credentials. The field also offers strong earning potential; the median annual wage for healthcare practitioners and technical occupations was $83,090 in May 2024.

The right program determines how quickly you move from classroom to clinical setting. Explore the best pre-med and health professions colleges to compare programs by clinical training opportunities and graduate outcomes.

3. Social Sciences and History

Degrees Conferred (2021-22): 151,109
Median Salary (BLS May 2024): $75,000

Social Sciences and History covers economics, political science, sociology, anthropology, geography, and history. It ranks third among the most common college majors at the bachelor’s level, though conferrals have declined steadily from a peak of 177,767 in 2012-13 to 151,109 in 2021-22, their lowest point since the early 2000s. The decline reflects increased competition from higher-paying STEM and health fields rather than a loss of academic relevance.

The field’s enduring appeal lies in its transferability. Graduates develop research design, data analysis, persuasive writing, and critical thinking skills that translate across policy analysis, market research, social work, education, journalism, and law. These are disciplines where understanding human behavior and social systems is a professional asset, not just an academic exercise.

Many graduates continue to law, public policy, economics, or academic research programs, where the analytical foundation built at the undergraduate level provides a direct advantage in competitive admissions.

The social sciences reward students who choose programs with strong research opportunities and faculty networks. Explore the best colleges for history majors to find programs that build the analytical credentials employers and graduate schools value most.

4. Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Degrees Conferred (2021-22): 131,462
Median Salary (BLS May 2024): $101,980

The Biological and Biomedical Sciences field more than doubled in degree volume over two decades, rising from 60,576 in 2000-01 to 131,462 in 2021-22, driven by consistent demand from medical schools, research institutions, and the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. The field covers cell biology, genetics, biochemistry, physiology, ecology, and laboratory methods across a wide range of specializations.

A significant portion of students pursue this degree as a pre-professional path toward medical or dental school, distinguishing it from other STEM fields with broader bachelor’s-level outcomes. Additional pathways include graduate research programs and roles at federal agencies such as the NIH and CDC. For research-focused careers, graduate study is typically expected.

At a median of $101,980 annually for life scientists, the field offers some of the strongest earning potential among the most popular college majors, particularly for graduates who continue to study.

Choosing the right program shapes your research experience and graduate school application. See the top colleges for biology to compare programs by research output and pre-med advising.

5. Psychology

Degrees Conferred (2021-22): 129,609
Median Salary (BLS May 2024): $94,310

Psychology ranks among the most consistently popular college majors in American higher education, growing from 73,645 degrees conferred in 2000-01 to 129,609 in 2021-22. The major covers cognitive, social, developmental, clinical, and biological psychology, training students in research methods, statistical analysis, and human behavior theory, with natural overlaps into neuroscience, public health, and organizational behavior.

Psychology’s sustained popularity comes down to versatility. At the bachelor’s level, graduates enter human resources, market research, public relations, social work, education, and healthcare.

For those who continue to a doctoral degree, licensed clinical and counseling psychology roles carry a median salary of $94,310 annually. That progression from broad undergraduate applicability to specialized advanced practice gives the field appeal across a wide range of student goals and career timelines.

The program you choose determines the quality of your research training and clinical exposure. Discover the best colleges for psychology to compare programs by faculty research, internship placement, and graduate school outcomes.

6. Engineering

Degrees Conferred (2021-22): 123,017
Median Salary (BLS May 2024): $100,000

Engineering encompasses mechanical, electrical, civil, chemical, aerospace, and biomedical disciplines, combining intensive coursework in mathematics, physics, and applied sciences with hands-on project and design work.

Degrees conferred rose from 58,209 in 2000-01 to 123,017 in 2021-22, more than doubling over two decades despite a modest 4% dip from a 2019-20 peak, reflecting durable demand across a field that underpins nearly every major industry.

The earning potential and career breadth explain its standing among the most popular college majors. At a median of $100,000 annually across all engineering disciplines, it ranks among the highest-paid bachelor’s-level fields on this list.

Career paths span software systems, civil infrastructure, aerospace, manufacturing, and energy, with the analytical skills developed transferring readily into business and public policy. Engineering is also consistently cited as the most common undergraduate degree among Fortune 500 CEOs.

For graduates seeking professional licensure eligibility, enrollment in an ABET-accredited program is an important consideration. Explore the top engineering schools in the US to compare programs by specialization and industry placement.

7. Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

Degrees Conferred (2021-22): 108,503
Median Salary (BLS May 2024): $131,450

Computer and Information Sciences is the fastest-growing field among the most popular majors in the US over the past decade. Spanning computer science, data science, information systems, cybersecurity, and software engineering, degrees conferred more than doubled from 50,961 in 2012-13 to 108,503 in 2021-22, the fastest year-over-year growth of any category on this list.

The core curriculum covers algorithms, data structures, programming languages, software development, and systems design, with specializations in artificial intelligence, machine learning, databases, and human-computer interaction.

Common career paths include software developer, data engineer, cybersecurity analyst, cloud architect, and machine learning engineer. At a median of $131,450 annually for software developers and QA analysts, it commands the highest salary of any field on this list, reflecting sustained demand as technology becomes embedded in every sector of the economy.

See the best computer science schools in the US to compare programs by specialization and industry partnerships.

