With college tuition costs high, a rapidly evolving job market, and shifts in desirable skill sets for employees, it’s crucial to choose the right college major. The best degrees have to not only provide job opportunities now but also weather technological disruptions that may be on the horizon.
Find out which degrees are trending, which offer the highest return on investment (ROI), and how you can future-proof your career despite technological advancement.
Trending Degrees in 2026
Trending degrees represent popular career paths and reflect shifts in the job market. Many of the trending degrees in 2026 are focused on digital transformation, global health, and sustainability.
Cybersecurity and Information Technology (IT)
Cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing fields globally, with demand expected to rise by over 30% in the next decade. As cyber threats grow in sophistication, organizations need skilled professionals to protect critical infrastructure and sensitive data.
Common career paths with a cybersecurity or IT degree include cybersecurity analyst, network security engineer, and IT project manager. Though salary depends on experience, location, and other factors, these professionals often earn an average of $132,962 a year.[1]
Healthcare and Nursing
Healthcare degrees have always been in high demand, especially in nursing.[2] The aging population, rising chronic illness rates, and global health challenges mean nurses, public health experts, and other health professionals will be essential.
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Public Health, and Healthcare Administration are popular. Many people with degrees in healthcare pursue careers as registered nurses, nurse practitioners, or healthcare managers.
Business and Finance
Business and finance degrees are always needed, even with the world becoming more tech-driven. Complex financial systems and globalization create more challenges for organizations and drive demand for professionals to manage operations, budgets, investments, and strategic growth.
Roles like financial analyst, investment banker, business consultant, and accountant are in high demand. Pursuing business knowledge with finance, tech, or data analytics can add value to your degree by combining two in-demand roles.
Data Science and Analytics
Data is important to modern business. Data science degrees teach data interpretation, identifying trends, and guiding strategic decisions – crucial skill sets for virtually every industry.
While there’s value in a data analytics degree, popular specializations like machine learning, business analytics, and data engineering can offer more opportunities.
Sustainability and Renewable Energy
As concerns surrounding climate change grow, sustainability degrees are trending. These programs offer opportunities in green technology, environmental consulting, and renewable energy careers in industries like energy, construction, manufacturing, and government.
Some of the common roles for people with sustainability or renewable energy degrees include renewable energy engineer, environmental scientist, and sustainability manager.
Degrees with the Highest ROI in 2026
A degree’s ROI measures the earnings potential compared to the cost of earning the degree.[3] These degrees have high salary potential and plenty of job demand.
Engineering
Engineering degrees, particularly in chemical, electrical, mechanical, and civil engineering, consistently top ROI rankings. Many engineering disciplines earn median salaries above $90,000 annually, and engineering skills are transferable across industries for broad career options.[4]
Computer Science and IT
Computer science and IT disciplines like software engineering or systems architecture are in high demand. While the appearance of these roles has shifted in recent years, with more jobs focused on the development and utilization of AI, these roles often command high salaries with opportunities for remote work and rapid job placement. Some of the emerging fields to consider in computer science and IT include artificial intelligence (AI) development, computer engineering, blockchain engineering, and cloud computing.
Nursing
Nursing offers one of the fastest paths to a strong ROI. Nurses are highly employable and have great salaries, even as recent graduates. Healthcare is also resistant to economic downturns. Advanced roles like nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, or nurse midwife can increase income.
Accounting
Accounting is necessary in every industry, even with technological advancements. Accountants have high earning potential and a range of career paths, including specializations like financial compliance, forensic accounting, and auditing.[5] People with accounting degrees often have roles as Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), tax advisors, or financial controllers.
Biochemistry
Biochemistry brings together biology and chemistry to prepare you for careers in biotechnology, medical research, or pharmaceuticals. Research-heavy fields have strong ROI, but biochemistry degrees are a foundation for advanced degrees in medicine or pharmacology.
Future-Proof Degrees
Future-proof degrees focus on careers that are less likely to disappear with automation or other technology shifts, such as computer science, nursing, business, and mathematics. These degrees develop skills that are harder for machines to replicate, such as creativity and strategic thinking, or position you for industries that will grow despite technological changes.
