2027 Best Majors With Scholarship Options
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Choosing a major is harder when a promising career path comes with uncertain scholarship funding. That trade-off matters: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a 2024 median annual wage of $93,600 for registered nurses, but a nursing degree also involves clinical training and, for practice, licensure.
This guide compares majors by scholarship opportunities, career fit, and requirements - not salary alone. It is especially useful if you are weighing a bachelor's degree against a career-changing master's program and want to know which funding offers are worth pursuing.
Key Things You Should Know
- Choose a major that fits your goal, then compare institutional awards, field-specific scholarships, and service-based funding; no major guarantees an award.
- The maximum federal Pell Grant was $7,395 for 2025-26, but Pell Grants generally support eligible undergraduates, not most master's students.
- BLS projects 15% employment growth for software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers from 2024 to 2034, but technical preparation and hiring competition still matter.
Top 10 Best Majors With Scholarship Options
Business Programs
Business majors include accounting, finance, management, and marketing; master's options include the MBA and specialized accounting or analytics degrees. Accounting offers a defined occupational direction, while an MBA often serves professionals seeking advancement rather than entry-level preparation. Look for school-funded merit awards, employer tuition assistance, and scholarships tied to a concentration or professional association. Compare award eligibility with total program cost: an MBA scholarship may still leave substantial tuition and fees. Ask whether an accounting program provides the coursework needed for CPA eligibility in your state; a degree alone does not confer the license.
Healthcare Programs
Healthcare administration, public health, and health informatics suit students interested in care systems without necessarily providing a clinical license. Master of Public Health and healthcare administration programs may offer institutional scholarships, assistantships, or employer support; availability varies by school and enrollment status. Public health programs may require a practicum, while informatics programs may expect data skills. Choose a clinical major instead if your goal requires patient-care credentials. Before accepting a service-based award, confirm where you must work afterward and what happens if you cannot complete the commitment.
Information Technology Programs
Information technology (IT) focuses on operating, securing, and improving computing systems. Master's programs may emphasize cybersecurity, cloud systems, or IT management; applicants from other fields may need foundation courses. Universities, employers, and cybersecurity-focused organizations may offer funding, but many scholarships restrict eligible programs or student populations. An IT degree is useful for systems-oriented goals, whereas computer science may better fit someone seeking deeper algorithmic training. Compare hands-on labs, project work, and certification preparation rather than assuming a scholarship makes one curriculum the better match.
Computer Science Programs
Computer science emphasizes programming, algorithms, software design, and computing theory. Research-oriented master's students may find assistantships or fellowships; course-only professional programs can have different funding policies. Some programs admit career changers with required prerequisite courses, which can add time and cost. Prioritize a curriculum with substantial projects and relevant electives in areas such as artificial intelligence or security. A scholarship with strict full-time enrollment rules may be less valuable to a student who must keep working, so check the award's conditions alongside the program format.
Nursing Programs
Nursing pathways differ sharply: a prelicensure program prepares students for initial RN eligibility, while many MSN programs require an existing RN license. Nursing scholarships may come from schools, hospitals, professional groups, or service-based programs such as the federal Nurse Corps Scholarship Program. Service awards can cover substantial costs but impose postgraduation obligations. Online coursework does not eliminate required clinical placements. Verify nursing accreditation, your state board's rules, clinical-site arrangements, and whether the award applies to your exact degree and enrollment status before comparing offers.
Psychology Programs
A psychology major can support work in research or human services, but a general bachelor's or master's degree does not independently qualify someone to practice as a licensed psychologist. Research-focused graduate students may encounter assistantships; professional counseling and psychology tracks have different funding and licensing rules. Ask whether a scholarship covers required practica and whether the program meets the rules of the state where you intend to practice. If your goal is counseling, compare counseling degrees directly rather than assuming any psychology master's provides the same pathway.
Education Programs
Education majors can lead toward teaching, curriculum work, or school leadership, depending on the degree. At the master's level, some programs prepare already licensed teachers for advancement; others offer an initial-licensure route. School scholarships and district tuition assistance may help, and federal TEACH Grants can support eligible students, although they are grants rather than scholarships and carry service conditions. Check state approval, student-teaching requirements, and whether an online program accepts placements where you live. Do not assume a master's in education automatically qualifies you for teacher certification.
