Best-Fitting Major
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates by Planned Major Area and Best-Fitting Major Area Among Students with Moderate/Poor Interest-Major Fit, 2013
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates by Planned Major Area and Best-Fitting Major Area Among Students with Moderate/Poor Interest-Major Fit, 2013
| Major Area | Planned Major Area | Best-Fitting Major Area |
|---|---|---|
| Health Sciences and Technologies | 24% | 8% |
| Social Sciences and Law | 11% | 4% |
| Business | 11% | 18% |
| Engineering | 9% | 1% |
| Arts: Visual and Performing | 7% | 3% |
| Education | 7% | 16% |
| Sciences: Biological and Physical | 6% | 1% |
| Health Administration and Assisting | 5% | 8% |
| Community, Family, and Personal Services | 4% | 13% |
| Computer Science and Mathematics | 3% | 7% |
| Communications | 2% | 3% |
| Ag. and Natural Resources Conservation | 2% | 4% |
| Engineering Technology and Drafting | 2% | 3% |
| Architecture | 2% | 1% |
| English and Foreign Languages | 1% | 3% |
| Repair, Production, and Construction | 1% | 4% |
| Philosophy, Religion, and Theology | 0.7% | 1% |
| Area, Ethnic, and Multidisciplinary Studies | 0.1% | 3% |
Graph reads: 9% of the ACT-tested high school graduating class of 2013 who had moderate or poor fit between their choice of planned major and their interests selected a planned major in the area of Engineering.
Note: Based on 43% of the ACT-tested high school graduating class of 2013 who selected a planned major when they registered for the ACT, completed the ACT Interest Inventory, and had an Interest-Major Fit Index score in the ranges of poor fit or moderate fit.
- Nearly 1 out of 4 of these students selected planned major areas in the area of Health Sciences and Technologies.
- If these students entered college majors that were the best fit with their interests, the share of students in such areas as Health Sciences and Technologies would decrease, whereas the share of students in areas such as Business would increase.
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates by Planned Major Area, Best-Fitting Major Area, and Gender Among Students with Moderate/Poor Interest-Major Fit, 2013
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates by Planned Major Area, Best-Fitting Major Area, and Gender Among Students with Moderate/Poor Interest-Major Fit, 2013
| Major Area | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| Health Sciences and Technologies | 32% | 14% |
| Social Sciences and Law | 12% | 9% |
| Education | 9% | 5% |
| Business | 8% | 14% |
| Health Administration and Assisting | 8% | 2% |
| Arts: Visual and Performing | 7% | 7% |
| Sciences: Biological and Physical | 6% | 5% |
| Community, Family, and Personal Services | 5% | 4% |
| Engineering | 3% | 17% |
| Communications | 2% | 2% |
| English and Foreign Languages | 2% | 0.8% |
| Ag. and Natural Resources Conservation | 2% | 3% |
| Computer Science and Mathematics | 1% | 6% |
| Architecture | 1% | 3% |
| Philosophy, Religion, and Theology | 0.5% | 0.9% |
| Engineering Technology and Drafting | 0.4% | 4% |
| Area, Ethnic, and Multidisciplinary Studies | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Repair, Production, and Construction | 0.2% | 3% |
| Major Area | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| Health Sciences and Technologies | 8% | 7% |
| Social Sciences and Law | 4% | 3% |
| Education | 19% | 13% |
| Business | 17% | 19% |
| Health Administration and Assisting | 9% | 6% |
| Arts: Visual and Performing | 4% | 2% |
| Sciences: Biological and Physical | 1% | 1% |
| Community, Family, and Personal Services | 13% | 14% |
| Engineering | 1% | 2% |
| Communications | 3% | 3% |
| English and Foreign Languages | 3% | 2% |
| Ag. and Natural Resources Conservation | 2% | 6% |
| Computer Science and Mathematics | 7% | 8% |
| Architecture | 1% | 1% |
| Philosophy, Religion, and Theology | 2% | 1% |
| Engineering Technology and Drafting | 3% | 3% |
| Area, Ethnic, and Multidisciplinary Studies | 3% | 3% |
| Repair, Production, and Construction | 2% | 5% |
Graph reads: 17% of males from the ACT-tested high school graduating class of 2013 who had moderate or poor fit between their choice of planned major and their interests selected a planned major in the area of Engineering.
