If you are looking to study something that will lead to a lucrative career, look no further! Read on to learn about what makes these top 20 degrees so popular. We’ll also give you a rundown of the type of job prospects you might have after graduating.
When the area of study you want to focus on in college, it is important to look at degrees that are in demand. These degrees might have more competition, meaning you’ll have to work extra hard for admittance.
In this article, we will outline the 20 degrees that are in high demand, why students flock to them and answer a few frequently asked questions.
Let's get started!
20 Degrees That Are In High Demand
Before choosing an educational path, it’s always a good idea to consider job availability and need. Also, remember that the best degree to get depends on your interests, career goals, and the field that aligns with your passions and strengths. Now, let’s get into our list of college degrees in demand.
1. Engineering
Engineering is a high-demand field, offering some of the most promising career opportunities. Engineering can be broken down into many different specializations, with the original four being civil, mechanical, chemical, and electrical.
These four branches of engineering have been broken down even more to include such things as biomedical engineering, aerospace engineering and computer hardware engineering.
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Between 2022 and 2032, jobs in architecture and engineering are expected to grow faster than the average across all occupations. On average, there will be approximately 188,000 job openings each year in these fields. Keep in mind, though, that each specialization has its own specific growth projection.
Chemical engineering, for example, is projected to have 8% growth in the next decade, which makes chemical engineering one of the most in-demand majors.
Salaries among engineers are also high, with a median annual wage of $87,531. Again, depending on which specialization you choose, you could make over $100,000 a year, which makes engineering one of the degrees that are in demand.
In terms of careers, there is a wide variety of options for engineers as their skills are in high demand. Some of the most popular career choices are aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, environmental engineering and computer hardware engineering.
With the amount of choice in terms of career path, it is no wonder why engineering is one of the college degrees that are in demand.
Top 5 Schools for Engineering
- MIT
- Stanford
- University of California, Berkeley
- California Institute of Technology
- Carnegie Mellon University
Best Careers for Engineering
- Biomedical Engineer
- Civil Engineers
- Electrical Engineers
- Environmental Engineer
- Software Engineer
Top states with the Highest Salaries in Engineering
- California
- Texas
- Washington
- Massachusetts
- New York
2. Applied Mathematics
Applied mathematics majors will study advanced arithmetic courses, which will assist them in gaining entry into careers such as actuaries, data scientists, statisticians, and operation research analysts.
These career choices are very popular and are projected to grow by 30% in the next decade. According to the BLS, there will be 33,500 jobs in the mathematics sector per year for the next ten years. This type of growth means that students who study applied mathematics will be able to use their degree in numerous avenues.
Another reason that applied mathematics is a degree that is in demand is the high salary associated with their jobs. The average wage for applied mathematicians is around $102,500. With such a high average salary, taking applied mathematics as a major could be a very lucrative decision.
Top 5 Schools for Mathematics
- Stanford University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- Princeton University
- Harvard University
- University of California Berkeley
Best Careers for Mathematics
- Meteorologist
- Mathematics teacher
- Purchasing agent
- Accountant
- Budget analyst
Top states with the Highest Salaries in Applied Mathematics
- New York
- California
- Massachusetts
- Virginia
- Washington
3. Computer Science
Another one of the degrees that are in high demand is computer science. Computer science incorporates subjects such as software development, web development, AI engineering and more, allowing students to work in many different positions within the technology industry.
Job growth within this industry definitely draws students to this high-demand major. According to the BLS, we can expect to see 23% growth over the next ten years. This means that if you are able to take this degree that is in high demand, you are very likely to get a job once you graduate.
Not only will you be able to get a job, but the job you get will also be very well-paid. The median annual wage for computer science degree holders is $111,952 per year, which puts this degree in high demand among college students.
There are a lot of options for students with a computer major degree, as they are able to use their skills to work as software developers, video game developers or computer programmers. These are just some of the options, which is why computer science is a high-demand degree program.
Top 5 Schools for Computer Science
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- University of California, Berkeley
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
