20 Best Colleges Majors - Most Useful Degrees in 2025

Completing a bachelor's degree often takes time, money, and a lot of work, and no one wants to finish school with no job prospects. Luckily, there are many interesting college majors for a lucrative career, from cybersecurity to business administration. The best college majors open up a variety of options, and the best online degree programs allow you to complete a flexible program on your time.

When considering the best degrees to get, it's important to look at the job market and see what positions have a high demand. The best college majors combine your interests with market needs. Let's take a look at the 20 most useful degrees for a successful and fulfilling career.

The 20 Most Useful Degrees for In-Demand Jobs

Many new students wonder about the best degrees to get. Math and science degrees have many opportunities for job growth that will help advance your career. Take a look at our list of the best college majors below.

The following salary information was sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which provides official data on wages, employment trends, and job outlooks across various industries. Please note that these salaries are based on national averages. The actual salary will vary depending on experience level, geographic area, and other factors.

1. Management Information Systems

Median Salary: $169,510

Students with strong computer, communication, and analytical skills may benefit from a management information systems degree. Jobs in this field may work to improve a company's IT plan, manage security threats, or maintain computer hardware and software. These positions have a high earning potential, making this a lucrative major for college students.

2. Marketing

Median Salary: $156,580

Marketers are responsible for actively promoting a company or brand, interacting with customers, and coordinating advertising campaigns. Many with a marketing degree go into digital marketing, using social media and digital tools to promote a company or brand. Marketers must be creative, organized, and have strong interpersonal skills. Many companies need marketing managers, which helps push this career to grow 8% over the next decade.

3. Information Science

Median Salary: $145,080

Students will use computer systems to collect, organize, and manipulate data, with a strong focus on math and computer science courses. Data analysis can be used in many fields, opening up career opportunities in programming, robotics, and artificial intelligence. Many of these roles require a master's, PhD, or specialized knowledge in a certain field.

4. Computer Engineering

Median Salary: $138,080

Students with analytical, critical-thinking, and communication skills may enjoy a computer engineering program. A bachelor's degree can lead to jobs designing and testing computer hardware, updating equipment with new software, and overseeing manufacturing of everyday items like cell phones or kitchen appliances. This field is expected to grow 7% over the next 10 years.

5. Human Resources

Median Salary: $136,350

A good HR manager is necessary for onboarding new employees, building relationships, and strategic planning with top executives. Nearly every company needs a human resources manager, making this a versatile field of study that is expected to grow 6%. Prospective students must have strong interpersonal, leadership, and decision-making skills. Some jobs may require a master's degree.

6. Cybersecurity

Median Salary: $120,360

Cybersecurity is essential today and jobs are expected to grow 33% over the next decade, making this one of the best majors in college for job security. Employees plan security measures to protect a company's data and prevent cyber attacks. Students need strong decision-making and analytical skills, and may benefit from certification.

7. Healthcare Administration

Median Salary: $110,680

Students with a degree in healthcare administration work to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare operations, monitor budgets, train staff, and fulfill other duties. Most companies require a bachelor's degree; however, some will accept an associate, while others require a master's degree. The need for healthcare administrators is high, and jobs are expected to grow by 29%.

8. Data Science

Median Salary: $108,020

A data science student collects and analyzes data, often creating algorithms to support machine learning. Data science is one of the most in-demand majors, with an expected growth of 36% over the next decade. Prospective students must have a strong grasp of algebra, calculus, computer programming, and statistics. Data scientists must accurately present their findings, making communication skills a major asset.

9. Statistics

Median Salary: $104,110

A statistics major will study calculus and probability, putting these skills to use as an economist, actuary, or statistician. STEM majors are in-demand in many fields; stats majors may also find themselves working for the government, in sports, or monitoring weather patterns. Higher-paying jobs are available with a master's degree in something like biostatistics or a doctorate.

10. Mathematics

Median Salary: $101,460

Students who are quick with numbers can find lucrative jobs as an actuary, data scientist, or operations research analyst. However, the skills many math majors have makes them in-demand for just about any analytical job, from healthcare to government agencies. Math is one of the best things to study in college because it opens up many high-paying opportunities.

11. Biomedical Engineering

Median Salary: $100,730

High school students who excel in science and math may succeed in a biomedical engineering program. Classes include engineering design, biomaterials, and circuit design. Students will spend significant time in both the classroom and the lab, with many pursuing internships with a local hospital or organization. A graduate or medical degree can open up more opportunities.