Criminal Justice Programs
Criminal justice examines law enforcement, corrections, policy, and the justice system. A master's may suit experienced professionals pursuing policy or administrative work, but many entry-level roles do not require one. Institutional and public-service scholarships may be available; eligibility is usually more important than the major's name. Investigate an employer's hiring standards before investing, because background checks, physical requirements, academies, or additional training may apply. Students interested in legal practice should compare law-school requirements rather than treating a criminal justice degree as a substitute.
Engineering Programs
Engineering includes civil, electrical, mechanical, and other disciplines with distinct coursework and career outcomes. Master's funding may take the form of research assistantships, fellowships, or employer support, often depending on the department and whether the degree is research-based. Students entering from a different major may need substantial prerequisites. For U.S. professional engineering licensure, examine state board rules and the accreditation of your qualifying undergraduate degree; a master's alone does not resolve every eligibility requirement. Compare lab access and project opportunities as carefully as the scholarship amount.
Social Work Programs
A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) supports some entry-level paths, while a Master of Social Work (MSW) is commonly part of the route to clinical practice. Eligible BSW graduates may qualify for advanced-standing MSW programs, but schools set their own admission and credit rules. Scholarships may target community service, specific populations, or workforce needs; assistantships are another possibility. Confirm Council on Social Work Education accreditation, field-placement schedules, and your state's supervised-practice and exam requirements. A funded program that cannot accommodate required placements may still be impractical.
What Are the Best Majors With Scholarship Opportunities?
There is no universally best major for scholarships. The strongest choice is a field that fits your intended work and has funding you can actually use at your degree level. Scholarships are awards that generally do not require repayment when their conditions are met; assistantships exchange work for compensation or tuition support, while service programs require qualifying work after graduation.
These broad comparisons show where funding searches differ. They are starting points, not promises that every college offers an award.
| Major or field | Funding sources worth checking | Important trade-off |
| Nursing, education, social work | Institutional awards, employer support, service-based programs | Clinical work, student teaching, or service obligations |
| Engineering, computer science | Department scholarships, research assistantships, employer support | Prerequisites and limited funding for some course-only master's programs |
| Business, IT | Merit awards, professional associations, employer tuition assistance | Program costs and award restrictions can vary widely |
| Psychology, public health, criminal justice | Institutional funding, research roles, mission-specific awards | Career goals may require further education or credentials |
For a shorter route into work, compare relevant certificates and 2 year online degrees that pay well with the bachelor's or master's degree your goal actually requires. A shorter credential is not a substitute for a licensed profession's required education.
Computer science, engineering, nursing, and accounting can connect to occupations with strong earnings potential, but the best return depends on the job you seek, your starting experience, and what you pay. Occupational medians describe workers in those jobs - not the expected earnings of everyone who completes a particular major.
The BLS figures below provide salary context for two possible paths. They should be weighed against the additional preparation each role requires.
| Occupation | 2024 U.S. median annual wage | Education-to-career consideration |
| Software developers | $133,080 | Employers evaluate technical skills and experience; a computer science degree is one preparation route. |
| Registered nurses | $93,600 | Qualifying nursing education, the licensing exam, and state licensure are required. |
A funded social work or education program may be a better personal investment than a higher-paying field you do not want to enter. Compare likely borrowing, time away from work, required credentials, and realistic local openings before deciding.
Find scholarships by searching from the specific program outward, not by relying on a broad list for your major. Eligibility can depend on degree level, accreditation, residency, financial need, enrollment intensity, career plans, or an agreement to work in a particular setting.
Use this sequence to build a manageable search and avoid overlooking awards with conditions you cannot meet.
- Ask each department and financial aid office for current awards that apply to your exact degree, including graduate assistantships if relevant.
- Check professional associations, local employers, unions, community foundations, and state workforce agencies for field-specific funding.
- File the FAFSA for federal and participating school aid, then confirm which awards can be combined and whether they are renewable.
- Record deadlines, required essays or references, minimum enrollment, renewal rules, and any service obligation before applying.
Be wary of scholarships that demand an application fee or promise an award. Graduate students should also ask whether an assistantship includes a stipend, tuition remission, health coverage, and a required work schedule.
