Most Popular Majors in Texas

• Many Texas institutions offer some of the state's most popular college majors.
• Students with these majors can qualify for a wide variety of well-paying, growing jobs.
• Graduates can find many exciting jobs, both in Texas and across the U.S.

According to Texas Higher Education Data, nearly 1.5 million students enrolled in the state's public colleges in fall 2021. One of the most populated states in the country, Texas is home to a wide variety of public and private institutions that offer many popular majors. To help students better understand the most popular college majors in the state, BestColleges compiled data on recent enrollment.

Whether a student plans to study at an online or on-campus Texas school or learn at one of the state's many respected community colleges, plenty of options exist. Keep reading to learn about the most popular college majors in Texas, and for more information about going to college in the Lone Star State, check out our Resources for Students in Texas page.

What to Consider When Choosing a Major

Your Interests

When choosing a college major, students must think deeply about which subjects they find meaningful and interesting. By pursuing a major that fits with their interests and strengths, students are far more likely to both enjoy their learning experience and use their degree after graduating.

Your Skill Sets

If you enjoy English but do not perform particularly well in it, you must weigh the differences between your interests and skillsets. Choosing a college major or minor that aligns with your skills can help you ensure you do well in your classes and learn the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to thrive in your chosen field.

Your Budget

Some students feel that the cost of a degree matters more than the prestige of an institution. Understanding how much college really costs is key to a successful educational experience. Students should compare the costs of online and on-campus programs to find the one that works best with their budget.

Your Hireability

Before choosing a college major, students should make sure they understand job market predictions in their chosen area. If jobs in a particular field are projected to decline in the coming years, it may be advisable for learners to reconsider their path. With a new survey showing that most students would change majors if they could, it's important to consider this process from every angle.

10 Popular Majors in Texas

Some degrees make more sense to earn than others, especially in Texas. Before making a final decision about what major to pursue, some students may want to consider what other learners are studying and how those majors align with their goals.

Business Administration

Earning a bachelor's degree in business administration can be a great option for students seeking a wide variety of career options. Business administration focuses on the core tenets of running a company, including accounting, finance, marketing, human relations, and leadership. Because every organization, government agency, and nonprofit relies on business principles, students who complete a bachelor's in business administration can move their careers in a variety of directions.

Business Administration Career Paths

• Business Administration: This major can provide access to careers focused on business leadership.
• Business Intelligence: Professionals in this field focuses on using data and statistics to inform business decision-making.
• Business Management: Workers in business management have the managerial and leadership skills required to move businesses forward.
• Finance: Finance professionals help both individuals and companies improve their financial positions.
• International Business: Those in international business often work outside the U.S. or with non-U.S. companies.

Criminal Justice

Criminal justice is an expansive field that encompasses law enforcement, rehabilitation, criminal behavior analysis, counseling, and forensic research. Pursuing a bachelor's degree in criminal justice can provide students with a wide set of skills and the knowledge that employers in a variety of career areas find desirable. Whether a graduate wants to work as a detective, warden, behavioral counselor, or federal agent, this major can open doors in the field.

Criminal Justice Career Paths

• Addiction and Recovery: Workers in this field helps those who experience substance misuse.
• Behavioral Psychology: Behavioral psychologists examine why individuals behave the way they do and how to adjust problematic behaviors that can lead to crime.
• Criminal Justice: Criminal justice is a large field, but most professionals in this industry focus on delivering justice.
• Criminology: Workers in this field combine criminal justice and sociology to better understand why people commit crimes.
• Forensic Science: Forensic scientists study specimens and data to solve crimes.

Biology

Students who choose to major in biology focus on the study of living organisms. Earning a bachelor's degree in biology can provide graduates with the skills and knowledge needed to work in many different fields and industries, both in clinical and research areas. Biology graduates may decide to work in healthcare or health services settings to better identify the source of diseases and illnesses. Others biological tenets with technology to create new products.

Biology Career Paths

• Biotechnology: Professionals in biotechnology bring together biology and technology to develop new products.
• Biology: Biologists focus on understanding how living organisms work and applying that information to varied settings.
• Healthcare: Graduates who enter the field of healthcare can help others as doctors, nurses, or work in other capacities.
• Health Services: Professionals in health services focus on the delivery of care.
• Public Health: Public health professionals work to educate the general public on health issues and provide access to resources.

Computer Science

Computer science majors study computational systems and coding languages. They use both theoretical and practical approaches. Students enrolled in a bachelor's degree in computer science learn about computer systems and networks, programming languages, software engineering, bioinformation, and human-computer interaction. The tech and IT sectors are growing, making computer science graduates desirable to hiring managers.

Computer Science Career Paths

• Computer Programming: Computer programmers use languages like Java and Ruby to create new software.
• Computer Science: Computer science encompasses many different professional areas.
• Data Science: Data scientists focus on using data to inform decision-making processes.
• Information Systems: Professionals in this field focus on collecting, managing, and processing data for various outcomes.
• Network Security: Network security professionals keep both internal and external networks safe from hacking and cybercrimes.

