Boston, October 17, 2025
News Summary
In 2025, student interest is shifting towards technology and healthcare majors as colleges in Massachusetts face financial constraints leading to program cuts. Data reveals an increase in degrees in computer sciences and projected growth in healthcare jobs. However, enrollment pauses and budget challenges prompt institutions to reassess low-enrollment programs. The job market’s demands are reshaping educational trends, emphasizing career-oriented options and indicating a decline in traditional liberal arts degrees.
Boston — Higher education in 2025 is seeing growing student interest in technology and healthcare majors while colleges face tightening finances that are forcing program cuts and enrollment pauses. New data show rapid increases in degrees and shifting employer demand, and several Massachusetts institutions are already reducing or eliminating low-enrollment programs as they reassess program profitability.
Key findings and immediate implications
The Scholarship Institute collected data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and National Center on Education Statistics regarding popular majors. The job market in 2025 is being reshaped by new technologies, with artificial intelligence, data analytics, and healthcare driving changes. Occupations in healthcare and technology are projected to grow rapidly from 2024 to 2034. Forecasts may not be guarantees, as the job market is susceptible to rapid changes.
A study by the National Center for Education Statistics showed a 41.8% increase in degrees completed in computer and information sciences from 2018 to 2023. Computer science roles typically offer starting salaries ranging from $80,000 to $115,000. Fields in healthcare are also seeing growth, correlating with increased salary forecasts for jobs in these areas.
At the same time, majors such as social sciences and communications are experiencing declines in popularity. A Forbes analysis noted that 52% of the 2024 college graduates worked in jobs not requiring higher education, underscoring continued misalignment between degree choices and job outcomes.
State-level program changes in Massachusetts
Massachusetts colleges are among those making immediate program changes to cope with budget gaps and changing demand. Berklee College of Music plans to phase out its contemporary theater degree amid financial struggles. Clark University is discontinuing majors in Ancient Civilization and Studio Art due to a budget-consolidation plan. Boston University’s satellite master’s programs in social work are being shut down, citing insufficient student enrollment. Lesley University has stopped enrollment in its creative writing master’s program, leading to protests from students. A shared trend across Massachusetts colleges is the elimination of low-enrollment programs amid budget constraints.
Massachusetts higher education institutions are increasingly compelled to analyze program profitability in light of financial pressures. Economic factors have soured lending conditions for higher education institutions. Colleges are also facing challenges with international student enrollment and changing regulations on student loans. Legislative measures in several states demand that universities cut low-enrollment degrees, intensifying scrutiny over program viability.
Campus-level enrollment shifts and popular majors
Boston College reports finance as the most popular major for the third consecutive year, followed by economics, biology, and political science. The computer science major rose to sixth place in popularity at Boston College, while communications fell to seventh. The business analytics major at Boston College saw a 325% increase in enrollment over the past decade.
The overall trend reflects a shift towards vocational and career-oriented education in response to labor market needs. A decline in liberal arts programs is expected due to a rising emphasis on career readiness and job prospects. The Princeton Review recommends researching different major options, considering personal interests and career trajectories before making a decision.
Context on labor-market drivers
Changes identified in a 2025 World Economic Forum study — including technological advancement, economic uncertainty, and demographic changes — are cited as major influences on shifting job demand. Employers increasingly seek graduates with skills in data analytics, computer science, and healthcare-related fields, while degree programs that do not align directly with clear career pathways have come under pressure.
What this means for students and colleges
Students considering majors are advised to weigh long-term employability and salary prospects alongside personal interests. Colleges are being pushed to prioritize programs that match labor-market demand or demonstrate clear financial sustainability. Forecasts and projections are useful planning tools, but they are not guarantees and can change rapidly as technology, policy, and global events evolve.
FAQ
Which majors are growing in popularity?
The job market in 2025 is being reshaped by new technologies, with artificial intelligence, data analytics, and healthcare driving changes.
Which data sources inform these trends?
The Scholarship Institute collected data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and National Center on Education Statistics regarding popular majors.
What has changed in computer and information sciences degrees?
A study by the National Center for Education Statistics showed a 41.8% increase in degrees completed in computer and information sciences from 2018 to 2023.
What are typical starting salaries for computer science roles?
Computer science roles typically offer starting salaries ranging from $80,000 to $115,000.
Are any traditional majors losing popularity?
Conversely, majors such as social sciences and communications are experiencing declines in popularity.
How many graduates work in jobs that do not require degrees?
A Forbes analysis noted that 52% of the 2024 college graduates worked in jobs not requiring higher education.
Which specific program changes are happening in Massachusetts?
Berklee College of Music plans to phase out its contemporary theater degree amid financial struggles.
Clark University is discontinuing majors in Ancient Civilization and Studio Art due to a budget-consolidation plan.
Boston University’s satellite master’s programs in social work are being shut down, citing insufficient student enrollment.
Lesley University has stopped enrollment in its creative writing master’s program, leading to protests from students.
A shared trend across Massachusetts colleges is the elimination of low-enrollment programs amid budget constraints.
What is happening at Boston College?
Boston College reports finance as the most popular major for the third consecutive year, followed by economics, biology, and political science.
The computer science major rose to sixth place in popularity at Boston College, while communications fell to seventh.
The business analytics major at Boston College saw a 325% increase in enrollment over the past decade.
How should students approach choosing a major?
The Princeton Review recommends researching different major options, considering personal interests and career trajectories before making a decision.
Quick reference table
| Trend or Fact | Key detail | Scope / Source |
|---|---|---|
| Growth in tech degrees | A study by the National Center for Education Statistics showed a 41.8% increase in degrees completed in computer and information sciences from 2018 to 2023. | Nationwide / National Center for Education Statistics |
| Starting salaries | Computer science roles typically offer starting salaries ranging from $80,000 to $115,000. | Nationwide / Salary data |
| Job market drivers | The job market in 2025 is being reshaped by new technologies, with artificial intelligence, data analytics, and healthcare driving changes. | Nationwide / Labor-market analysis |
| Massachusetts program cuts | Berklee College of Music plans to phase out its contemporary theater degree amid financial struggles; Clark University is discontinuing majors in Ancient Civilization and Studio Art due to a budget-consolidation plan; Boston University’s satellite master’s programs in social work are being shut down, citing insufficient student enrollment; Lesley University has stopped enrollment in its creative writing master’s program, leading to protests from students. | State-level / Massachusetts colleges |
| Campus popularity (Boston College) | Boston College reports finance as the most popular major for the third consecutive year, followed by economics, biology, and political science. The computer science major rose to sixth place in popularity at Boston College, while communications fell to seventh. The business analytics major at Boston College saw a 325% increase in enrollment over the past decade. | State-level / Boston College |
| Employment alignment | A Forbes analysis noted that 52% of the 2024 college graduates worked in jobs not requiring higher education. | Nationwide / Employment analysis |
| Projected job growth | Occupations in healthcare and technology are projected to grow rapidly from 2024 to 2034. | Nationwide / Labor projections |
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Additional Resources
- Boston College Heights
- Boston Globe
- MassLive
- Fortune
- Higher Ed Dive
- Wikipedia: Job Market
- Google Search: Higher Education Trends
- Google Scholar: Labor Market Trends
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Higher Education
- Google News: Financial troubles in colleges
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