College education is a significant time and financial investment. Thus, when it comes to choosing a college major, the decision rests on multiple factors such as career opportunities, earning potential, job outlook, skills required, the need for additional courses or advanced degrees, and so on.
Here, we explore the top 10 college majors in the US as sourced from Princeton Review, latest stats on colleges and degrees from the National Center of Education Statistics (NCES), as well as the fastest growing occupations in the US as sourced from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
All data and statistics are sourced from official and verified sources such as the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Data USA, Princeton Review, U.S. BLS, and so on.
Reviewed on 2nd January, 2026.
Latest Stats on Colleges and Degrees
- Popular college majors:
- Computer Science
- Communication
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Highest paying majors:
- Medicine
- Psychology
- Engineering
Most Popular College Majors in the US – Stats on Colleges
Colleges and universities in the United States offer about 2000 different majors. Here are the 10 most popular college majors in the US as of January 2026.
| College major | No. of degrees conferred (2023) | Annual growth rate | No. of degrees 2025 – adjusted | Average entry-level salary | Median pay |
| Computer Science | 72,693 | +19.9% | 87,152 | $45,973 | $140,910 |
| Communications | 109,432 | -6.46% | 102,379 | $49,046 | $65,000 |
| Government/Political Science | 46,438 | -2.62% | 45,213 | $48,931 | $139,380 |
| Business | 829,210 | -1.33% | 819,165 | $54,000 | $75,000 |
| Economics | 46,225 | -3.31% | 44,723 | $82,064 | $115,440 |
| English Language & Literature | 35,472 | -5.19% | 33,619 | $53,610 | $60,000 |
| Psychology | 208,888 | +3.25% | 215,676 | $54,511 | $60,000 |
| Nursing | 4,481 | +4.68% | 4,691 | $80,321 | $93,600 |
| Chemical Engineering | 11,830 | +3.41% | 12,651 | $87,487 | $121,860 |
| Biology | 180,784 | +0.321% | 181,946 | $50,830 | $75,000 |
Last updated: 2nd January 2026
What are the Highest-Paying College Majors in the US?
Here is a list of the 20 highest-paying occupations in the US, as per the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Job title | Median annual pay |
| Psychiatrist | $239,200 |
| Surgeon | $239,200 |
| Dermatologist | $239,200 |
| Pediatric surgeons | $239,200 |
| Prosthodontists | $239,200 |
| Anesthesiologists | $239,200 |
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | $239,200 |
| Radiologist | $239,200 |
| Ophthalmologists except pediatric | $239,200 |
| Physicians, pathologists | $239,200 |
| Orthopedic surgeons – except pediatric | $239,200 |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $239,200 |
| physicians | $239,200 |
| Cardiologist | $239,200 |
| orthodontist | $239,200 |
| Oral and maxillofacial surgeon | $239,200 |
| Neurologists | $239,200 |
| Family medicine physicians | $238,380 |
| General internal medicine physicians | $236,350 |
| Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers | $226,600 |
Last updated: 2nd January 2026
Top 20 Fastest-Growing Occupations in the US
Pursuing a career in an occupation that does not have a fast enough growth rate to cater to the rising number of college graduates can leave you struggling in the job market. Make sure to choose a profession that offers potential for growth and substantial job stability. Here are some of the fastest-growing occupations between 2024 and 2034 and their median annual pay as of May 2024.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
| Fastest growing occupations 2024-2034 – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | ||
| Occupation | Projected growth (2024-2034) | Median annual pay |
| Wind turbine service technician | 50% | $62,580 |
| Solar photovoltaic installers | 42% | $51,860 |
| Nurse practitioners | 40% | $129,210 |
| Data scientists | 34% | $112,590 |
| Information security analysts | 29% | $124,910 |
| Medical and health services managers | 23% | $117,960 |
| Physical therapist assistants | 22% | $65,510 |
| Actuaries | 22% | $125,770 |
| Operations research analysts | 21% | $91,290 |
| Physician assistants | 20% | $133,260 |
| Psychiatric technicians | 20% | $42,590 |
| Ophthalmic medical technicians | 20% | $44,080 |
| Computer and information research scientists | 20% | $140,910 |
| Occupational therapy assistants | 19% | $68,340 |
| Financial examiners | 19% | $90,400 |
| Hearing aid specialists | 18% | $61,560 |
| Health specialties teacher – postsecondary | 17% | $105,620 |
| Home health and personal care aides | 17% | $34,900 |
| Nursing instructors and teachers – postsecondary | 17% | $79,940 |
| Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselor | 17% | $59,190 |
Last updated: 2nd January 2026
College Trends by US States
According to World Population Review, here are the education quality scores out of 100 for the top 10 US states during the year 2025:
| State | Education quality score |
| Massachusetts | 82.3 |
| Maryland | 75.1 |
| Vermont | 73.5 |
| Colorado | 70.7 |
| Connecticut | 70.4 |
| Virginia | 68 |
| New Jersey | 68 |
| New Hampshire | 66.9 |
| Washington | 65.7 |
| Minnesota | 64.4 |
| Utah | 60.8 |
| Illinois | 59.2 |
Last updated: 2nd January 2026
According to US News, the top 10 states with the highest number of educational attainments are given below. These include people over the age of 25 with an associate’s degree or higher:
| Rank | State |
| 1 | Massachusetts |
| 2 | Colorado |
| 3 | Vermont |
| 4 | Minnesota |
| 5 | Connecticut |
| 6 | Maryland |
| 7 | New Jersey |
| 8 | New Hampshire |
| 9 | Washington |
| 10 | Virginia |
Last updated: 2nd January 2026
Explore Colleges by State
How to use this data for college search?
