How to Choose the Best College Major for You

Writer & Editor Danika Miller is a senior writer at BestColleges and Accredited Schools Online. Her writing has also appeared in Grad School Hub, Best Value Schools, Affordable Colleges Online, and Her Campus. Her financial expertise has been featured in The Simple … Updated on June 12, 2024 Edited by

Managing Editor Hannah Muniz is a managing editor with BestColleges, specializing in college planning, test prep, student life, and sponsored content. She previously worked as a freelance writer, composing articles on the SAT/ACT, higher education, language learning… and

Editor & Writer Lorraine Mumby is an editor for BestColleges who focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is passionate about equipping students with the tools to succeed and have meaningful, equitable educational experiences. Lorraine has a bachelors degre… • Reviewed by

Contributing Reviewer Sarah Holiday has years of experience working with nontraditional and traditional-aged students in various areas related to career coaching and training and development. She is currently earning a doctorate and holds a masters in instructional desig… Learn more about

www.bestcolleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Take our quiz and well do the homework for you! Compare your school matches and apply to your top choice today.

Choosing a major can be tricky, especially if you have multiple passions or dont know what kind of career you want.

The reality is that many students change their majors. According to a 2020 BestColleges study, 3 in 5 college grads would change their majors if they could go back.

Before you commit to a major, you should consider several factors, including the program cost, your salary expectations, and the employment rates in that field of study. In addition, you should think about your personality, your academic and professional goals, and your interests.

Here, we help you choose a major that resonates with your personal mission, values, and passions.

Choosing your college major is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make as a student Your major dramatically impacts your career opportunities, future earnings potential, and overall student experience. With so much riding on this choice, it’s important to get it right. Follow this step-by-step guide to choose a college major that’s a great fit for you

Get to Know Yourself First

The process of selecting a major should start with self-reflection. Take time to identify your innate strengths, interests, values, and priorities.

What subjects do you excel at and enjoy studying?
What activities energize you?
What types of work environments and job duties do you thrive in?
What salary range and lifestyle do you desire after graduation?

Make a list of your top abilities, passions, personalities traits and ambitions This self-assessment reveals majors and career paths that could be a good match

Research All Your Major Options

Once you have a solid handle on your own preferences, dive into researching college majors Gather information on all potential options, not just those you’re already familiar with

Read through college major guides that overview common degree programs.
Browse college websites to see the exact majors offered.
Search online for descriptions of specific majors like psychology, engineering, biology, and more to understand the focus of each.

As you research, make a master list of majors that jump out as potentials. Cast a wide net at this stage before narrowing it down.

Define Your Goals and Priorities

As your major list takes shape, think deeper about your goals. Ask yourself:

Why do I want to go to college and what are my objectives?
How competitive do I want the program to be?
Should I pursue a more specialized major or go broad?
Do I envision going on to postgraduate education?
How strong is my desire for an international program?

Rank your priorities like program reputation, opportunities like study abroad, specific degree types (B.A., B.S., etc.), and other major factors. This helps assess how well different majors fit your goals.

Arrange Discussions with Professors

Schedule time to meet individually with professors from majors you are considering. Ask about their experiences in the field and pros and cons of the degree program.

What is the program workload and difficulty level?
What related jobs and salaries are common after graduation?
Is it easy to switch into the major if I change my mind?

Faculty serve as great resources to get an insider perspective and learn the realities of different majors.

Research Related Career Prospects

A major decision factor is understanding the career paths tied to potential majors. Thoroughly research common professions, projected job growth, and typical salaries associated with each major.

Finance majors often become financial analysts, accountants, or loan officers.
Biology majors may work as lab technicians, scientific researchers, or go into healthcare.
Art majors find careers as designers, illustrators, photographers, and in museums and galleries.

Choose a major that provides the career opportunities matching your aspirations.

Consult with Family and Friends

Schedule time to discuss your major options with parents, mentors, counselors, and anyone else who knows you well. Oftentimes, talking through your thought process out loud can help crystallize your true interests.

Ask trusted advisors if they envision certain majors as a good or bad fit based on your strengths. Their outside perspective may reveal great major options you hadn’t considered.

