One-third of Iowa State's undergraduate students this spring claim one of 10 majors. Mechanical engineering, kinesiology and health, and animal science hold the top three spots, respectively, as they have for numerous years.
Additionally, there are 1,192 freshmen and sophomores listed in "pre-business" -- not a degree-granting major but the holding place for a significant group of undergraduates. Top-enrollment majors were compiled for Inside by the registrar's office.
The top majors vary significantly in a gender breakout. The top two enrolled majors for female undergraduates -- animal science and elementary education -- don't crack the top 10 among males. The top male-enrolled major (and top overall), mechanical engineering, snuck in at No. 10 on the female undergraduates' list.
Among this spring's 24,482 undergraduate students, 56% (13,736) identify as male and 44% (10,746) identify as female.
Spring 2021: Top 10 undergraduate majors*
|
Place |
All students |
Female students |
Male students |
|
1 |
Mechanical engineering |
Animal science |
Mechanical engineering |
|
2 |
Kinesiology and health |
Elementary education |
Aerospace engineering |
|
3 |
Animal science 884 |
Kinesiology and health |
Software engineering 617 |
|
4 |
Aerospace engineering |
Psychology |
Computer science |
|
5 |
Software engineering |
Biology |
Finance |
|
6 |
Elementary education |
Apparel merchandising and design |
Computer engineering |
|
7 |
Psychology |
Marketing |
Electrical engineering 414 |
|
8 |
Biology |
Event management |
Kinesiology and health |
|
9 |
Marketing |
Animal ecology |
Civil engineering |
|
10 |
Computer science |
Mechanical engineering |
Marketing |
|
Pre-business |
1,192 |
374 |
818 |
*Reflects students' first major only
