In higher education, money speaks volumes for selecting a major for many students in America.

The National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) reported data ranging from 1970 to 2012 regarding college degrees achieved and each major as a percentage of the whole picture, or of total degrees earned. 

An interesting picture appears in the movement of chosen career paths and degrees. For instance, we see an increase in computer science degrees earned from 6.3 percent of total degrees earned in 1970 to 8.1 percent in 2012. 

Although this figure is still a modest increase, most other majors fell as a percent of the total. Education majors, once 21 percent of total degrees in 1970, now make up only 5.9 percent of degrees earned. Social and behavioral sciences dropped decently from 23 percent of majors to 16 percent. Humanities degrees remained relatively the same total composition of degrees over the course of this time span. 

Overall, business degrees increased from 13.7 percent of total degrees earned in 1970 to 20.5 percent of degrees earned in 2012. The last category of degrees that rose significantly was the “other degrees” category, comparing only 9 recent of degrees in 1970 and rising substantially to 20 percent in 2012. 

This “other degrees” section includes a wide variety of less popular degrees along with the ever popular health and legal services, which generally include students achieving undergraduate degrees in attempt to go to medical or law school. The degrees that increased their overall percentage in this 40-year span generally had an association with higher income generated in these professions. 

When we look at computer science, we might ask why there hasn’t been a larger increase, due to computerization and the prevalence of the Internet in popular culture, as well as the business world. The business sector may contain a higher demand in the labor market, as well as offer higher compensation. 

The exact reason for the magnitude of these increases are still unknown, but can be speculated upon. Money might be the central factor in each disciplinary increase. After all, the majors with the highest average starting salaries, according to Forbes, are computer science, engineering, economics, accounting and finance.

This indicates a trend in more students graduating with degrees that pay well right away. The “other categories” section, included legal service and health service, which boast high income positions for advanced degrees beyond an undergraduate one. 

Monetary return on an investment into education is definitely a major influence to consider when choosing a major, especially with tuition costs and books being on the rise. I know what some of you are thinking this is obvious.

However, this read presents an eye opening issue.  It questions such a realization of why there is change over time, and that many professions are valued according to their income earning capabilities rather than their social contributions.

We find ourselves asking questions such as: How long will this last, we ask, and will monetary reward be the major influence of enrollment trends? What are the consequences? And is monetary incentive the most significant influence of enrollment trend?