12. Computer Science

Median Salary: $99,700

Computer science majors study programming, operating systems, and math. Logic and problem-solving skills will help students succeed, and many lucrative jobs are available upon completing a bachelor's degree. Comp-sci majors can become programmers, work in data analytics or web development, or pursue a graduate degree to work with more advanced systems like software development.

13. Mechanical Engineering

Median Salary: $99,510

Jobs for mechanical engineers are expected to grow 11% over the next decade, making it one of the top degrees. Students can pursue jobs working with cars, robotics, heating and cooling systems, and much more. Mechanical engineers design systems to meet a need or solve a problem, and a professional engineering license opens up many more job opportunities.

14. Information Technology

Median Salary: $95,000

A degree in IT focuses not only on computers, but business and communications as well. Students will build technical skills and take classes in a variety of topics, so it helps to be flexible. Jobs in this field are varied: computer programmer, computer and information research scientist, web developer, and information security analyst, to name a few. These positions are expected to grow faster than other careers.

15. Chemistry

Median Salary: $87,180

A degree in chemistry opens up jobs in forensics, theoretical chemistry, or medicine. Chemists generally conduct extensive research and testing and require strong math and problem-solving skills. While many jobs are available with a bachelor's degree, some require a master's or PhD. Students interested in engineering can combine these passions to complete a degree in chemical engineering, another fast-growing field.

16. Nursing

Median Salary: $86,070

Pursuing a career as a registered nurse puts you in the running for in-demand jobs that allow you to make a difference in your community. A constant need for quality registered nurses gives this degree sustainability; nurses can always find work at hospitals, clinics, outpatient facilities, and more. Students pursuing nursing should be compassionate, detail-oriented, and physically able to keep up with a demanding job.

17. Accounting

Median Salary: $79,880

Accountants check a business's financial statements to make sure they are balanced, accurate, and compliant with local and federal laws. They must be organized, analytical, and great with numbers. Many college students with an accounting degree go on to get licensed to work as a certified public accountant (CPA). Artificial intelligence is expected to impact many of these jobs, but not to lessen the demand for skilled accountants.

18. Logistics and Supply Chain Management

Median Salary: $79,400

When a company's supply chain is disrupted, the consumer suffers, making this one of the most in-demand majors in the job market. Logisticians will oversee and direct the movement of supplies, manage risk, propose improvements, and other tasks. Coursework includes business, economics, and accounting, and jobs are expected to grow 19% over the next decade.

19. Finance

Median Salary: $79,050

Finance students will learn how businesses manage, invest, or borrow money. They will study accounting, statistics, business and finance ethics, and many other courses. These skills will open jobs ranging from government work to banking, with some roles, like a financial analyst, making just under $100,000 per year, on average. If you enjoy working with numbers and analyzing problems, then this could be a great degree for you.

20. Business Administration

Median Salary: $71,000

A degree in business administration teaches students problem-solving, adaptability, leadership, and strategy skills. Graduates of this program can work in HR, strategic planning, finance, or any other role that helps manage and build up a company. Business management is a versatile career that can open up jobs from entrepreneurship to nonprofit work, and the need is always growing.

FAQs About the Best Majors in College

After looking over our list, you may still have questions about the best things to go to college for. Whether you are leaning towards a STEM field or liberal arts, take a look at our answers to frequently asked questions.

What Are the Best College Degrees for the Future?

The best degrees to carry into the future have the highest growth potential. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, data science is expected to grow 36%, cybersecurity 33%, and information science 26% over the next decade, making them in-demand careers.

Is a College Degree Worth It in 2025?

A college degree will open your job prospects and lead to a higher earning potential, meaning it is absolutely worth it in 2025. Online classes can help lower costs and often allow you to get your degree in less time.

What College Majors Will Lead to the Highest Paying Jobs in 2025?

Some of the best paying jobs according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics are going to those with degrees in information science ($145,080), marketing ($156,580), and management information systems ($169,510).

Find the Right Degree Today

The future looks bright for those with the right degree, and careers range from math to marketing to healthcare. When you're ready to find the right college major to jumpstart your career, then reach out to one of the colleges featured on Learn.org and get started today.