Social Work

Social work as a discipline focuses on helping individuals, families, communities, and other groups meet their basic needs, improve their health, and support their well-being. Completing a bachelor's degree in social work does not qualify graduates for clinical roles — those require a master's degree. However, a bachelor's degree can help them land direct-service and administrative positions in a variety of nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies.

Social Work Career Paths

• Child Development: Child development careers include both research- and practice-based roles.
• Counseling: Mental health counselors help individuals identify and address obstacles in their lives.
• Human Resources: Human resources professionals help employees access employer-provided services and benefits.
• Social Worker: Social work careers include clinical, administrative, and leadership roles that focus on helping others.
• Sociology: Sociology professionals look to better understand how individuals and societies behave.

Psychology

Individuals planning to work as psychologists must complete a doctorate, but earning a bachelor's degree in psychology can open doors to several entry-level and support roles. Psychology encompasses clinical, research, and academic areas. The American Psychological Association recognizes 54 different divisions, interest groups, and subdisciplines of the field. Students pursuing this major can take their careers in many different directions.

Psychology Career Paths

• Behavioral Psychology: Professionals in this discipline focus on identifying and addressing certain behaviors.
• Child and Adolescent Psychology: Psychologists in this concentration use development theories to provide support for children and teens.
• Organizational Psychology: Workers in organizational psychology help companies improve efficiency, effectiveness, and employee satisfaction.
• Psychology: Psychology is a broad discipline that encompasses many different clinical and non-clinical roles.
• Social Science: Psychology lives under the larger social science umbrella, which deals with human behavior in general.

Kinesiology and Exercise Science

Kinesiology is the study of how individuals function, move, and perform when active and how these activities affect their health. Exercise science focuses more closely on the role exercise plays in keeping humans healthy. Completing an online bachelor's degree in exercise science can be a good fit for students interested in health and fitness. Graduates commonly go on to work in rehabilitation settings, gyms, and spas. They may also work in school settings as trainers and coaches.

Kinesiology and Exercise Science Career Paths

• Gerontology: Professionals in gerontology focus on helping older adults regain or maintain their strength.
• Health Services: Workers in health services focus on ensuring patients have access to the care they need.
• Nutrition: Nutritionists often work closely with exercise science professionals to develop well-rounded health plans for clients.
• Physical Therapy: Physical therapists individuals regain mobility after illnesses or injuries.
• Sports Medicine: Professionals in sports medicine uses exercise science techniques to help athletes recover from injuries.

Marketing

Earning a bachelor's degree in marketing can qualify graduates for a variety of well-paid positions in many industries. Whether working as a communications director, marketing manager, market survey researcher, or other position, holding a marketing qualification can help graduates grow their careers. Marketing professionals can find themselves working in for-profit and nonprofit settings alike; some even work for governmental agencies.

Marketing Career Paths

• Communications: Professionals in communications focus on succinctly and clearly conveying information.
• Graphic Design: Graphic designers create visual elements for marketing campaigns.
• Illustration: Similar to graphic design, illustration focuses on the creation of art and designs for various forms of marketing.
• Marketing: Marketing encompasses many roles, all of which have the ultimate goal of attracting customers to goods and services.
• Project Management: Large-scale marketing projects require professionals who can manage them effectively.

Accounting

Accounting refers to the process of recording and categorizing financial transactions made by a business. Accountants help organizations keep track of spending and earning and file taxes. Earning a bachelor's degree in accounting will not qualify graduates to become a certified public accountant — this requires a master's degree. However, an undergraduate degree can allow professionals to work in a variety of support roles in accounting departments and financial institutions.

Accounting Career Paths

• Accounting: Every company relies on accounting, making this a lucrative and expansive field.
• Business: Accounting is a subdiscipline of business.
• Finance: Finance careers combine accounting principles with asset and liability management.
• International Business: International businesses, like domestic ones, require accounting professionals to function properly.
• Logistics: Logistics professionals track items and objects rather than dollars.

Public Relations

Professionals in public relations craft the public images of companies, nonprofits, and people. They work to develop strategic communications in the forms of press releases, media strategies, marketing materials, speaking engagements, and partnerships. Earning a bachelor's degree in public relations can provide students with the qualifications needed to work in a variety of settings in entry-level roles. Many companies rely on public relations professionals, making this an attractive major.

Public Relations Career Paths

• Business Administration: Public relations is often housed under the umbrella of business administration.
• Journalism: Like public relations specialists, journalists focus on conveying important information to the public.
• Marketing: Marketing and public relations often exist under the same departmental umbrella in companies.
• Project Management: Project managers often oversee extensive public relations campaigns.
• Public Relations: Public relations careers span a wide variety of industries and sectors.

Frequently Asked Questions About Popular Majors in Texas

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