
A good education is a golden ticket to a better future for many Americans. College may be loaded with long sleepless nights in the library cramming for finals or writing that dreaded term paper, but each major can lead to a job that makes getting up in the morning a little easier.
Educational attainment across the country varies significantly by state. Between 2011 and 2021, the percentage of adults over 25 who have earned a bachelor's degree or professional degree has increased from 30.4% to 37.9%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's most recent data.2 Majors like foreign language, film, performing arts, nutrition and computer science have Americans the most curious—and can you blame them?
One college degree that's all over our results is foreign language, notably most popular in Colorado, Kentucky, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina and Wyoming. As the United States is often referred to as a melting pot, bilingualism here has risen steadily for years.3 Although English is unquestionably the country's dominant language, Spanish is the second most common language spoken in the U.S.4 Places like Colorado and Nevada have a significant Hispanic population.5
The Spanish were the first Europeans to settle in what is now Nevada and Colorado. According to Colorado History, 20% of Colorado residents are Hispanic, and that percentage increases in Denver (where one in three residents are Hispanic) and the San Luis Valley (where half the population is Hispanic).6 Given our nation’s history with Hispanic cultures, it’s no surprise that foreign language would land at the top of the most popular list.
Film studies were the most popular college degree search in five states. Famously known for the star-studded Los Angeles, it's hardly a shock that film studies dominated the search engines in California. Growing up in the center of movie magic can spark a genuine interest in a movie production career.
However, as the film industry expands into outlying states like Idaho, Michigan and South Dakota, Hollywood is becoming both place and a state of mind for prospective students. From the rolling mountains to quaint towns to brisk weather, each state's beauty draws movie producers to take in the glorious landscapes. For instance, the feel-good comedy, Napoleon Dynamite, was filmed in Preston and Franklin, Idaho.7
In today's media-centric world, Georgia, Maine, Ohio and Pennsylvania’s fingers are dancing across the keyboard to inquire about the performing arts—and for a good reason! These four artsy states have everything an art lover needs. The thriving music industry of Atlanta has produced a laundry list of award-winning talents, making it a jam-packed musical option.8
Ohio and Pennsylvania, home to some of the most notable art museums, allow students to revel in classic works.9 At the same time, Maine's rocky shores and picturesque forests have inspired countless American artists for 200 years.10
Alabama, Delaware, Louisiana and Tennessee are looking to cook up a healthy diet for their search engines with nutrition as the most searched college degree. Professionals in this field are imperative to our society, as more than 80% of Americans’ diets are low in vegetables, fruits and dairy.11 And Louisiana (45%), Alabama (44.9%), Tennessee (38.9%) and Delaware (35.4%) are some of the top-ranking states to eat one or fewer servings a day, making the demand for dietitians crucial.12
Although Silicon Valley is widely known as the epicenter for global technology companies, there are plenty of opportunities to move out of California. States on the East Coast, such as Illinois, Maryland and Pennsylvania are among the top 10 best states for IT jobs, drawing the attention of recent graduates with IT degrees.13
We’re living in the digital age where many aspects of our lives are driven by technology, making it one of the most popular college degrees to earn in the world. Computer scientists solve complex real-world problems from theorizing to designing and applying knowledge to programs.