Note: Based on 42% of the ACT-tested high school graduating class of 2013 who reported gender, selected a planned major when they registered for the ACT, completed the ACT Interest Inventory, and had an Interest-Major Fit Index score in the ranges of poor fit or moderate fit.
- As this chart shows, if students entered college majors that were the best fit with their interests, there would be greater gender balance for these students across the 18 planned major areas.
As mentioned in an earlier section of this report, at the time of ACT registration, 15% of students were undecided about their planned major choice and 6% did not provide a planned major.
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates by Best-Fitting Major Area and Undecided/Missing Planned Major Status, 2013
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates by Best-Fitting Major Area and Undecided/Missing Planned Major Status, 2013
| Major Area | Undecided | Missing |
|---|---|---|
| Business | 15% | 17% |
| Education | 14% | 12% |
| Community, Family, and Personal Services | 12% | 10% |
| Computer Science and Mathematics | 9% | 13% |
| Health Sciences and Technologies | 8% | 5% |
| Health Administration and Assisting | 6% | 3% |
| Arts: Visual and Performing | 4% | 5% |
| Repair, Production, and Construction | 4% | 8% |
| Social Sciences and Law | 4% | 2% |
| Ag. and Natural Resources Conservation | 4% | 5% |
| Engineering Technology and Drafting | 4% | 6% |
| Communications | 3% | 4% |
| English and Foreign Languages | 3% | 2% |
| Area, Ethnic, and Multidisciplinary Studies | 3% | 2% |
| Sciences: Biological and Physical | 2% | 2% |
| Engineering | 2% | 2% |
| Philosophy, Religion, and Theology | 2% | 1% |
| Architecture | 1% | 3% |
Graph reads: 3% of the ACT-tested high school graduating class of 2013 who were undecided about their choice of planned major have an interest profile that is the best fit with a major in the area of Communications.
Note: Based on 14% of the ACT-tested high school graduating class of 2013 who were either undecided about their choice of planned major or did not provide a planned major when they registered for the ACT and completed the ACT Interest Inventory.
- For both groups of students, 50% or more have interests that are the best fit with a major in the areas of Business; Education; Community, Family, and Personal Services; and Computer Science and Mathematics.
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates by Best-Fitting Major Area and Gender Among Students with Undecided/Missing Planned Major Status, 2013
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates by Best-Fitting Major Area and Gender Among Students with Undecided/Missing Planned Major Status, 2013
| Major Area | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| Education | 17% | 10% |
| Business | 15% | 16% |
| Community, Family, and Personal Services | 11% | 12% |
| Health Sciences and Technologies | 8% | 6% |
| Computer Science and Mathematics | 7% | 11% |
| Health Administration and Assisting | 6% | 5% |
| Arts: Visual and Performing | 6% | 3% |
| Communications | 4% | 3% |
| Social Sciences and Law | 4% | 3% |
| English and Foreign Languages | 4% | 2% |
| Engineering Technology and Drafting | 3% | 5% |
| Area, Ethnic, and Multidisciplinary Studies | 3% | 2% |
| Repair, Production, and Construction | 2% | 7% |
| Sciences: Biological and Physical | 2% | 2% |
| Philosophy, Religion, and Theology | 2% | 1% |
| Ag. and Natural Resources Conservation | 2% | 6% |
| Architecture | 1% | 2% |
| Engineering | 1% | 3% |
Graph reads: 10% of males from the ACT-tested high school graduating class of 2013 who were undecided about or were missing their choice of planned major have an interest profile that is the best fit with a major in the area of Education.
Note: Based on 14% of the ACT-tested high school graduating class of 2013 who reported gender, were either undecided about their choice of planned major or did not provide a planned major when they registered for the ACT, and completed the ACT Interest Inventory.
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- A notable share of females have interests that are the best fit with a major in the areas of Education; Business; and Community, Family, and Personal Services.
- A notable share of males have interests that are the best fit with a major in the areas of Business; Community, Family, and Personal Services; and Computer Science and Mathematics.