Choosing your pick from a list of best degrees for the future 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 twenty best degrees for the future that will help graduates the most in the job market.
What is a College Major?
College majors for the future are what students 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 best degrees for the future’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 best majors for the future.
20 Best Degrees for the Future
Okay, these picks have been thoroughly researched and have been sourced out of resources that are run by experts in the field. You can take a look at them and decide the right one for you based on your salary expectations, growth plans and natural dispositions.
1. Software Engineering
Average Salary: $85,000 to $181,000 per year
Growth Rate: 22%
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.
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.
Popular Universities:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Stanford University
- University of California
- University of Cambridge
- Harvard University
2. Game Designer
Average Salary: $90,000 to $160,000 per year
Growth Rate: 22%
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 degrees 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.
Popular Universities:
- University of Southern California
- University of Utah
- Michigan State University
- New York University
3. Petroleum Engineering
Average Salary: $85,000 to $155,800 per year
Growth Rate: 8.3%
One of the top majors for 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.
Popular Universities:
- Texas A&M University–College Station
- Stanford University
- The University of Tulsa
- Colorado School of Mines
4. Cybersecurity
Average Salary: $75,000 to $150,000 per year
Growth Rate: 10.9%
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 being one of the best degrees for the future 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.
Popular Universities:
- Carnegie Mellon University
- DePaul University
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- George Washington University
5. Health Informatics
Average Salary: $85,000 to $142,200 per year
Growth Rate: 13%
Another technical degree on our list of the best degrees 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.
Popular Universities:
- Northeastern University
- University of North Carolina
- University of South Florida
6. Finance
Average Salary: $63,950 to $121,300 per year
Growth Rate: 2.9%
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.
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 in teaching you about the best degrees for the future.
Popular Universities:
- The University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
- The University of Chicago (Booth)
- New York University (Stern)
- Columbia University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan)
7. Information Technology
Average Salary: $70,000 to $90,000 per year Growth Rate: 12% 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. 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. Popular Universities:
- Stanford University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- University of Cambridge
8. Accounting
Average Salary: $63,000 to $90,000 per year. Growth Rate: 6% A bachelor’s degree in accounting might be among the best degrees for the future for you if you’ve got 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. However, you must also remember that this major is reported to be quite taxing on your mental strength. Also, this major is only for you if you love crunching numbers and are careful while dealing with huge sums of money. Popular Universities:
- London School of Economics
- The University of Oxford
- The University of California
- Stanford University
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
11. Data Science
Average Salary: $95,000 to $165,000 per year
Growth Rate: 15%
You see, Data Science is rapidly becoming one of the top majors for the future. Because companies and institutions rely on data to make better decisions, it’s only obvious that the demand for data scientists is going to boom. And this field is for you if you love statistical methods, algorithms, and machine learning.So, if you hold a degree in data science, you can pursue careers in various industries like finance, healthcare, technology, and government; making it one of the most versatile college majors for the future.Popular Universities:
- Stanford University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- University of California, Berkeley
- Carnegie Mellon University
12. Environmental Science
Average Salary: $60,000 to $120,000 per year
Growth Rate: 8%
Okay, the importance of this field in today’s time cannot be ignored, purely because of the amount of damage that has been caused to nature and the urgent need to reverse it. And this interdisciplinary field combines biology with chemistry and with a touch of earth sciences; ranking it among the best degrees for the future.You should go for this option if you want to make a positive change to the environment, no matter how small. Because even if we can’t stop a mishappening, at least we have the power to delay it.
Popular Universities:
- Stanford University
- University of California, Berkeley
- Harvard University
- University of Oxford
13. Biomedical Engineering
Average Salary: $65,000 to $125,000 per year
Growth Rate: 7%
Now, as we move into the future and as our lifestyle becomes more sedentary, health issues are gonna mount up and so will the need for the health industry to take care of them. And the importance of this field cannot be overlooked as health is indeed the true wealth. You can opt for this degree if you are interested in mixing principles of engineering and biological sciences to craft medical devices, prosthetics, and technologies that improve patient care.
