Key Takeaways
- Competitive degrees are typically programs with strong reputations, high job demand, challenging coursework, or limited openings.
- Medicine (Pre-Med/BS-MD), Law (JD), Engineering, Business (Undergraduate and MBA), Computer Science (CS) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), Nursing, The Arts (Music, Theater, Film), Psychology, Economics, Biology, and Communications are all competitive majors because of their academic rigor, popularity, or strong career prospects.
- Once you earn a competitive degree, there are still more ways to stand out among others in the job market—continue pursuing higher education, stay in the know on the latest industry trends, and keep your online profiles up to date.
All through high school you might have heard advice similar to this: pick a major you’re passionate about, one where you can see yourself thriving, and don’t forget to think about the paycheck that might come with it. It turns out your teachers weren’t just making that up. A report from Payscale shows that college grads earn about 37% more than those with just a high school diploma or GED.
So yes, a degree can make all the difference. But what exactly is a competitive degree? In short, it’s all in the name—competitive degrees are programs that are tough to get into because of their prestige, the demand for grads in the field, or just how challenging the coursework is. Landing one of these degrees could mean higher earnings and bigger opportunities down the road.
In this guide, we’ll explain what makes a degree competitive, 10 majors to keep on your radar, and how to stay ahead of the game—even after you graduate.
What Makes a Degree Competitive?
There’s not a single reason for why competitive majors stand out—it’s usually a mix of factors. Here are a few reasons why a degree is competitive:
- Program Reputation: Programs at prestigious schools, such as Harvard or Yale, tend to attract tons of applicants.
- High-Demand Field: These are careers where employers are actively hiring, like tech, healthcare, or engineering. This means the competition to get an available spot in these programs is intense.
- Curriculum Rigor: Challenging coursework often makes programs harder to get into.
- Job Placement Rates: Schools with strong connections to high-paying jobs or internships are in high demand.
- Limited Seats: Some programs only admit a certain number of students, so they fill up fast.
- Popular Majors: Fields like psychology or business draw a lot of students but don’t always guarantee strong job prospects. This can lead to more competition in the job market.
10 Competitive Degrees
While some of the following majors are just popular student choices, others are more academically rigorous—making them all competitive in their own ways:
1. MEDICINE (PRE-MED/BS-MD)
Why It’s Considered Competitive: Medical programs are not only difficult to get into, but they often have rigorous coursework that requires a lot of dedication. It is a popular choice for many, with around 55,188 students applying in the 2022–2023 academic year. Out of those students, 42% were accepted.
Job Prospects: Medicine majors work in the healthcare field, typically as physicians or surgeons. The demand for medical professionals is high with about 23,000 jobs projected each year.
Alumni Salaries: The median salary for physicians and surgeons is $239,900.
2. LAW
Why It’s Considered Competitive: Getting into law school means nailing the LSAT and maintaining a strong academic record. The median law school acceptance rate is 41%. However, some schools have an acceptance rate of 65% or higher, while top schools—such as Yale or Harvard—only have a 12.6% acceptance rate.
Job Prospects: Graduates can pursue careers as attorneys, judges, or legal consultants. There are about 35,000 openings for lawyers projected per year.
Alumni Salaries: The median salary for lawyers is $145,760.
3. ENGINEERING
Why It’s Considered Competitive: From civil, mechanical, chemical, and electrical engineering, it is estimated that around 20% of students express interest in an engineering degree. While the most selective schools only accept 4% of students, others accept 80% or more.
Job Prospects: Engineers are in demand everywhere—technology, healthcare, transportation. There are an estimated 188,000 job openings projected yearly.
Alumni Salaries: The median salary for engineers is $91,420.
4. BUSINESS (UNDERGRADUATE AND MBA)
Why It’s Considered Competitive: Business is a popular major because of its versatility in almost any industry. Just in 2024 alone, application rates increased by 8.1%. The average acceptance rate across business schools is 47%.
Job Prospects: There are so many career paths to take with business—from finance and marketing to management or entrepreneurship. About 963,500 openings are projected each year for business majors.
Alumni Salaries: The median salary for business majors is $79,050.
5. COMPUTER SCIENCE/AI
Why It’s Considered Competitive: The tech boom and innovation in AI have made this major quite a popular choice for students. In fact, there were over 600,000 students studying computer science in 2023—a 40% increase over the last five years!
Job Prospects: Graduates are sought after in industries like software development, artificial intelligence, and data analysis. About 356,700 openings for these majors are projected yearly.
