For all students, their major in college helped them acquire skills necessary for their current job. These skills might help you land a job in multiple occupations and industries, or the skills might be targeted for a specific occupation and industry.
Students graduating with a degree in nursing or education are more likely to be in an occupation or industry that is directly linked to their major. However, students with a degree in physics or liberal arts are more likely to be in an occupation and industry that is not directly linked to their major.
What’s it Worth? The Economic Value of College Majors lists majors with tight linkages to an occupation and industry, as well as majors that are dispersed across occupations and industries.
Examples of Majors with Tight Linkages to an Occupation
- Occupations in health professionals had a tight linkage with majors in Nursing (82%), Pharmacy Pharmaceutical Sciences and Administration (76%), and Medial Assisting Services (69%).
- Occupations in Education had a tight Linkage with majors in Special Needs Education (71%) and Elementary Education (66&).
- Other occupations with tight linkages include Management, Sales, Offices, and Health Support.
Examples of Majors that are Dispersed Across Occupations
- Physics, Zoology, Theater, History, Ecology, Liberal Arts, Psychology, General Sciences, Philosophy & Religious Studies are a few of the majors dispersed across occupations.
- The most popular occupation is Management (18-19%) among the listed majors.
- Occupations in Sales or Offices are the second most popular.
Examples of Majors that have Tight Linkages with a Particular Industry
- The Health Service industry has tight linkages with Nursing (84%), Medical Assisting Services (77%), Medical Technologies Technicians (75%), Treatment Therapy Professions (69%) and Nuclear, Industrial Radiology, and Biological Technologies (64%).
- The Education industry has a tight linkage with Special Needs (70%), Elementary (66%) and Teacher (62%) Education and Educational Administration and Supervision (60%).
- The Construction industry has a tight linkage with a major in Construction Services (69%).
Examples of Majors that are Widely Dispersed Across Industries
- Education Services is a popular industry among General Social Sciences (17%), Liberal Arts (17%), and Miscellaneous Agriculture (17%).
- Financial Services is a popular industry among International Relations (17%), Mathematics (17%) and General Business (16%).
- Professional Services is a popular industry among Ecology (16%), Fine Arts (16%), International Relations (17%) and Mathematics (17%).
What occupation or industry are you in now? Did it relate to your major?
