Top 18 College Degrees to Major In

Choosing the right career has never been more confusing than it is today. If you have already figured it out, you will not be reading this article about the top 18 college degrees to major in. When I went to college 30 years ago, it was much more straightforward. Today, when I talk to students preparing to go to college, they are unsure as to what to study in college or who they would like to become. I have tried to help, but I can see why they are so confused about college degrees and careers. I would be, too. This is the reason behind this article. I sat down and jotted down a few things I could do if I had to go back to school.

I hope this article will help someone make a wise lifetime decision.

University Degrees Majors

My Pick for Top 18 College Degrees

When I graduated from college back in 1989, the hottest career path was for computer geeks, or as they called it, computer science. The second most sought after career was chemistry, which was my major. I had multiple job offers, but I chose a scientist position with the U.S. Federal Government.

Chemistry is still a promising career. The computer became a household commodity over 20 years ago, made even more popular today with the fast-approaching artificial intelligence (A.I.). Either way, in my humble opinion, I believe the following college degrees are worth your lifetime investment. Note that this list is not in a particular order. You can look up the salary from U.S. Department of Labor. Please note that just because the degrees are not listed here, it doesn’t mean I am downplaying or underestimating other fields. I am simply not familiar with all academic disciplines in detail and their potential jobs in the real world.

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Research & Review

For more information, you can research The Princeton Review or other Internet websites. Also, since each subject’s requirements vary from person to person or from college to college, you can do thorough research and make a selection based on your ability and, best of all, your interests. For example, if you don’t like or aren’t good at math, you may want to stay away from chemistry, physics, or engineering. Also, remember that not all lawyer positions require going to court. There are many possibilities for a lawyer, for example, in federal government civilian jobs (counsel positions for policies, legislation, and regulations).

I suggest that you choose your career path based on what you do best and enjoy the most! Trust me. You may spend 8 hours a day, 40 hours per week, 365 days a year, and the next 30-40 years of your life working in the field. So, choosing a path you enjoy is far more important than any other priority. 

Hottest College Degree in 20

Here are my top 18 college degrees to major in.

Artificial Intelligence (A.I.)

A.I. is rapidly shaping our future, from self-driving cars, drones, robots, airplanes, home speakers, and even CCTV systems. You will be surprised how much A.I. controls our lives, convenient or not. Even though it has been around for decades, this academic discipline is just beginning. Similarly, to the skyrocketing of P.C.s in the mid-1980s. It will not only shape future technology, but it will also become part of our everyday lives. Major companies will hire new college graduates to research, develop, design, perform quality control, develop policies, and much more. Unarguably, it will the hottest and the coolest academic discipline for many years.

Mechanical Engineering

This is the hardware of A.I. By the same token that A.I. will shape the future, the hardware behind A.I. will be right there beside it. You cannot do one without the other. They will always be side-by-side. As a matter of fact, mechanical engineering has been one of the hottest college educational choices for decades. Medical devices, aerospace and automobiles, depend on mechanical engineering for all types of hardware. Even surgical instruments in the hospital are controlled by robotic arms are created by mechanical engineers.

Mathematics – Top 18 College Degrees for Mathematically Gifted

Mathematics is everywhere: computer, artificial intelligence, chemistry, physics, and even in music. It penetrates every phase of today’s modern society. There are no other academic disciplines used this much. To me, unlike other college subjects, it is not for everyone. This college degree is for only a few gifted individuals. So, if you have a natural gift for numbers and calculations, this is an excellent field to get into with much less competition. For example, a branch of mathematics is statistics, and a statistician can land a very lucrative offer, from the environmental research sector to Wall Street, not to mention the academic teaching field and A.I.

Computer Science, Emphasis Algorithms

Computer programming is one of the most successful careers in the world, and it doesn’t look like it’s slowing down anytime soon. The richest men in the world derived their wealth from this academic discipline. Until about 1990, a business degree, specifically an MBA, was referred to as “the sky’s the limit.” Since then, the baton has passed to computer programmers. If you have a natural talent in algorithms, you will definitely do well with this subject. As long as you have a passion and talent, the sky’s your limit.