Computer Science
Computer science is one of the most versatile and adaptable degrees available. While AI can automate some aspects of a computer science role, the field’s scope extends beyond basic programs to cloud architecture, AI, machine learning, blockchain development, and human-computer interaction. Businesses will always need professionals to architect, maintain, and evolve complex computer systems.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is one of the most “automation-resistant” areas of tech. AI can identify threats and complete designated responses, but human expertise is necessary for tasks like designing security frameworks, interpreting threat intelligence, responding to real-time breaches, and navigating legal and compliance requirements. The risk of cyber attacks grows as critical systems move online, so these skills are unlikely to become obsolete.
Information Systems
Information systems blends business acumen with technical skills to bridge the gap between executives and IT teams. Careers like systems analyst, IT project management, database administration, and enterprise software integration are crucial to many organizations – especially with digital transformation.
Nursing
At its core, nursing and health sciences are about human connection, adaptability, and critical thinking. Nursing can be assisted with technology, but humans are still at the heart of direct patient care, clinical decision-making, care coordination, and public health and preventative care. With the global nursing shortage and aging populations, nursing is likely to be in demand for decades.
Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical engineering is an interdisciplinary degree that combines engineering principles with medical and biological sciences to design healthcare solutions like diagnostic equipment, medical devices like pacemakers and prosthetics, and wearable health devices. Though technology is evolving rapidly, creativity, testing, and ethical decisions can’t be automated and require biomedical engineers.
Pharmacology
Pharmacology focuses on the study of drugs and their effects on the human body. Professionals in pharmacology research new medications, conduct clinical trials, and ensure drug safety and compliance. The need for safe, effective medications is constant, so pharmaceutical research, human oversight, and ethical regulation will always be necessary.
Engineering
Engineering disciplines, particularly in energy, manufacturing, civil, and infrastructure, are important to the modern economy. This field requires creative problem-solving to design and build systems in the real world, such as infrastructure projects, environmental solutions, and energy systems, that require human ingenuity.
Robotics
Robotics engineering is at the forefront of automation, but human expertise is necessary to design and build robots, develop control systems, and integrate robotics into industries like manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare. Even as robotics becomes more advanced, human engineers are behind in maintenance, programming, and troubleshooting.
Business
Business degrees provide strategic leadership and management that can’t be automated. Graduates can work in strategic management, entrepreneurship, operations leadership, and international business roles for human-driven tasks like developing a company vision, negotiating, or navigating interpersonal and cultural situations.
Finance
Some aspects of financial analysis can be automated, but high-level decision-making, particularly in volatile markets, requires human judgment. Finance professionals are needed in roles like financial planning, investment management, corporate finance, and risk assessment, as well as to navigate ethical and regulatory issues.
Mathematics
Mathematics is the foundation for many fields, including physics, engineering, computer science, and data analytics. Graduates often work in actuarial science, operations research, quantitative finance, and cryptography. Math skills are fundamental to innovation, but also transfer into different fields.
How to Choose the Best Degree for You
Though several degrees are trending or offer future security with a high ROI, that doesn’t mean they’re the right fit for you. Choosing the best college degree depends on personal and practical considerations.
- Does it align with your interests and strengths? A degree you enjoy will keep you motivated and performing at a high level more than one you chose because of a secure career.
- Is there projected industry growth? Focus on fields with strong job outlooks from reputable sources like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to see what the forecast looks like for your industry.
- Does it offer a strong debt-to-earnings ratio? Factor in your tuition costs, scholarships, and starting salaries to decide if a degree is worthwhile.
- Is there geographic demand? Some degrees have higher ROI in certain regions or countries, so consider where you want to live when choosing a degree.
- Is it adaptable? Choose degrees with transferable skills that open additional career paths.
Plan Your Future
The best degrees in 2026 combine market demand with financial return and long-term job security. However, it’s important to choose a degree program that not only offers practical benefits but also aligns with your academic strengths and passions. If you’re preparing for college admissions, InGenius Prep can help you achieve your higher education goals. Schedule your free consultation today!