Take Self-Assessment Career Tests

For more input on majors suited to you, take self-directed career assessments.

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) provides personality types linked to majors and careers.
Strong Interest Inventory connects your interests to related college majors and jobs.
Holland Code Quiz matches your interests to six common career types.

While not definitive, these tests provide useful data points for choosing a major.

Review Major Requirements

As you narrow down your list, dive into the specific curriculum and course requirements for majors still in consideration. Obtain the official catalog from each college.

What core courses, electives, internships, and exams are required?
Are there prerequisites to begin the program?
How much flexibility or customization exists around required classes?

Ensuring you can handle the course demands will prevent switching majors down the road.

Create a Major Decision Matrix

With all your research completed, create a major decision matrix to identify the best choice based on your criteria.

Define 6-8 factors most important in your decision making.
Rank majors from 1-10 on how well they meet each criterion.
Tally the totals to see which majors score highest.

This quantifies your analysis to choose the major aligning best to your needs.

Talk to Your Academic Advisor

Schedule a meeting with your academic advisor to discuss your top major contenders. Advisors are very familiar with the programs and can offer insights about fit and suitability based on your individual situation.

Provide your advisor with your decision matrix and ask for their input. They may steer you towards or away from certain majors given your goals, strengths, and weaknesses.

Trust Your Gut

Once you’ve done all your diligent research and reflected thoroughly, listen to your intuitive gut feelings about which option feels right. While not the only factor, your internal instincts do contain wisdom.

Imagine yourself in each potential major and career path. Pay attention to those that bring excitement versus dread. Don’t force yourself into a major you dislike just for perception or parents.

Know You Can Change Your Mind

It’s very common for students to change majors, sometimes multiple times. Many colleges make it relatively straightforward to switch programs if you realize your initial major is not the best fit after all.

Choosing a major is rarely a permanent, irreversible commitment. As you take courses, follow your passions and interests as they develop.

The Bottom Line

Selecting a college major is a big choice, so explore all your options. Reflect on your abilities and ambitions. Research related careers. Discuss possibilities with advisors. But ultimately, have confidence in choosing the major that best aligns with your personality, goals, and dreams. With so many potential paths, there’s a right fit major out there for you!

how to choose college major

What Are You Interested In?

Studies have found that students tend to perform better in school when they can focus on their interests. Unfortunately, its not always easy for people to identify their interests.

To get help with this, consider taking a personality quiz. For example, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator questionnaire can help you determine subjects that closely align with your personality and interests.

This popular assessment uses your habits and attitudes to generate one of 16 personality types, written as a combination of four letters. Examples include ISFJ (introverted, sensing, feeling, and judging) and ENTP (extroverted, intuitive, thinking, and perceiving).

You can also explore potential areas of study and career paths by joining student clubs, volunteering, working a part-time job on campus, managing a side hustle, or completing an internship.

What Are Your Biggest Priorities?

Some students pursue certain majors primarily based upon salary potential and job demand. Other students choose majors theyre passionate about or highly skilled in.

Before you choose a major, think about which of these three factors — economic advantage, interest level, and ability — are most important and relevant to you and your goals.

How to Choose a Major | Crash Course | How to College

How do I choose a college major?

It’s a big decision, but you know yourself and your interests better than anyone. Remember, when choosing a major, the most important thing is to make sure you’re happy and clear about your priorities for your life and career after college. Check out BigFuture for more college major resources

How do I choose a new major?

Go to your counselor for guidance on picking a new major and setting up your schedule. It’s a big decision, but you know yourself and your interests better than anyone. Remember, when choosing a major, the most important thing is to make sure you’re happy and clear about your priorities for your life and career after college.

How do colleges help students choose a major?

Colleges typically provide various support services to assist students in choosing a major. These services include career counseling, academic advising, and resources to help students explore different fields of study. Career counseling and academic advising services offer guidance in assessing interests, skills, and values.

What major should a college student major in?

While college students have been majoring in areas like education and business for decades, other majors have developed over time in response to growing areas of need or interest. Students who want to explore careers in newer or more niche fields might consider majors such as: Environmental Science . Data Science and Analytics. Cybersecurity .