English – Most Trending Top 18 College Degrees

If you are not too keen on figures and numbers involved with the above college subjects, English is an excellent academic discipline. The world is globalizing, and arguably the English language is being used in global business. It is a different generation now. No one, not even non-English speaking countries, wants to be embarrassed by their poor English skills. You can do so much with it, especially if you have a passion for writing; you will definitely do well.

Political Science

If you are interested in going into teaching, a political career, or law (private or government sector), political science is a good choice. The beauty of this academic discipline is that there are many career paths to choose from. This is especially true if you are interested in a political path. We did not have the Internet back then or articles like this top 18 college degrees to major in.

Film – Top 18 College Degrees for Creative Students

For an artist, this is the right choice for your career. Even you don’t land a well-paid job with a Hollywood studio, there are many options for you. For example, sadly, our beloved shopping malls and large department stores are shutting down their physical stores around the country. These stores are now selling their products online. Someone has to take pictures and videos of thousands of products, edit these, and upload them to an e-commerce website. Here is another example. YouTubers are getting paid high dollars when they upload a popular video. Most of them are amateur filmmakers. No doubt, you will do better as a professional.

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Top 18 College Degrees to Majors In (cont.)

Accountant

I believe there has never been a time in the history of the United States that tax laws and codes did not change when a new president was elected. Tax codes are rewritten faster than anyone can keep track of them, even the IRS. As a result, the downside is that an accountant job has become much more difficult. They have to learn those new tax laws and codes every time they change. The upside? Less competition, specifically in business involving international trades.

Communications and Journalism

How about conducting interviews with your favorite celebrities on television? If not, at least you can land a job offer as a social media manager, social media strategist, or social media sales representative, to name a few.

Marketing, Concentration in Digital Marketing

There is no doubt that this field will continue to grow, as one of the top 18 college degrees to major in. Back in the old days, marketing was limited to TV commercials and printed advertisements. A person with a marketing degree didn’t land an actual marketing job. Back in college, I took a few marketing graduate courses for my personal improvement. However, I never ventured into that career path, because the competition was so fierce. This has changed since the platform changed to digital marketing. Every business, small or large, needs a digital marketing manager, and this is just the beginning.

Nutritionist – Favorable Top 18 College Degrees

In today’s informational age, we are getting smarter, even with our diets. Dietary concerns and nutrition have always been a subject of discussion in school, home, work, and dining places. Unfortunately, there is much incorrect information on the website about diet and nutrition. Typically, a nutritionist works in a hospital or clinic, or so you thought. In addition to this, many health-related, food-related businesses are looking to hire a nutritionist. For example, a food processing facility, big chain food retailers, educational institutions, weight loss programs, airplane meal packaging, and many more. This doesn’t even touch the surface of the public sector.

Physical Therapy – Most Promising Top 18 College Degrees

This is sort of “aha” moment. Most children spend so much time with their smartphones and computers, sitting with the same bad posture for hours. This is also called a “turtleneck posture” on the Internet. If this posture is not already a pandemic, embrace it. You can prepare yourself and become a physical therapist. Parents may not realize it yet, but the time will come, and in an explosive way!

Health Care Professions – Medical Doctors and Nurses

During the pandemic, we have all witnessed how health care professionals have saved many lives, even at the risk of their own lives. We cannot thank them enough. They studied hard and worked hard, but they also make a good living. If you are a selfless individual, love to help others, and are serious about your education, then this is for you. Without nurses, there is no such thing as hospitals or clinics. And the best part is, it will not change, at least not in my lifetime.

Scientists – Most Sought-After Top 18 College Degrees

No doubt, the world needs better preventive diseases and vaccines. Chemistry, biology, physics, biochemistry, and microbiology are pervasive in the workplaces. From a pharmaceutical laboratory, environmental protection, marine life protection, public sector, food quality laboratory, private and public forensic laboratories to medical research, science is involved in every product and phase of our life. I majored in chemistry and pre-med to pursue a medical degree but decided to follow a different path since the hospital environment was not my passion. Instead, I joined the U.S. Public Health Service, which was the best job I could ever ask for.

