Major as Most Important College Choice Factor
When students register for the ACT, they can rank in order of importance up to seven factors (e.g., location, tuition, enrollment size) that were considered during their college selection process. Approximately half of all students who ranked the factors selected the availability of a college major as the most important factor in selecting a college.
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates Who Indicated Availability of College Major as Most Important Factor in Choosing a College by ACT Composite Score and Gender, 2013
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates Who Indicated Availability of College Major as Most Important Factor in Choosing a College by ACT Composite Score and Gender, 2013
| ACT Composite Score Range |
Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| 1–15 | 41% | 37% |
| 16–19 | 46% | 43% |
| 20–23 | 53% | 50% |
| 24–27 | 57% | 57% |
| 28–32 | 61% | 64% |
| 33–36 | 65% | 69% |
Graph reads: 53% of females from the ACT-tested high school graduating class of 2013 with an ACT Composite score in the range of 20–23 indicated that availability of college major was the most important factor in selecting a college.
Note: Based on 70% of the ACT-tested high school graduating class of 2013 who reported gender, selected a planned major when they registered for the ACT, and ranked in order of importance at least 1 of the 7 college choice factors listed on the ACT registration form.
- The percentage of students who indicated availability of college major as the most important factor in choosing a college increases with ACT Composite score.
- Gender differences in the share of students who indicated availability of college major as the most important factor in choosing a college are evident at the upper and lower ranges of the score scale
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates Who Indicated Availability of College Major as Most Important Factor in Choosing a College by Parent Education Level and Gender, 2013
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates Who Indicated Availability of College Major as Most Important Factor in Choosing a College by Parent Education Level and Gender, 2013
| Parent Education Level | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| No College | 45% | 42% |
| Some College | 51% | 48% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 54% | 53% |
| Graduate Degree | 56% | 56% |
Graph reads: 56% of males from the ACT-tested high school graduating class of 2013 whose parents earned a graduate degree indicated that availability of college major was the most important factor in selecting a college.
Note: Based on 67% 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 ranked in order of importance at least 1 of the 7 college choice factors listed on the ACT registration form.
- As parent education level increases, the percentage of students who indicated availability of college major as the most important factor in choosing a college increases.
- For students whose parents earned less than a bachelor’s degree, a greater percentage of females than males indicated availability of college major as the most important factor in choosing a college.
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates Who Indicated Availability of College Major as Most Important Factor in Choosing a College by Degree Plans and Gender, 2013
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates Who Indicated Availability of College Major as Most Important Factor in Choosing a College by Degree Plans and Gender, 2013
| Degree Plans | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| Less than Bachelor’s Degree | 41% | 39% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 47% | 46% |
| Graduate Degree | 57% | 58% |
Graph reads: 41% of females from the ACT-tested high school graduating class of 2013 who planned to earn less than a bachelor’s degree indicated that availability of college major was the most important factor in selecting a college.
Note: Based on 69% 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 ranked in order of importance at least 1 of the 7 college choice factors listed on the ACT registration form.
- As degree plans increase, the percentage of students who indicated availability of college major as the most important factor in choosing a college also increases.
- For students who plan to earn less than a bachelor’s degree, a slightly greater percentage of females than males indicated availability of college major as the most important factor in choosing a college.
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates Who Indicated Availability of College Major as Most Important Factor in Choosing a College by Certainty of Planned Major Choice and Gender, 2013
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates Who Indicated Availability of College Major as Most Important Factor in Choosing a College by Certainty of Planned Major Choice and Gender, 2013
| Certainty of Planned Major Choice | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| Not Sure | 41% | 40% |
| Fairly Sure | 49% | 49% |
| Very Sure | 56% | 55% |
Graph reads: 49% of males from the ACT-tested high school graduating class of 2013 who were fairly sure of their choice of major indicated that availability of college major was the most important factor in selecting a college.
Note: Based on 70% of the ACT-tested high school graduating class of 2013 who reported gender, selected a planned major when they registered for the ACT, indicated their level of certainty of their choice of planned major, and ranked in order of importance at least 1 of the 7 college choice factors listed on the ACT registration form.
- As certainty of planned major choice increases, the percentage of students who indicated availability of college major as the most important factor in choosing a college increases.
- There was no appreciable gender gap by certainty of planned major choice. Female and male responses differed by one percentage point or less, in favor of females.
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates Who Indicated Availability of College Major as Most Important Factor in Choosing a College by Interest-Major Fit and Gender, 2013
Percent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates Who Indicated Availability of College Major as Most Important Factor in Choosing a College by Interest-Major Fit and Gender, 2013
| Interest-Major Fit | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| Poor | 47% | 46% |
| Moderate | 51% | 50% |
| Good | 55% | 54% |
Graph reads: 55% of females from the ACT-tested high school graduating class of 2013 who selected a major that is a good fit with their interests indicated that availability of college major was the most important factor in selecting a college.
Note: Based on 64% 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 ranked in order of importance at least 1 of the 7 college choice factors listed on the ACT registration form.
- As the level of fit between students’ planned major choices and their interests increases, so does the percentage of students who indicated availability of college major as the most important factor in choosing a college.
- There was no appreciable gender gap by Interest-Major Fit in the share of students who indicated availability of college major as the most important factor. Female and male responses differed by one percentage point, in favor of females.
Percentage of ACT-Tested High School Graduates Who Indicated Availability of College Major as Most Important Factor in Choosing a College by Planned Major Area and Gender, 2013
Percentage of ACT-Tested High School Graduates Who Indicated Availability of College Major as Most Important Factor in Choosing a College by Planned Major Area and Gender, 2013
| Planned Major | Female | Male |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering | 63% | 58% |
| Ag. and Natural Resources Conservation | 59% | 49% |
| Architecture | 57% | 50% |
| Sciences: Biological and Physical | 57% | 57% |
| Health Sciences and Technologies | 55% | 53% |
| Arts: Visual and Performing | 54% | 53% |
| Repair, Production, and Construction | 54% | 44% |
| Engineering Technology and Drafting | 50% | 47% |
| English and Foreign Languages | 50% | 49% |
| Social Sciences and Law | 48% | 47% |
| Computer Science and Mathematics | 48% | 52% |
| Communications | 47% | 45% |
| Community, Family, and Personal Services | 45% | 44% |
| Education | 44% | 40% |
| Area, Ethnic, and Multidisciplinary Studies | 44% | 42% |
| Philosophy, Religion, and Theology | 44% | 49% |
| Health Administration and Assisting | 43% | 42% |
| Business | 42% | 40% |
Graph reads: 40% of males from the ACT-tested high school graduating class of 2013 who selected a planned major in the area of Business indicated that availability of college major was the most important factor in selecting a college.
Note: Based on 70% of the ACT-tested high school graduating class of 2013 who reported gender, selected a planned major when they registered for the ACT, and ranked in order of importance at least 1 of the 7 college choice factors listed on the ACT registration form.
Related Links
- Students who selected a planned major in the area of Engineering were most likely to indicate availability of college major as the most important factor in choosing a college.
- Across most majors, a greater share of females than males indicated availability of college major as the most important factor in choosing a college.
- The largest gender discrepancies in favor of females are in the areas of Agriculture and National Resources Conservation; and Repair, Production, and Construction.
- The only majors showing gender discrepancies in favor of males are in the areas of Computer Sciences and Mathematics; and Philosophy, Religion, and Theology.