3 days ago
Researching college majors pays future dividends
Students with college in their future would do well spending time this summer determining the answer to a life-altering question: What's the career of your dreams?
Identifying the career, or the future major, that they will pursue makes the entire college process much easier and more affordable and positions the student for a financially successful life after graduation. A great resource to help match one's talents and interests with potential majors is the website which offers a 15-minute quiz to propose best-fit careers based on one's likes and dislikes.
Students can further explore potential college majors by taking summer courses at sites such as or Thousands of courses are offered online with prominent professors at prestigious schools such as Harvard, Yale, UPenn, Duke and Stanford. Many courses are free, or you can earn a certificate by paying a minimal fee. Students interested in majors like architecture, engineering, or neuroscience, where high school courses may be limited or non-existent, may find this to be a productive way to learn more about a field of interest.
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Once a potential major has been identified, students can access resources such as U.S. News & World Report's Best Colleges guide to determine the top ranked colleges for their intended career. The latest 2025 issue lists the 'Best in the Specialties' for various fields of business, engineering, and computer science. Students would find, for example, that the top-ranked school for International Business is University of South Carolina. The No. 1 for Supply Chain Management is Michigan State University. The overall acceptance rate at these universities is 61% and 84%, respectively, giving serious students a strong likelihood of gaining admission.
College-bound students should also consider 'return on investment' (ROI) as well as student outcome for recent graduates with their intended major. ROI is the long-term financial value of a degree. The overall 40-year ROI for New Jersey public and private non-profit institutions exceeded $2 million at both Princeton University and Stevens Institute of Technology, and 1.7 million at New Jersey Institute of Technology.
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Of course, outcomes vary based on one's college major. To get more targeted financial information, students should visit where they can look up any major and find every college that offers it. They will also see the average amount that students are actually paying to attend each college, after subtracting grants and financial aid, as opposed to the sticker price. In addition, they will see the graduation rate and the median salary that students are earning in their field five years after graduation. This site is invaluable in identifying which colleges will provide the best value for your money.
Susan Alaimo is the founder & director of Collegebound Review, offering PSAT/SAT® preparation & private college advising by Ivy League educated instructors. Visit or call 908-369-5362.
This article originally appeared on Researching college majors pays future dividends | Opinion