Accredited universities offer these fields in different formats, but institutional accreditation, programmatic accreditation, and scholarship eligibility are separate questions. These examples illustrate delivery options rather than rank schools or imply that a particular scholarship is available.
Confirm the current degree format and requirements with the school, especially if you need to study outside its state.
| University | Example degree | Delivery consideration |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | Online Master of Science in Computer Science | Online coursework; verify current course and admission rules. |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Online MBA | Check current tuition, scheduling, and award eligibility. |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Master of Social Work | Compare campus attendance and field-placement requirements. |
Start with institutionally accredited online universities, then verify the particular program. Nursing, social work, teacher preparation, and other regulated paths may require additional program approval or accreditation for your intended license.
Coursework is a better test of fit than a major's label. Business students may study accounting and strategy; computer science students typically need programming and algorithms; engineering students need advanced mathematics and technical labs. Nursing and social work add supervised practice, while education licensure routes generally include classroom teaching experience.
At the master's level, compare prerequisites, electives, and the final requirement: a research thesis, applied capstone, internship, or clinical placement can change both your preparation and your schedule. As AI tools become more common, look for assignments that require you to evaluate outputs, protect sensitive information, and demonstrate independent judgment - not merely use a tool.
Requirements vary by school and by program. Bachelor's applicants generally submit prior transcripts and meet the institution's admission rules; selective nursing or engineering majors may add prerequisite courses and separate admission. Master's applicants normally need a bachelor's degree and may need specific coursework, recommendations, a statement of purpose, experience, or professional licensure. Test policies and minimum GPAs should be checked on the current program admissions page rather than inferred from university-wide rules.
Ask whether missing prerequisites can be completed after admission and whether they count toward the degree. If a justice-related career is your goal, also investigate hiring and licensing restrictions independently of admission; guidance on degrees for felons can help frame questions, but rules depend on the role and jurisdiction.
A bachelor's degree commonly takes about four years of full-time study from the start, while master's timelines vary with credits, prerequisites, research, and required placements. Part-time study extends the calendar; accepted transfer credit or an eligible advanced-standing pathway can shorten remaining requirements. An advertised accelerated bachelor's degree should be evaluated against the credits and prior preparation its timeline assumes.
For cost, compare the amount you would actually pay: tuition for remaining credits, mandatory and program fees, supplies, travel, and income affected by clinical or internship schedules. Subtract grants and scholarships only after confirming renewal conditions. Published tuition is not net price, and a low per-credit rate may not mean the lowest total cost. Request a written estimate based on your enrollment plan and any approved transfer credits.
Connect each major to a specific occupation before enrolling. A computer science or IT graduate might seek technical roles based on demonstrable skills; an accounting graduate pursuing CPA licensure must satisfy state education, exam, and experience rules. Nursing graduates need state RN licensure, and clinical social workers generally need an appropriate degree, supervised experience, and a state license. Teaching likewise follows state-specific certification rules.
Optional industry certifications may strengthen an IT application, but they do not replace a license where one is required. Ask the relevant state board whether the exact program meets educational requirements where you plan to work; an online program's location does not settle that question.
How Strong Is Job Demand for Graduates in These Majors?
Job demand is promising in some fields but does not apply equally to every graduate or location. BLS projects 15% growth in employment for software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers from 2024 to 2034. That projection describes occupations, not a placement rate for computer science or IT graduates, and it does not remove the need for projects, internships, or experience.
For nursing, education, and social work, compare openings in your intended community with local licensing and placement opportunities. For any major, review occupation-specific BLS projections, local employer postings, and the school's documented career outcomes together. Avoid treating an occupational growth rate - or a scholarship - as a guarantee of employment.
Other Things You Should Know About
Yes. Many major-based scholarships require at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, and competitive awards often ask for 3.5 or higher. Some also require full-time enrollment, recent transcripts, and proof of progress toward a specific degree program.
Yes. Schools, departments, employers, and outside organizations may fund master's students. Research assistantships and service awards are also worth checking, but they have different obligations from scholarships.
Sometimes. Confirm that the award includes your specific online program and enrollment status, and budget separately for any required labs, placements, travel, or fees.
Compare realistic occupations, total borrowing, required licenses, completion time, and your interest in the work. An occupational median wage does not predict your individual earnings or establish that a more expensive degree will pay off.
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