Certainty of Planned Major Choice
When students select a planned major, they can also indicate the extent to which they are sure of their choice (i.e., very sure, fairly sure, or not sure).
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates Who Were Very Sure of Their Planned Major Choice by ACT Composite Score and Gender, 2013
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates Who Were Very Sure of Their Planned Major Choice by ACT Composite Score and Gender, 2013
| ACT Composite Score Range |
Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| 1–15 | 56% | 48% |
| 16–19 | 50% | 41% |
| 20–23 | 43% | 35% |
| 24–27 | 37% | 31% |
| 28–32 | 31% | 29% |
| 33–36 | 25% | 25% |
Graph reads: 31% of males from the ACT-tested graduating class of 2013 with an ACT Composite score in the range of 24–27 indicated that they were very sure of their planned major choice.
Note: Based on 79% of the ACT-tested high school graduating class of 2013 who reported gender, selected a planned major when they registered for the ACT, and indicated their level of certainty of their choice of planned major.
- Among students who selected a planned major, 41% indicated that they were very sure of their choice, whereas 45% were fairly sure, and 15% were not sure.
- For both females and males, as ACT Composite score increases, the percentage of students who were very sure of their planned major choice decreases.
- The gender gap in the percentage of students who were very sure of their planned major choice diminishes as ACT Composite score increases.
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates Who Were Very Sure of Their Planned Major Choice by Parent Education Level and Gender, 2013
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates Who Were Very Sure of Their Planned Major Choice by Parent Education Level and Gender, 2013
| Parent Education Level | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| No College | 51% | 45% |
| Some College | 50% | 41% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 40% | 34% |
| Graduate Degree | 36% | 30% |
Graph reads: 36% of females from the ACT-tested graduating class of 2013 whose parents earned a graduate degree indicated that they were very sure of their planned major choice.
Note: Based on 69% of the ACT-tested high school graduating class of 2013 who reported gender and parent education level, selected a planned major when they registered for the ACT, and indicated their level of certainty of their choice of planned major.
- As parent education level increases, the percentage of students who were very sure of their planned major choice decreases.
- Within each parent education level, a greater percentage of females than males were very sure of their planned major choice.
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates Who Were Very Sure of Their Planned Major Choice by Degree Plans and Gender, 2013
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates Who Were Very Sure of Their Planned Major Choice by Degree Plans and Gender, 2013
| Degree Plans | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| Less than Bachelor’s Degree | 52% | 45% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 43% | 35% |
| Graduate Degree | 45% | 38% |
Graph reads: 35% of males from the ACT-tested graduating class of 2013 who planned to earn a bachelor’s degree indicated that they were very sure of their planned major choice.
Note: Based on 73% of the ACT-tested high school graduating class of 2013 who reported gender and degree plans, selected a planned major when they registered for the ACT, and indicated their level of certainty of their planned major.
- Compared to students who planned to earn a bachelor’s or graduate degree, a larger percentage of those students who planned to earn an associate’s degree or undergraduate certificate were very sure of their planned major choice.
- Among students in each type of degree plan, a greater percentage of females than males were very sure of their planned major choice.
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates Who Were Very Sure of Their Planned Major Choice by Planned Major Area and Gender, 2013
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates Who Were Very Sure of Their Planned Major Choice by Planned Major Area and Gender, 2013
| Planned Major | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| Repair, Production, and Construction | 53% | 48% |
| Health Sciences and Technologies | 52% | 43% |
| Arts: Visual and Performing | 47% | 50% |
| Community, Family, and Personal Services | 47% | 51% |
| Health Administration and Assisting | 47% | 38% |
| Education | 45% | 38% |
| Ag. and Natural Resources Conservation | 44% | 34% |
| Social Sciences and Law | 43% | 38% |
| Philosophy, Religion, and Theology | 37% | 45% |
| Architecture | 35% | 36% |
| English and Foreign Languages | 35% | 34% |
| Sciences: Biological and Physical | 35% | 31% |
| Engineering Technology and Drafting | 34% | 37% |
| Communications | 32% | 33% |
| Computer Science and Mathematics | 32% | 38% |
| Business | 31% | 26% |
| Engineering | 30% | 32% |
| Area, Ethnic, and Multidisciplinary Studies | 23% | 28% |
Graph reads: 30% of females from the ACT-tested graduating class of 2013 who selected a planned major in the area of Engineering indicated that they were very sure of their planned major choice.
Note: Based on 79% of the ACT-tested high school graduating class of 2013 who reported gender, selected a planned major when they registered for the ACT, and indicated their level of certainty of their planned major.
- The percentage of students who were very sure of their planned major choice varies considerably by their planned major area.
- More than half of all female students who selected a planned major in the areas of Repair, Production, and Construction; or Health Sciences and Technologies were very sure of their planned major choice.
- 50% or more of male students who selected a planned major in the areas of Visual and Performing Arts; or Community, Family, and Personal Services were very sure of their planned major.