Below is a release from the online tutoring hub, Wiingy, regarding the most-searched college majors among aspiring college students in Florida:
With millions of students back at university for the fall semester or heading to college for the first time, you may be wondering which majors are the most popular among prospective students.
With this in mind, online tutoring marketplace Wiingy conducted a study to determine the most popular college majors in each state according to their Google search popularity.
The average number of monthly Google searches over the past 12 months for terms relating to different college majors, such as ‘communications degree,’ ‘biology major,’ and ‘study nursing,’ were analyzed and adjusted to each state’s population to calculate the rankings.
In Florida, Psychology was identified as the most popular major, with an average of 11.62 Google searches per month per 100,000 people. While not the most traditional science, the subject is overwhelmingly popular among young people, with millions flocking to study the mind and deconstruct human behavior.
Following in second was Computer Science, generating an average of 9.41 monthly searches per 100,000 people. Computer science has surged in popularity in recent years; the subject is one of the most relevant and employable for students in the digital age, and many workplaces prioritize candidates with computer skills.
Third was Business Administration, which produced 8.72 searches per 100,000 people on average per month. Students with business administration degrees can have some of the broadest skill sets, with the degree often covering accounting, finance, HR, marketing, and business management, allowing flexibility and the ability to adapt to many career paths.
Ranking fourth was Music, with an average monthly Google search volume of 8.68 per 100,000 people. Music is a popular choice at traditional universities, liberal arts colleges, and specialist performing arts institutions. The major is beloved among students with a creative flair but can also combine technical and historical elements.
Rounding out the top five was Criminal Justice, which generated an average of 8.21 monthly searches per 100,000 people. Criminal justice majors study law enforcement, criminal behavior, and the court system. It’s an ideal choice for anyone looking to pursue policing, public safety or investigative work as a career.
Placing sixth was Communications, with an average of 7.01 monthly searches per 100,000 people. Majoring in communications will allow students to explore many of society’s most important means of public information and communication, such as social media, publicity, journalism, and more.
Finance followed in seventh, averaging 6.35 searches per month per 100,000 people. These courses cover financial management and analysis, which can lead to a wide variety of roles in the finance industry, such as investment bankers, financial planners, and actuaries.
Eighth was Social Work, generating an average of 5.83 searches per 100,000 people per month. A social work degree is great for people wanting to help others and the wider community. People who become social workers can often specialise in a single field, such as mental health, disability and domestic abuse.
Accounting ranked ninth, producing an average of 5.56 searches per month per 100,000 people. An accounting degree can provide well-paid job opportunities and career stability for graduates. If you’re someone that is good with numbers, an accounting degree may be perfect, as it involves a lot of financial reporting and advice.
Completing the top ten was Marketing which had a monthly average of 5.47 Google searches per month. A marketing degree it allows students to examine topics such as social media, branding, sales, consumer behaviour and search engine optimisation, which are relevant and beneficial to many professions.
Commenting on the findings, Asit Biswal, CEO of Wiingy, said:
“It is fascinating to discover which college majors students are the most interested in studying at university. It’s notable that many of the top majors are not the most traditional subjects and are instead degrees that have more direct career applications. These can prevent the potentially daunting task of having to choose which field to pursue after studying a more theoretical subject.
“There are also some surprising omissions in the top 50 ranking – long-established subjects such as English literature, chemistry, geography, and philosophy don’t make the cut in favor of arguably more obscure choices, such as kinesiology and anthropology.
“Nowadays, there is such a vast array of majors on offer for students that it can be extremely difficult to choose which to pursue. While factors such as career prospects and prestige can be important, it’s advised that students settle on a subject that they enjoy, first and foremost, as that will allow them to maintain motivation in the face of obstacles and challenging moments.”
Sources: Google Keyword Planner
Methodology: The monthly average search volume data was taken from Google Keyword Planner based on searches over the 12 months to reveal the rankings. The most popular college majors, according to Google users, were analyzed based on searches for:
- “[major] college courses”,
- “[major] degree”,
- “study [major]”
- “[major] major”,
- “[major] college programs”
- “best school for [major] major”
- “top rated schools for [major] major”
- “which university has the best [major] program”
- “which school has the best [major] program”
The combined search volume for each major’s terms was calculated, and then used to rank the major from highest number of average monthly searches to lowest. This was done on both a nationwide basis, and a regional basis adjusted to each state’s population. Overall, 100 majors were analyzed, which were retrieved from a seed list of popular college majors.