8. Visual and Performing Arts

Degrees Conferred (2021-22): 90,241
Median Salary (BLS May 2024): $53,180

Visual and Performing Arts spans studio art, graphic design, film, theater, music, dance, and art history. Degrees conferred peaked at 97,799 in 2012-13 and have declined modestly to 90,241 in 2021-22, a trend partly attributed to the rise of adjacent fields like computer science and UX design that absorb students with creative and technical interests.

Career outcomes are broader than the median salary of $53,180 suggests. Graduates enter graphic design, UX design, animation, art direction, music, theater, arts administration, and museum curation, with many applying design and visual communication skills across advertising, technology, media, and entertainment.

The growing adoption of the “STEAM” framework also reflects a wider recognition that creative skills strengthen technical fields, expanding the professional footprint of arts graduates beyond traditional creative industries.

Practical experience through internships, exhibitions, and performances is the primary differentiator in this field. Explore the most prestigious art schools to compare programs by industry connections and portfolio development.

9. Education

Degrees Conferred (2021-22): 89,410
Median Salary (BLS May 2024): $62,310 (Kindergarten and Elementary Teachers); $64,580 (High School Teachers)

Education prepares students for careers in K-12 teaching, early childhood education, curriculum development, educational administration, and student counseling. Conferrals peaked at 176,307 in 1970-71 and have declined to 89,410 in 2021-22, roughly half that historic high, a shift driven by persistent teacher wage gaps relative to other degree fields requiring comparable training.

The decline in enrollment has not reduced job availability. Documented teacher shortages across the country mean education graduates enter one of the few labor markets where demand consistently outpaces supply.

Common specializations include elementary, secondary, special, and bilingual or ESL education. Some students obtain a teaching credential after completing a content-area bachelor’s degree rather than majoring directly in education, a path that adds subject-matter depth alongside pedagogical training and is particularly common at the secondary level.

Teacher salaries vary notably by level. The BLS reports a median of $64,580 for high school teachers and $62,310 for kindergarten and elementary teachers. Both figures sit lower than most fields on this list, but job security, defined benefit pensions, and summer schedules make the total compensation picture more competitive than the base numbers alone suggest.

10. Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

Degrees Conferred (2021-22): 86,043
Median Salary (BLS May 2024): $70,300

Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs rounds out the ten most popular college majors, covering journalism, public relations, broadcasting, advertising, digital media, and organizational communication.

Degrees conferred rose from 58,013 in 2000-01 to a peak of 93,794 in 2016-17 before declining to 86,043 in 2021-22, a contraction tied to the restructuring of traditional media industries and slower wage growth relative to other degree fields.

The field’s core strength is transferability. Graduates develop persuasive writing, audience analysis, storytelling, and media production skills that apply across public relations, content strategy, digital marketing, journalism, corporate communications, and social media.

At a median of $70,300 annually, salaries sit at the lower end of this list, which explains why double majoring or adding a STEM or business minor has become an increasingly common strategy for strengthening earning potential and broadening career options.

Explore the best journalism schools to compare programs by industry connections, internship placement, and graduate employment rates.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the most popular college major in the US?

Business is the most popular college major in the United States, with 375,418 bachelor’s degrees conferred in 2021-22, according to NCES data.

2. Which college major leads to the highest median salary?

Computer and Information Sciences graduates report the highest median salaries on this list. Software developers and QA analysts in this category earned a median annual wage of $131,450, according to BLS May 2024 data.

3. What are the fastest-growing college majors?

Computer and Information Sciences has seen the fastest growth over the past decade, more than doubling in degrees conferred from 50,961 in 2012-13 to 108,503 in 2021-22. Health Professions has shown the strongest long-run growth since 2000-01, rising from 75,537 to 263,765 degrees.

4. Has the ranking of the most popular college majors changed over the past decade?

The top two fields, business and health professions, have remained consistent at the head of the list. Social sciences and history have declined steadily from a peak of 177,767 in 2012-13 to 151,109 in 2021-22. Computer and information sciences have risen significantly in both degree volume and prominence. Education has continued a long-run decline from a historic peak of 176,307 in 1970-71 to 89,410 in 2021-22.

5. What is the difference between a major and a field of study as defined by NCES?

NCES organizes degree data at the broad field level rather than the individual major level. A field like “Health Professions and Related Programs” aggregates many individual majors, including nursing, public health, health administration, and medical laboratory science, into a single reporting category. An individual major is a specific program of study within one of these broader fields, and students typically declare at the major level rather than the field level when enrolling in a program.

Takeaways

• With 375,418 degrees conferred in 2021-22 and a median salary 63% above the all-occupations figure, Business degrees’ cross-sector versatility and earning potential explain why it has held the top spot among the most popular college majors since the mid-1970s.
• Health Professions more than tripled in degree volume since 2000-01, driven by structural workforce shortages and an aging population. Computer and Information Sciences more than doubled since 2012-13 and commands the highest median salary on this list at $131,450 annually.
• Fields like Social Sciences and Education have seen steady enrollment declines despite offering strong transferable skills and clear job availability. The right major aligns academic strengths and career goals with labor market demand, not just headline enrollment numbers.
• Across Biology, Psychology, and Engineering, the gap between bachelor’s-level and advanced-degree outcomes is substantial. Knowing where a field’s career ceiling sits at the undergraduate level is essential before declaring.
• Choosing the right major is only one piece of a competitive college application. Our Private Consulting Program gives you an expert-guided path from major selection to acceptance.