Use the provided data and trends to:
- Shortlist the top-paying college majors, such as nursing and computer science
- Using the shortlisted college majors, you are more likely to find specific colleges, as the higher the popularity, the more colleges offering the major
- Make sure to shortlist college majors and degrees that genuinely interest you
- Annual growth rates and BLS projections help you avoid choosing a degree tied to a shrinking job market
- Favor majors connected to fast-growing occupations, such as computer science
- Compare tuition costs with average salaries for entry-level jobs to plan your financial loans and other commitments
- Do not choose states randomly, and use the top-10 lists to make an informed choice
What to Consider When Choosing a Program?
Choosing a college major is a big decision, but it becomes much easier when you break it into a set of clear considerations. Below are the most important factors to consider when making a choice.
Your interests and passions
- What subjects do you naturally enjoy?
- What activities do you do in your free time?
- Which classes felt exciting rather than draining?
Your strengths and skills
Strengths often predict long-term success more than interest alone.
- What are you good at academically (math, writing, science, communication)?
- Do you prefer analytical work, creative tasks, hands-on projects, or people-focused roles?
- What feedback do teachers or mentors often give you?
Career opportunities & job market demand
Some majors lead to broad career paths, such as business and psychology, while others lead to specialized roles, such as engineering and nursing. Here are a few points to consider:
- Projected job growth
- Starting salaries
- Long-term earning potential
- Stability of the field
Lifestyle and work environment
Ask yourself:
- Do you prefer office work, remote work, fieldwork, or travel?
- Do you want a predictable schedule or something different every day?
- Are you comfortable with high stress, or do you prefer work–life balance?
Required education level
Some fields require only a bachelor’s degree, but others often require advanced degrees. Here are a few examples:
- Requires graduate school:
- Psychology – especially for clinical practice
- Law
- Medicine
- Research
- Academia
- Usually does not:
- Business
- Nursing (BSN)
- Computer science
- Engineering
Earning potential
Money doesn’t have to be the primary selection factor, but it is essential, as college education is quite expensive, and you should be able to earn enough to pay off tuition debt. Thus, you should compare:
- Average starting salaries
- Mid-career earnings
- Regional salary differences
Internship and networking opportunities
Majors tied to strong industries and alumni networks (business, engineering, CS) may make it easier to get internships or jobs.
Program strength at your college
Even if you know your major, consider additional information and stats on colleges, including:
- Does your school specialize in this field?
- Are there strong faculty, labs, or industry partnerships?
- Are there undergraduate research or co-op programs?
How comfortable are you with the required coursework
Look at sample course plans:
- Are you ready for heavy math? (STEM fields, economics)
- Are you willing to read and write heavily? (humanities, social sciences)
- Can you handle labs or clinical hours? (sciences, nursing)
Your long-term goals
Think about your life in 10–20 years:
- Do you want to lead teams, do research, work independently, help people, build things, create art, or make policy?
- Which majors align with that vision?
Need additional help? Use these tools to help make a tough decision easier!
- Explore colleges by state
- Access degree guides
- Compare college majors
- Read career guides
- Use this simple checklist:
- What do I enjoy?
- How much education do I want?
- What am I good at?
- Which career paths interest me?
- What salary lifestyle do I want?
- How strong is the program at my school?
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What 4 year major makes the most money?
Petroleum Engineering is typically the highest-earning bachelor’s major with a median annual salary of $135,690 as per the latest BLS report, updated in December 2025
2. What are the highest-paying majors in the US?
Engineering and technical majors are mostly high-paying four-year majors, including:
- Petroleum Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Computer Science
However, jobs with the highest earning potential require advanced degrees and include:
- Psychology
- Surgeon
- Gynecologists
- Airline pilot
3. What percentage of the US has a degree?
About 36% of U.S. adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, as per a report by the PEW Research Center. (updated on 10th December 2025)
4. What are the 4 types of degrees in the US?
The four main types of degrees in the US are:
- Associate’s
- Bachelor’s
- Master’s
- Doctoral/Professional