Top 20: What our undergraduates are studying

Roughly one-third of this spring's undergraduate students are concentrated in 10 majors. And about one-fifth of undergraduates are enrolled in the next set of 10 majors. Within this spring's 28,334 undergraduates, 14,070 -- just under 50 percent -- are enrolled somewhere in that group of 20 undergraduate majors. The numbers are part of spring enrollment data posted by the registrar's office.

With the exception of Design, which limits enrollments to meet accreditation requirements, each of the undergraduate colleges is represented more than once among the 20 largest majors. Mechanical engineering (2,054 students), kinesiology (1,119) and animal science (938) remain the largest undergraduate programs by enrollment.

Not majors, but large groups

Additionally, there are 1,750 undergraduates (including 582 freshmen and 666 sophomores) this spring listed in "pre-business" and 486 students (including 279 freshmen) in the "open option" in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The two categories capture significant student numbers, but are not degree-granting majors.

Two other degree programs have significant student numbers in the "pre" category, architecture at 190 and computer science at 231 students. If combined with undergraduates fully admitted into the degree programs, the tallies rise to 487 and 506 students, respectively.

Top 20 undergraduate majors, by enrollment

Major

Students

1. Mechanical engineering

2,054

2. Kinesiology and health

1,119

3. Animal science

938

4. Elementary education

768

5. Aerospace engineering

761

6. Chemical engineering

718

7. Psychology

709

8. Computer engineering

693

9. Biology (AGLS and LAS)

677

10. Civil engineering

665

Subtotal

9,102

 

 

11. Marketing

581

12. Software engineering (ENG and LAS)

573

13. Electrical engineering

562

14. Industrial engineering

534

15. Finance

531

16. Agricultural business

486

17. Apparel, merchandising and design

472

18. Accounting

451

19. Supply chain management

396

20. Agricultural studies

382

Subtotal

4,968

Total

14,070

Spring semester 2017