Popular Universities:
- Johns Hopkins University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Stanford University
- University of California, San Diego
14. Artificial Intelligence
Average Salary: $100,000 to $180,000 per year
Growth Rate: 20%
As we all know, Artificial Intelligence is not subsiding anytime soon, in fact, it seems to be one of the best majors for the future. And as the need for human comfort increases, the use of technologies to make it happen is only going to be the most relevant thing.You should go for this degree if you are intrigued by machine learning, neural networks, and robotics. It’s been observed that students with a scientific bent of mind choose this major usually.
Popular Universities:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Stanford University
- Carnegie Mellon University
- University of California, Berkeley
15. Renewable Energy Engineering
Average Salary: $70,000 to $140,000 per year
Growth Rate: 10%
For a moment let’s pause and think about the amount of energy we consume on a daily basis; now let’s multiply that by 365 days and then do that for every single person, the amount is huge! So, what can we do to make the majority of it renewable? Well, develop suitable technologies.And that can only happen when students a knack for engineering and with a love for the environment take up this degree. The question is not about ‘if we need’ R.E. Engineers, it’s rather about ‘how many’.
Popular Universities:
- Stanford University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- University of California, Berkeley
- Delft University of Technology
16. Robotics Engineering
Average Salary: $80,000 to $150,000 per year
Growth Rate: 9%
Now, this is perhaps the most exciting of all degrees on the list besides being one of the best degrees for the future. The fact that you’ll be ideating, designing, and executing the formation and operation of a robot makes this degree a unique one. It is like giving life to a machine that can bring more output than a human.However, you are not going to be paid until you work for an organisation like the government or a private company like Apple, Google, Alphabet, etc. In any way, this degree is one of the most valuable ones to have in the future.
Popular Universities:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Stanford University
- University of Michigan
17. Public Health
Average Salary: $60,000 to $110,000 per year
Growth Rate: 11%
Okay, after the coronavirus, everybody on the planet felt the need for a robust health system that kept pandemics out of bay. And this requires a group of young people who are interested in biotechnology, sociology, and wellness in general.And you can expect the curriculum for this degree to rub shoulders with stories of heroes like Marie Curie. So, while studying you’ll not only learn about the sciences but also about history, ethics, and social welfare.
Popular Universities:
- Johns Hopkins University
- Harvard University
- University of California, Berkeley
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
18. Digital Marketing
Average Salary: $60,000 to $120,000 per year
Growth Rate: 10%
So, it is believed in the marketing world that, ‘The best selling product is not necessarily the best but the one that had the best branding”. This belief emphasises the importance of marketing in today’s digitally dominated era. And this degree is easily the most fun to engage in on the list, ranking it among the best college majors for the future.You can choose to be a Digital Marketer if you have a creative mind with a inclination towards making the numbers talk for you. This degree is quite hard to master but once you do, there is no upper limit for your earnings.
Popular Universities:
- University of Pennsylvania
- New York University
- University of Southern California
- Northwestern University
19. Biotechnology
Average Salary: $70,000 to $130,000 per year
Growth Rate: 9%
You see, many of the best degrees for the future that we’ve talked about in the list exist because of this degree. The importance of medical technology that evolves with time cannot be overstated. As long as we humans exist, the need for healthcare does and as long as that exists, the need for biotechnology does.However, you must also keep in mind that this degree is as difficult as mastering any of the PCM branches of science. So, pursue this only if you’ve got a liking for the phenomenon of life and public service.
Popular Universities:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Stanford University
- University of California, San Francisco
- Harvard University
20. Civil Engineering
Average Salary: $65,000 to $110,000 per year
Growth Rate: 6%
Okay, this is a classic one. We all know that the growth and sustenance of human civilisation cannot happen without adequate infrastructure to support it. Additionally, it is very clear among the engineers that the backbone of all engineering fields is in fact Civil Engineering, securing its position among the best degrees for the future.You can choose this field of study if you have a keen interest in science cause this degree is not going to be an easy one. However, once you get the hang of it, this degree can easily be one of the rewarding career choices of yours.
Popular Universities:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Stanford University
- University of California, Berkeley
- Imperial College London
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.
