Fast Facts

Question:
What are the most popular majors for college students?

Response:
Of the 1,524,000 bachelor's degrees conferred in 2006–07, the largest numbers of degrees were conferred in the fields of business (328,000), social sciences and history (164,000), education (106,000), and health sciences (102,000). At the master’s degree level, the largest numbers of degrees were in the fields of education (177,000) and business (150,000). The fields with the largest number of degrees at the doctor’s degree level were health professions and related clinical sciences (8,400), education (8,300), engineering (8,100), biological and biomedical sciences (6,400), psychology (5,200), and physical sciences (4,800).

In recent years, the numbers of bachelor's degrees conferred have followed patterns that differed significantly by field of study. While the number of degrees increased 30 percent overall between 1996–97 and 2006–07, there was substantial variation among the different fields of study, as well as shifts in the patterns of change during this time period. The number of bachelor’s degrees conferred in the combined fields of engineering and engineering technologies declined 1 percent between 1996–97 and 2001–02, but then rose 10 percent between 2001–02 and 2006–07. The number of engineering and engineering technologies degrees conferred in 2006–07 was about 8 percent higher than the number conferred in 1996–97. The number of degrees in the health professions declined by 17 percent between 1996–97 and 2001–02, but then rose 40 percent between 2001–02 and 2006–07. Similarly, the number of degrees in biological sciences decreased 7 percent between 1996–97 and 2001–02, but then increased 26 percent between 2001–02 and 2006–07; and the number in the physical sciences declined by 9 percent between 1996–97 and 2001–02, but increased 18 percent between 2001–02 and 2006–07. Some technical fields experienced a contrasting pattern. After an increase of 98 percent between 1996–97 and 2001–02, the number of degrees in computer and information sciences decreased 16 percent between 2001–02 and 2006–07. Other fields with sizable numbers of degrees (over 5,000) that showed increases of over 30 percent between 2001–02 and 2006–07 included security and protective services (54 percent); parks, recreation, and leisure studies (45 percent); and transportation and materials moving (41 percent).

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2009). Digest of Education Statistics, 2008 (NCES 2009-020), Chapter 3.

Related Tables and Figures:  (Listed by Release Date)

• 2009, Digest of Education Statistics 2008, Figure 15. Trends in bachelor's degrees conferred by degree-granting institutions in selected fields of study: 1996–97, 2001–02, and 2006–07
  
• 2009, Digest of Education Statistics 2008, Table 271. Bachelor's degrees conferred by degree-granting institutions, by field of study: Selected years, 1970–71 through 2006–07
  
• 2009, Digest of Education Statistics 2008, Table 272. Master's degrees conferred by degree-granting institutions, by field of study: Selected years, 1970–71 through 2006–07
  
• 2009, Digest of Education Statistics 2008, Table 273. Doctor's degrees conferred by degree-granting institutions, by field of study: Selected years, 1970–71 through 2006–07
  
• 2009, The Condition of Education 2009: Graduate and First-Professional Fields of Study
  
• 2009, The Condition of Education 2009: Undergraduate Fields of Study
  
• 2007, The Condition of Education 2007: International Comparisons of Degrees by Field
  
• 2004, The Condition of Education 2004: Top 30 Postsecondary Courses
  

Other Resources:  (Listed by Release Date)

• 2008, Postsecondary Institutions in the United States: Fall 2007 and Degrees and Other Awards Conferred: 2006-07, and 12-Month Enrollment 2006-07
  
• 2005, First Generation Students in Postsecondary Education: A Look at their College Transcripts
  
• 2004, Undergraduate Enrollments in Academic, Career, and Vocational Education
  
• 2003, Postsecondary Attainment, Attendance, Curriculum, and Performance: Selected Results From the NELS:88/2000 Postsecondary Education Transcript Study (PETS), 2000