Five College Majors That Lead to In-Demand Careers

College is an investment in your student’s future, and you want to encourage them to make the very most of it. Some students head off to college with a specific major in mind, while others are uncertain. It can be helpful to know what majors are out there that can lead to a good job after graduation.

Here are a few of the most in-demand majors right now that your teen might want to explore:

1. Nursing – For years, there has been talk of an impending shortage of nurses in the United States (due to the aging population and retirement of many nurses). With the push for existing and new nurses to obtain bachelor’s degrees in nursing (not associate’s degrees), there is plenty of room for today’s generation of students in this highly stable career. Long-term, your student could become a Nurse Practitioner (which requires a master’s degree), which is reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to have a projected growth rate from 2019 to 2029 of 45% – significantly higher than the average growth rate of all occupations (4%).
2. Information security – The world operates online these days, which means an increase in the number of security threats that can take down businesses, schools, and other organizations. Students interested in the field of cybersecurity or information security can major in a computer-related field (or cybersecurity) and enter the workforce immediately or go on to pursue a master’s degree for further advancement opportunities. This is another high-growth career path: BLS reports projected growth of 31% between 2019 and 2029.
3. Actuarial science – Math lovers should look into actuarial science as a major, which will lead them to a career in risk analysis for organizations like insurance and financial companies. Actuaries measure and study risk and uncertainty. This field is expected to grow 18% between 2019 and 2029.
4. Social work/counseling – The demand for trained mental health counselors is high right now, especially in the wake of the pandemic. Students who like helping people and are interested in the field of health care should think about earning a bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or a related area. BLS reports substance abuse, behavioral, and mental health counselor jobs to grow 25% between 2019 and 2029.
5. Computer science – Computer science continues to be an in-demand major, and there are many different jobs a college graduate with such a degree could obtain. From software application developer to cloud engineer to database administrator, the job prospects are many. Students who enjoy technology and solving problems should check out the possibilities.

Encourage your student to do their research about college majors to find a path that plays to their strengths and interests. While it isn’t critical that your student know exactly what they want to do for the rest of their life on day one of college, they should approach the process of choosing a major thoughtfully, and the ability to obtain employment after they graduate is an important consideration.

Getting into your student’s college of choice requires strong grades and SAT/ACT scores. If your student is preparing to apply to colleges now and wants to give themselves the best chance of acceptance, call Huntington. We’ll work with your student to ensure they are prepared to earn the best SAT/ACT scores and GPA possible to strengthen their college application. Call 1-800 CAN LEARN.