I had a friend who majored in Biology and got an MBA and began working for a large financial institution. Even in finance banking, science also plays a role, especially when banks investment in a scientific product. It may not be prevalent, but my point is that scientists take unexpected turns. Science is indeed the top 18 college degrees to major in.

I love to see that more scientists involving global warming and slowing down carbon footprints. At this rate, science fiction will not be fiction anymore. Catastrophe after catastrophe, disease after disease will escalate to the point where we can’t breathe fresh air anymore. We are experiencing that with COVID-19; unfortunately, I think this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Finance

Here is another one of the top 18 college degrees to major in – Finance. I admit that this is the least interesting field to me because I have never been involved seriously except for my business financing. I’m not terrible at it, but still, I am not in a position to discuss the career path in detail. However, it is undoubtedly lucrative and highly demanding. From small businesses to large corporations, from a banking institution to investment management, finance is everywhere. You can read more about it here.

Audiology – Top 18 College Degrees

I live in a large metro area where I see most passengers on the subway, commuting to work or school wearing a headphone or headset. No doubt, many upcoming generations “plug in” for many hours, even at home.

It’s just a matter of time before many will suffer hearing loss. Before the invention of TV, I am guessing that not many people wore corrective eyeglasses. Obviously, with TV, computer monitors, and smartphones, I would be surprised if more people wear glasses than not. This trend will transfer to our ears, creating a new everyday life of hearing devices. I guess that many already suffer some loss of hearing in one way or another.

Audiology is considered prestigious, just like all medical practices. Audiologists test your hearing loss, prescribe, and customize hearing devices. I think hearing aid technology has come a long way, but still has a long way to go, and maybe you can be a part of an incredible moment. I say this because I do wear a hearing device. If this is your interest, I recommend paying a visit to your local audiologist. I am sure he/she will be happy to tell you all the wonderful aspects of being an audiologist.

Aeronautics – The Coolest Top 18 College Degrees

In the movie, Back to the Future, we saw cars fly in a scene from 2015. Great Scott! No doubt, this feat will not only continue, but it will be the next big thing after the smartphone discovery. We will see electric drones flying over our houses, delivering people or packages we ordered online. I know Amazon has been working on this technology for years now. I think this will be here in the not too distant future. It will be around for a while, so it’s not too late to get started. Looking back at the history of technology, we have come so far since the invention of electricity by the genius and talented Edison. I do believe that we are still in a primitive phase when it comes to aeronautics. Yes, we can go to the moon or Mars, but we can even put civilians on the moon.

Will all drones look like what we see today? Really? Back to the propeller? The computer hard disk (H.D.), 5 M.B. of data weighed a ton when first invented. How much will the propeller-powered drone evolve? Your choice! Get a degree and design whatever you have ever dreamed about. I would like to have one of those flying hoverboards from the Back to the Future scene before I get too old.

Energy Study – My Favorite Top 18 College Degrees

My favorite degree by far is renewable energy or sustainable management. I would have majored in this in college if I clocked back to the future to 2020 with a DeLorean. I realize that I am writing this article to an audience who may not even know who Michael J. Fox is, but I can’t help it. Our planet Earth needs this DeLorean car. It uses household waste to energize the flying car. We need more scientists to replace polluted energy. We need to move from fantasy into reality and convert waste that pollutes our planet into clean energy we can use! Anyone up for this world-saving honor?

Someone please this major in college and save our dying planet! No more drilling holes for oil. In my humble opinion, it would have been far better for our world if petroleum had never been discovered. True, we would not have witnessed much technological advancement without oil, but our planet would not be this damaged either. Which one will you sacrifice? The advanced technology or the future of the well-being of the Earth and our children? I chose the latter even though I was not blessed with any children. 

The bottom line is that this article, top 18 college degrees to major in, is not to be read as educational guidance.

You can discuss this with your wise grandparents, parents, school advisors, or conduct research online on sites such as the Princeton Review. I am merely writing this from my own personal opinion without any substantiation. Please talk to a professional before making a lifetime decision.

Thank you for reading the top 18 college degrees. Good Luck!

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Hottest College Degrees