Recent college graduates may face some challenges finding work in this low-hire job market. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the U.S. economy only added 181-thousand jobs in 2025, which may sound like a lot until you consider there were 1.46 million added in 2024. The 2025 Graduate Employability Report from edtech company Cengage Group finds that this may be the toughest entry-level job market in five years, as only 30% of grads were getting jobs in their field and over 75% of employers reported hiring the same number or fewer entry-level employees as the year before.
So, which bachelor’s degrees are most attractive to those companies hiring recent grads? New research has the answers.
- The Winter 2026 Salary Survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers asked 150 member organizations which bachelor’s degrees are most in-demand for them and how many of them plan to hire grads with each degree from the class of 2026.
- Finance tops the list, with 61.3% of firms planning to hire grads with that bachelor’s degree.
- Computer science grads stand to make the most money, as the overall starting salary for that degree is $81,535.
The 10 Most In-Demand Bachelor’s Degrees
- Finance
- Mechanical Engineering
- Computer Science
- Accounting
- Business Administration/Management
- Electrical Engineering
- Information Sciences and Systems
- Logistics/Supply Chain
- Marketing
- Human Resources
Source: CNBC
Scott's Thoughts:
- Is it too late to go back and get a degree in finance or computer science?! Well, it is for me!
- The only concern I would have is how many of these could be replaced by A.I.?
- Don't forget trade school! AI can't come fix my sink!