Despite a cooling job market, certain college majors remain highly sought after by employers heading into 2026. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Winter 2026 Salary Survey, specialized technical and business degrees continue to dominate the recruitment landscape.
The Top 10 Most In-Demand Degrees (Class of 2026)
Based on a survey of 150 organizations, these are the percentages of firms planning to hire graduates from each discipline:
| Rank | Degree Program | % of Firms Hiring |
| 1 | Finance | 61.3% |
| 2 | Mechanical Engineering | 61.3% |
| 3 | Computer Science | 60.0% |
| 4 | Accounting | 58.7% |
| 5 | Business Admin / Management | 58.7% |
| 6 | Electrical Engineering | 51.3% |
| 7 | Information Sciences & Systems | 48.0% |
| 8 | Logistics / Supply Chain | 44.7% |
| 9 | Marketing | 44.0% |
| 10 | Human Resources | 40.0% |
A Challenging Landscape for New Grads
While these degrees are "in demand," the overall job market has tightened significantly. Data reveals a stark contrast in economic momentum:
Job Growth Slump: The U.S. economy added only 181,000 jobs in 2025, a massive drop from the 1.46 million added in 2024.
The "Five-Year Tough": Cengage Group describes this as the most difficult entry-level market in half a decade, with only 30% of graduates finding work within their specific field.
Stagnant Hiring: Over 75% of employers maintained or reduced their entry-level headcount in 2025 compared to the previous year.
The Silver Lining: Rising Starting Salaries
Despite flat hiring projections, the Class of 2026 can expect higher paychecks. NACE reports that base salary projections are up across almost every major category, with the sole exception of the Social Sciences.
Computer Science remains the highest-paying field, with a projected average starting salary of $81,535 (a 6.9% increase over 2025).
Why it matters: Early earnings have a "compounding" effect. Research from the National Bureau of Economics indicates that every extra $1,000 earned in a first job results in an additional $700 in annual pay five years later.