Alumni Salaries: The median salary for computer science majors is $104,420.
6. NURSING
Why It’s Considered Competitive: Nursing schools are competitive to get into and the curriculum is quite rigorous. However, it is a rewarding and well-paying career with lots of growth opportunities. The job security and high earning potential make this a strong option for many, with the average acceptance rate being 66%.
Job Prospects: Nursing is a booming field with a high demand for qualified professionals. On average, about 194,500 openings for registered nurses are projected each year.
Alumni Salaries: The median salary for nurses is $86,070.
7. THE ARTS (MUSIC, THEATER, FILM)
Why It’s Considered Competitive: Arts programs typically have limited seats and portfolio or audition requirements. The passion for arts that many students have keeps this major in popular demand, with around 95,510 students applying each year.
Job Prospects: Careers in the arts can be challenging, with success often depending on talent, networking, and perseverance. However, you can explore many avenues such as a graphic designer, fashion designer, interior designer, florist, special effects artist, and more. About 87,900 openings are projected each year.
Alumni Salaries: The median salary for art majors is $51,660.
8. PSYCHOLOGY
Why It’s Considered Competitive: Psychology has remained one of the most sought-after fields of study, with 140,711 bachelor’s degrees and 38,033 master’s degrees awarded in 2023 alone. Most majors will also need to attend a grad school, which often has limited spots and requires strong grades, research experience, or internships.
Job Prospects: While the degree itself may be popular, the job market only has about 3,400 openings per year.
Alumni Salaries: The median starting salary for a psychology major is $92,740.
9. BIOLOGY
Why It’s Considered Competitive: On average, 11% of students declare biology as their major. However, these programs are selective and capped at most universities. Many students who study biology are aiming for careers in healthcare, research, or environmental science, making the competition fierce.
Job Prospects: Whether you want to work in a lab, out in the field, or at the forefront of healthcare innovation, you have strong career options. The demand for biologists is growing, especially in fields like biological technicians, where there are about 10,300 openings projected each year.
Alumni Salaries: The median starting salary for a biology major is $91,100.
10. COMMUNICATIONS
Why It’s Considered Competitive: Communications is one of the most popular majors, helping students grow in many versatile skills that are in high demand for employers across various industries. The latest IPEDs data shows over 86,000 Communication, journalism, and related degrees were awarded in 2022.
Job Prospects: There are many avenues you can take with a communications major. You could work in journalism, social media management, corporate communications, or even human resources. About 109,500 openings are projected each year.
Alumni Salaries: The median starting salary for a communications major is $66,320.
How To Choose a Competitive Degree Program
Before you rush to sign up for a major—competitive or not—here are a few things you should think about:
- Research the Job Market: Take a look at which fields are growing and in demand. Is there a strong need for workers? Are salaries looking good? Researching this now can help you out down the line.
- Consider Your Strengths and Interests: Think about what you’re good at and what you actually enjoy. The best choice is to choose a degree that feels aligned to you and will also support your future goals.
- Do Your Homework on Programs: Not all schools and programs are created equal. Look into the college’s reputation, curriculum, and job placement rates for graduates.
- Explore Related Options: If your first-choice major feels too competitive, don’t worry—there are plenty of similar fields to consider. For example, if your first choice is Computer Science but the field is saturated, you could look into alternatives like Data Science, Cybersecurity, or Engineering.
Stay Competitive Even After Graduation
Once you’ve earned one of those competitive degrees, and even when you get a job, the work doesn’t stop there. There are still ways you can stand out, even after you graduate. Here are a few suggestions to build your résumé:
- Continue Education: Who says you have to stop learning? Advanced degrees, additional certifications, or extra training can lead to better job opportunities—or even a raise!
- Stay in the Know: Keep up with what’s happening in your field. Follow industry news, attend conferences, and look for ways to grow your skills.
- Build a Strong Personal Brand: Make sure you keep your online résumés, such as LinkedIn, up to date, highlighting what makes you stand out. And don’t feel shy about sharing your accomplishments.
Why Competitive Degrees Matter
Getting a college degree isn’t just about the diploma—it’s about opening doors to better opportunities. While the journey can be tough at times, the payoff may be well worth it: higher pay, more job security, and room to grow in your career. When it finally comes time to fill out those applications, or when you’re still powering through late-night study sessions, remember this: you’re doing it for your future self. Best of luck as you invest in you!
Not sure which career path to choose? Try College Raptor’s Career Finder to explore careers and find colleges that match your goals.
