Passion vs. Paycheck: Student debt, a softer job market and AI fears are changing what students study

Which majors are rising and which are falling

Business, health sciences and engineering top the 2026 list of most popular majors. The Student Choice data highlights growth in technically focused fields: aviation is named among the fastest-growing majors, and aviation maintenance has climbed into the rankings as well, indicating interest across the aviation industry.

Fields seeing fewer applicants include liberal arts, communications and education. The report links those declines to concerns about how well pay in those careers matches the cost of obtaining the degree.

Why students and families are shifting choices

Three practical pressures are driving decisions:

• Student loan costs. Families are looking at repayment amounts relative to likely starting salaries.
• A softer job market. Slower hiring makes the risk of a degree with weak employment prospects more tangible.

What people quoted in the coverage said

Dustin Limburg, vice president of growth marketing at Student Choice, frames the trend as a search for specialized, hard skills students can use immediately after graduation: "Folks are looking for things they can do when they graduate."

Students offer mixed perspectives. Alessandra Roque, planning a public relations degree, sees the field as resilient to AI. Emerson Ingalsbe plans to study marine science out of a strong personal interest in animals and the ocean. Sofia Cseplo is majoring in dance performance and accepts the funding challenges because of the value she finds in sharing with her community.

The organization's biggest concern is overborrowing. If student loans could leave graduates with monthly payments much higher than their expected starting salary, Student Choice suggests considering lower-cost alternatives such as trade school or community college. Limburg recommends assessing affordability before specializing: when a career path is not yet clear, start with more affordable options.

What this means for students deciding now

• If you prioritize immediate employability and predictable earnings, majors with technical skills and clear credential pathways are more likely to align with those goals.
• If your interest is in a field with lower average pay or uneven job prospects, plan how you will finance education and what realistic career outcomes look like.
• Evaluate alternatives: community college, trade programs and targeted certifications can lower debt and still lead to stable work.